One of the most colorful of all IHSAA state championship events on the calendar takes place this Saturday as runners from across the state will converge on the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute to determine this year’s state champions. The boys race begins at 1 p.m. eastern time with the girls race to follow at 1:45 p.m.
Twenty-four full teams and 40 more individuals who qualified without their squad (208 runners in each race) will compete in each race over the 5,000 meter course known as one of the finest in the nation.
The boys team title could be a showdown between the top two teams in the latest coaches poll – No. 1 Carmel and No. 2 Columbus North. The two schools own 17 state championships between them and shared the last five in a row with the Greyhounds ending the Bull Dogs three-year run a year ago.
Six of last year’s top 20 finishers are back for another shot at the tape including Zachery Panning of Fort Wayne Concordia, last year’s state runner-up and local favorite Jackson Bertoli of Terre Haute South, last year’s fourth place finisher. Besides those two, other semi-state winners last weekend were Ellis Coon of Warsaw and David Dalton of Greenwood.
On the girls side, defending state champion Anna Rohrer of Mishawaka is not participating in this year’s tournament after being sidelined earlier this season with a broken bone in her foot just days after recording the fastest 5,000 meter time in state history (16:52.24) back in August. Her absence leaves the door open for someone else to etch their name into the history books.
Some of the prime contenders include semi-state winners Mackenzie Caldwell of Columbus North, who finished fourth last year, Elena Lancioni of La Porte, Kelcy Welch of Carmel or Maddie Woods of Penn. Or it could be one of the other seven returnees from last year’s top 20 finishers.
Like their boys team, Carmel’s top-ranked girls are the three-time defending state champion. The Greyhounds will be seeking their fifth title in six years and would become the first school since Floyd Central (1989-92) to win four consecutive. The school’s girls golf team already earned the state title on Oct. 5.
A live webstream of Saturday’s races will be available courtesy of Terre Haute North High School and local CBS affiliate Channel 10 beginning at noon eastern time: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/terre-haute-north-video
68th Boys and 33rd Girls Cross Country State Finals Date: Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. Site: LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, Wabash Valley Sports Center, 599 S. Tabortown Road, Terre Haute, IN 47803 Course Layout Times: Boys at 1 p.m. ET; Girls at 1:45 p.m. ET. Admission: $8 per person. Feeder Semi-States: Brown County, Carmel, New Haven, New Prairie. Webstream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/terre-haute-north-video
Local girls who qualified as an individual:
Celena Guerrero, Hobart H.S. Mindy Whidden, Hobart H.S. Rachel Thompson, New Prairie H.S. Kyleigh Werner, South Central H.S. Michaela Gazdich, Valparaiso H.S. Alison Mundell, Valparaiso H.S.
Girls Teams Qualified
Avon, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Carmel, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Columbus North, Floyd Central, Franklin Central, Hamilton Southeastern, Homestead, Huntington North, Jasper, Lake Central, La Porte, Northridge, Pendleton Heights, Penn, Portage, Terre Haute North, Twin Lakes, Warsaw, West Lafayette, Westfield, Zionsville.
Most Consecutive Girls Team Appearances: 33 by Carmel, 1981-current.
Active Streaks of Girls Team Appearances (three or more years) - 33: Carmel. 10: Carroll (Fort Wayne), Terre Haute North. 7: Bloomington South, Columbus North. 6: Huntington North, Portage. 4: Terre Haute South, West Lafayette, Westfield. 3: Avon, Hamilton Southeastern, Northridge, Penn, Warsaw.
Girls Team Appearance Droughts Broken (10 or more years) - 25: Pendleton Heights (1988). 14: La Porte (1999). 11: Floyd Central (2002).
Team to beat: Carmel is the three-time defending team champion and looking for its fifth title in last six years.
Local girl in Top 20 Returnees from 2012 State Finals: Elena Lancioni, La Porte (18:35.9, 16th place in 2012)
Local Boys who qualified as individuals:
Brent Dunn, Hobart H.S. Anthony Didion, La Porte H.S. Brian Blaylock, Lowell H.S. David Kampf, New Prairie H.S.
Boys Teams Qualified: Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Brebeuf Jesuit, Carmel, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Columbus North, Crown Point, Evansville North, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Homestead, Lake Central, Lawrence North, Munster, North Central (Indianapolis), Northridge, South Adams, South Bend Riley, South Knox, Terre Haute South, Valparaiso, Warsaw, West Lafayette, Westfield, Zionsville.
Most Consecutive Boys Team Appearances: 38 by Carmel, 1976-current.
Active Streaks of Boys Team Appearances (three or more years): 38: Carmel. 8: Bloomington South. 7: Columbus North. 6: Valparaiso. 4: Carroll (Fort Wayne), Terre Haute South. 3: Evansville North, Warsaw.
Boys Team Appearance Droughts Broken (10 or more years): 12: South Bend Riley (2001).
Team to beat: Carmel is the defending team champion and aiming for its third crown in six years (2008).
Local Boys in Top 20 Returnees from 2012 State Finals: Ari Coulopoulos, Valparaiso (15th place, 15:45.4 in 2012)
