Hamilton County Championships Preview


Boys Predicted Team Standings from MileSplit Virtual Meet

We ran all of the current high school runners and teams in Hamilton County in a Virtual Meet with last years season best times to predict what teams come out on top.

 

1st - Carmel - 33 points

Returning Top 7 (16:00 average)

Calvin Bates (15:49), Ben Myers (15:55), Thomas Gastineau (16:01), Ben Johnson (16:04), Will Murphy (16:12), Austin Throckmorton (16:17), Hudson Alden (16:23)

Team Outlook: Carmel has won the county meet for the boys since 2009 and they probably will be fighting this year not to lose this streak. The reigning state champions from the 2017 cross country season return only 4 of the team's top 5 from last year. Carmel, however, always seems to find a way to fill their gaps with quality athletes. We did not see many members that are currently on the team run track season. But that is no reason to count this squad out. This will be the first real showing of the potential of this team as they rested their top runners at the North Central 4K Warm-Up. Being ranked 25th in the country on the MileSplit 50 rankings, Carmel has a good chance to continue their dominance at the Hamilton County Championships.

2nd - Fishers - 40 points

Returning Top 7 (16:04 average)

Ethan Meyer (15:49), Alex Meyer (15:54), Will Clark (16:05), Thomas Brelage (16:10), Quintin Goldman (16:19), Dylan Arive (16:32), Jared Halamka (16:37)

Team Outlook: After coming off a state runner-up season last year to Carmel, the Tigers have to be hungry for revenge. Fishers is looking to pull off an upset this season. With a smaller graduating class last year, the Tigers look as though they could break Carmel's streak. The last time Fishers topped Carmel at the County meet was in 2007 when they ended up winning the state title. This past track season proved to show potential in nearly all of the distance events. So far this season the Junior/Senior class proved to be dominant winning the JR/SR Zionsville Invitational (4K) with less than half of the score of the runner up team of West Lafayette. The underclassmen race showcased some talent as well. This may be the year Fishers ascends to the top of the county.

3rd - Westfield - 94 points

Returning Top 7 (16:30 average)

Sam Novak (16:00), Max Gutwein (16:30), Noah Douthit (16:30), Gavin Clinkenbeard (16:39), Luke Tragesser (16:52), Tyler Smith (16:54), Duncan McGraw (17:03)

Team Outlook: Aside from the obvious competition for the championship, there is going to be a brawl for 3rd place. The shamrocks return most of their top 7 from last year that finished 5th at county. Several runners from Westfield broke out last year allowing for vast improvements in time that almost landed a state meet appearance. Track season was a roller coaster for Westfield with some potential demonstrated from a few runners. The shamrocks have raced at the Plainfield Hokum Karem so far this year finishing third behind ranked Cathedral and Avon. Noblesville and Hamilton Southeastern could challenge Westfield for a top 3 team finish.

4th - Noblesville - 104 points

Returning Top 7 (16:34 average)

Blake Hipkiss (16:24), Cole Kimmel (16:31), Andrew Anderson (16:35), Nick Dombroski (16:37), Billy Gregory (16:41), Travis Hickner (16:48), Seth Koszyk (17:03)

Team Outlook: The Millers were able to finish 4th at County last year besting Westfield. Only a few graduated from Noblesville this past year as this is a very young team with most of the returning top 7 being sophomores. The sophomore class this year looks to be great contributors to the team as they helped win the FR/SO Zionsville Invitational over Fishers and other ranked schools. The Millers also won the Harrison 9-Way Meet last Tuesday. Flashes of success were evident in all of the distance events this past track season which should translate well to the grass. As long as Noblesville stays healthy they should provide a challenge for Westfield and Hamilton Southeastern on their own home course this Tuesday.

5th - Hamilton Southeastern - 124 points

Returning Top 7 (16:42 average)

Grant Wilson (16:14), James Rathbun (16:42), Brady Jarosinski (16:42), Eric Carothers (16:51), Eric Swinson (17:00), Jaylen Castillo (17:18), Brandon Barrientos (17:27)

Team Outlook: HSE loses out on essentially only having to score 4 the past few years with Gabe Fendel graduating. This will be a rebuilding season for the Royals that will be motivated by missing Semi State by the slightest of margins last year. They have the talent to beat individuals as a few athletes demonstrated in track season this spring in both the 1600 and 3200 events. So far this year the team finished in a close 2nd in their own Hokum Karem against a ranked Pendleton squad. They able to seek revenge against Pendleton by winning the Arabian Roundup. HSE will be in fierce competition against Westfield and Noblesville for bragging rights over one another come Tuesday.

6th - Guerin Catholic - 152 points

Returning Top 7 (17:00 average)

Quinn Gallagher (15:20), Holden King (17:10), Joe Barrett (17:18), Nick Schramm (17:37), JP Spoonmore (17:38), Aaron Banks (18:05), Austin Callahan (18:29)

Team Outlook: Guerin has had a pretty solid team for a several that has to constantly face the likes of much larger, more competitive teams due to their location. The advantage that they have is a clear front runner, Quinn Gallagher. The team will essentially only need four to score in most meets this year. The next four returners from last year also have the potential to make big drops in time. Guerin has already ran their conference meet in which they were able to take home the runner-up title only behind Brebuef Jesuit. This team will be right off the likes of Westfield, Noblesville, and HSE. If one or more of those teams makes a mistake or two watch out for Guerin to come under the radar and possibly get a top 5 finish.

7th - Hamilton Heights - 229 points

Returning Runners (18:53 average)

Elijah Wallace (18:00), Price Knowles (18:19), Preston Miller (18:45), Landon Steele (19:33), Landon Hurley (19:47), Cory Vonfeldt (20:00), Clayton Forrer (20:19)

Team Outlook: Hamilton Heights will mainly be going up against University in this meet. It should be close. But, the team's downfall comes down to the limited number of returning athletes from last years team. After The Meister Family Memorial Run, in which heights was 4th of 17 teams, there seems to be a large freshman class running that should help out the Huskies tremendously. These freshmen may be the key to take down University.

8th - University - 247 points

Returning Top 7 (19:40 average)

Noah Laramore (17:43), Jacob Sager (19:59), Lucas Conti (20:03), Cornelius Pettinga (20:04) Cordell Wilson (20:34), Keegan Priest (20:39), Benjamin Westerkamm (20:42)

Team Outlook: Universtiy will fight against Heights to not finish last in team standings. The elite competition in this meet should allow for fast times and PRs on the team. It will be a very close matchup as University has an advantage with a faster #1 than that of Heights. University competed and finished mid pack at the Southwestern small school invite this year.