2019 XC all-state finishers I Photo by Kent Graham
It's time to preview the girls individuals! The girls individual race will be interesting to watch as there are several girls that are capable of winning the state title!Individual Girls Preview
1.) Annalyssa Crain - Edgewood - Senior
Notable PBs: 10:46 3200, 17:25 5K XC
State XC Meet History: 2nd in '19, 3rd in '18, 6th in '17
Brown County Semi State #1
Preview: Analyssa Crain will be the top returner from last year's state meet as she was runner up last fall to Erin Strzelecki. Crain has been a consistent queen in her high school career so far. Having 6th, 3rd and 2nd place finishes at the state finals since joining high school. But not only was she a force in Indiana last fall, but made her name known on the national stage. Putting up 2 All American performances at NXN and Foot Locker Nationals back to back weeks last fall running with the best girls in the Nation. This will definitely give Analyssa Crain the confidence that she is the girl to beat in Indiana and potentially grab her first state Championship.
2.) Zoe Duffus -Carroll - Senior
Notable PBs: 2:14 800, 4:51 1600, 10:46 3200, 17:27 5K XC
State XC Meet History: 6th in '19, 80th in '18, 51st in '17
New Haven Semi State #1
Preview: Zoe Duffus has a wild high school career so far. Coming into high school Duffus was already a phenom running fantastic Middle School times. In her high school career, Duffus has shown at times that she's one of the best runners in Indiana, but other times she has faced setbacks and Injuries and that limited us to seeing her real potential. Last fall Duffus had a healthy fall for the most part and her elite talent showed in a big way. Putting up a 6th place finish at the state finals. But her biggest race last fall was at NXR where she was 7th running a 17:25 PB, Booking her ticket to NXN where she was 41st. In her very short track season she put up times of 4:51 for 1600 and 10:46 for 3200 indoors. If Duffus can have a healthy fall, she will definitely be a threat to win a state title in Terre Haute.
3.) Karina James - Lowell - Junior
Notable PBs: 10:54 3200, 17:41 5K
State XC Meet History: 4th in '19, 36th in '18
New Prairie Semi State #1
Preview: Karina James had a very impressive sophomore campaign. Going undefeated and dominating the region all season till the state meet where she placed 4th. James was also very impressive at NXR Midwest placing 9th running a 17:41 PB, just two spots off qualifying for NXN. As she was last fall, James will be the girl to be in the region. If James can continue to progress she is definitely a top 3-5 runner in Indiana this fall and will be one to lookout for all season as she looks to dominate the northwest part of the state for yet another year.
4.) Madeline Keller - Brebeuf Jesuit - Junior
Notable PBs: 10:56 3200, 17:49 XC 5K
State XC Meet History: 3rd in '19, 44th in '18
Shelbyville Semi State #1
Preview: Keller had a quietly fantastic sophomore season. Winning her sectional, regional and semi state races in one of the toughest parts of the state. After those string of winning races she raced to a great 3rd place finish at the state finals. She was also 18th at NXR Midwest and 30th at Foot Locker Midwest after the state meet. If she can continue to develop, she will potentially be the favorite again in the tough Shelbyville Semi State and will be a force at the front of the race at the state finals in October.
5.) Lily Cridge - Bishop Chatard - Sophomore
Notable PBs: 4:57 1600, 10:36 3200, 17:56 XC 5K
State Meet XC History: 8th in '19
Shelbyville Semi State #2
Preview: Lily Cridge had a great rookie year of high school on the grass and also on the track. Cridge was 8th at the state finals last fall and ran 17:56 on the grass. But we now know she took another big step in her development with her two track races this past july. Soloing a 10:36 3200 running 5:25,5:11 splits. A few weeks later she broke 5 for 1600 running 4:57. Lily Cridge could be a promising talent for not only this fall but in the years to come as she's now only a sophomore. If she progresses, she has the potential to be a top 5 runner at the state meet this fall.
