Regional 1: Crown Point
Who is competing:
BOYS
Teams: Highland, Lake Central, Munster, Griffith, East Chicago Central, Lowell, Crown Point, Merrillville, Hanover Central, Hobart
Individuals: Erik Cuellar (Hammond Morton), George Peterson (Hammond Gavit), Sergio Hernandez (Whiting), Sean Stringfellow (Hammond Gavit), Mark Hernandez (Hammond Morton), Riley Reeder (Calumet Baptist), Que'sean Mason (Gary West Side), Adam Tavarez (Hammond Clark), Adam Sevin (Whiting), John Tobon-Perez (Calumet Baptist), Connor Nuest (Hebron), Jacob Stewart (Hebron), Matthew Meyer (Andrean), Noah Weaver (Hebron), Dylan Nissan (Andrean), Curtis Baum (Andrean), Ernest Anderson (Andrean), Max Pastrick (Hebron), Jacobo Ramirez (Andrean), Aireon Mason (Gary Roosevelt).
GIRLS
Teams: Munster, Lake Central, Highland, Whiting, Griffith, Crown Point, Lowell, Hobart, Hebron, Merrillville
Individuals: Aaliyah Clopton (Hammond Morton), Dawn Pawlak (Hammond Gavit), Marissa Moon (Hammond Gavit), Mary Buksa (Hammond Bishop), Dash Shaw (Gary West Side), Mia Lacey (Hammond Gavit), Taylor Williams (East Chicago Central), Julianna Hoff (Hammond Bishop), Laila Tolbert (Hammond Gavit), Hannah Burton (Gary West Side), Madeline Kartz (Hanover Central), Nicole Cespedes (Andrean), Maria Davenport (Hanover Central), Destiney Pratchett (River Forest), Maya Butler (Hanover Central), Malia Butler (Hanover Central), Carina Bolanos (Hanover Central), Rachel Pratchett (River Forest), Arizona Lenski (Andrean), Lanique Edmond (Thea Bowman)
Girls
Just like last week, the individual battle will be between Crown Point's Jaelyn Buros and the Lowell duo of Karina James and Jordyn Boyer. Jaelyn beat the impressive Lowell frontrunners by over 10 seconds. Just like the rest of the state, both feeder sectionals had slow times as a result of weather, but this week the forecast looks more promising for fast times and the girls will be eager to hopefully PR on Lemon Lake's electric course. But then again we have had a fair amount of rain and then cold weather, so the course could still be a little damp.
The team race will be a battle between Crown Point and Lowell. Both teams matched up closely in the sectional round with Crown Point edging out the victory by 4 points. Lowell's top 3 will get them off to a great start but their 4 and 5 were both beaten out by Crown Point's 4 and 5, leading to a very close battle that could be decided by a point or 6th racer tiebreak. Munster, Hobart, Hebron, Lake Central, and Highland will be searching for the final 3 advancement spots to Semi State.
Boys
The boys race features 2 of the top Junior runners in the State in Lowell's Gabriel Sanchez and Crown Point's Geno Christofanelli will battle it out for the individual title. Sanchez won the battle last week at the sectional meet and will look to repeat again this weekend. Highland's Lucas Guerra cruised to victory last week at his sectional and has looked promising all year. He will be looking for the upset victory.
The team battle features 3 teams with strong chances of making it to the state meet in Lowell, Crown Point, and Highland. All three teams have great front runners and had runners place closely together at their sectional races, Lowell has the tightest pack and will be the favorites on Saturday. Lake Central should advance safely in fourth while Merrillville and Hanover Central will battle for the last advancement spot. Merrillville won the battle between the two last week.
Regional 2- New Prairie
Who is competing:
BOYS
Teams: Valparaiso, Chesterton, Portage, New Prairie, LaPorte, Kankakee Valley, Morgan Township, Kouts, Rensselaer Central, South Newton
Individuals: Hudson Hall (Wheeler), Damian Albisu (Michigan City), Steven Franczek (Wheeler), Tyler Hachey (Washington Township), Jake Tarnow (Marquette Catholic), Konnor Wauro (Boone Grove), Matthew Sears (Washington Township), Rodrigo Serrano (Michigan City), Sunjay Raman (Washington Township), Jacob Demuth (Wheeler), Carson Bakker (Covenant Christian (demotte)), Kohler Peterson (Covenant Christian (demotte)), Austin Kendrick (North Judson), Jonah Ingram (Covenant Christian (demotte)), Matyas Tomsicek (LaCrosse), Cooper Hochstedler (North Judson), Keagan Anderson (North Newton), Joey Smith (North Newton), Devon Toth (Knox), Kyle Gorski (LaCrosse)
GIRLS
Teams: Valparaiso, Chesterton, Wheeler, Portage, LaPorte, Morgan Township, Rensselaer Central, Kankakee Valley, North Judson, Kouts
Individuals: Kyla Flesvig (Boone Grove), Adelaide Young-Brust (South Central), Juliana Kroll (New Prairie), Gabby Peters (New Prairie), Alexa Zeese (New Prairie), Sage Mougin (New Prairie), Callie Metzger (New Prairie), Halle Frieden (Covenant Christian (demotte)), Alexis Thaxton (South Newton), Hailey O'Brien (LaCrosse), Lindsey Simpson (Knox), Camille Wuethrich (West Central), Kylie Blann (North Newton), Brandi Mcqueen (North Newton), Kennedy Ash (Oregon-Davis), Kaylee Krom (Knox), Kelsey Rennier (LaCrosse).
Girls:
Chesterton senior Shelby Bullock is the favorite to win after her win at the sectional meet last week. Her closest competitor will be Valparaiso's junior Ava Gilliana. No other girl offers a serious threat to Bulloch and Gilliana.
The team race will be between Valpo and Chesterton. Valpo are the favorites after their sectional victory over Chesterton last week. Wheeler and Portage will fight closely for third and both will advance safely to next week's meet. The last spot will be a battle between Laporte and Morgan Township.
Boys:
Just like last week, Valparaiso's Jack Acton and LaPorte's Mitchell Gits will be in a close battle for the individual victory. Acton barely edged out Gits last week at the New Prairie sectional and will be looking for his second consecutive win on the New Prairie course. Morgan Township senior Trevor Braden will be looking to upset Acton and Gits after claiming his own sectional title last Saturday.
The team battle is expected to be very similar to the New Prairie sectional last week. Valparaiso, Chesterton, Portage, New Prairie, and LaPorte all advanced from the New Prairie sectional last week and are favored to advance again. Valparaiso is the favorite to win but will be challenged from Chesterton. Kankakee Valley and Morgan Township will be trying to upset the New Prairie sectional teams to advance to Semi State.