6.) Sophia Kennedy - Park Tudor - Sophomore
Notable PBs: 5:16 1600, 18:09 XC 5K
State Meet XC History: 5th in '19
Shelbyville Semi State #3
Preview: Sophia Kennedy, the daughter of distance running legend Bob Kennedy had a very good freshman year, but her results prior to last year's state finals showed she was maybe all state caliber as she was 10th at the Noblesville Regional and 7th at the Shelbyville semi state and had a 18:30 5K PB going into the state. But at the state meet, she shatters her personal best by 21 seconds on the Lavern Course Running 18:09 and shatters expectations by getting 5th place at state. Kennedys 5th place will give the confidence that she can now run with the best in the state as she'll be someone to look out for all season in that tough Shelbyville semi state.
7.) Addy Wiley - Huntington North - Junior
Notable PBs: 2:10 800, 4:46 1600, 17:53 XC 5K
State Meet XC History: 10th in '19
New Haven Semi State #2
Preview: Addison Wiley had a great first year of cross country last fall. Placing in the top 10 at the state finals and running 17:53 on the grass which was one of the top times in Indiana last fall. Wiley is the only person on this list with a state championship as she won the state title her freshman for 1600 meters running a blistering 4:46. Like last fall, Wiley has the potential to be not only one of the best runners in Northeast Indiana, but in the entire state. If she continues to improve she should be a top 7 runner in Indiana on the grass.
8.) Lydia Bennett - Dekalb - Sophomore
Notable PBs: 5:28 1600, 18:34 XC 5K
State Meet XC History: 14th in '19
New Haven Semi State #3
Preview: Dekalb's rising sophomore Lydia Bennett, like Park Tudor's rising Sophomore Sophia Kennedy, had a huge breakout race at the state finals last fall. Bennett was 20th at the New Haven Semi State and was 8th at the West Noble regional and had a 5K PB of 19:04 going into the state meet, which those results say that she is most likely not an all state caliber runner. But at the state finals, she shattered her PB by 30 seconds on the Lavern Course, running 18:34, while also earning all state honors with a 14th place finish. If Bennett can continue the momentum she got from last year's state finals, she very well could be inside the top 10 this fall at the state finals in October.
9.) Maria Mitchell - Hamilton Heights - Senior
Notable PBs: 2:14 800, 5:00 1600, 18:14 XC 5K
State Meet XC History: 16th in '19, 75th in '18
Shelbyville Semi State #4
Preview: Maria Mitchell has put together a very good high school resume as she's a 3x all state runner on the grass and on the track. Mitchell was 16th at last year's state finals and was 8th in the 1600 and 9th in the 800 at the track state finals her sophomore year. Mitchell took a big leap from her sophomore year of cross country to her sophomore year in track where she dropped times of 2:14 for 800 and 5:00 for 1600. If Mitchell can continue to improve she could very well make an appearance inside the top 10 come october in her final season of high school cross country.
10.) Halle Hill - Hamilton Southeastern - Senior
Notable PBs: 5:03 1600, 18:07 XC 5K
State Meet XC History: 22nd in '19, 42nd in '18, 23rd in '17
New Haven Semi State #4
Preview: Hamilton Southeastern's rising senior Halle Hill has had a solid high school career despite having a major setback her Freshman year. As a Freshman, she was one of the best in the state as she ran 18:07 for 5K and was all state as a freshman placing 22nd at the state finals. During that Winter, she unfortunately tore her ACL while playing basketball. About 8 to 9 months after, she was able to place 45th at the state meet her sophomore year after we would assume not being able to train like she did before the tear. In 2019 she was able to run 5:03 for 1600 meters on the track and was 23rd at last year's cross country state finals. Hill now has the potential to reach the top 10 at this year's state meet and possibly dip under 18 for 5K this fall in her final high school cross country season.
Watchlist:
Jasmine Klopstad - Carmel
Sarah Busch - Bishop Luers
Amelia Faber - Homestead
Brenner Hanna - Greensburg
Hailey Orosz - Wheeler
Haylee Hile - Northridge
Bridget Gallagher - Guerin Catholic
Brianna Newell - Columbus North
Ashlyn Minton - Carroll
Bailey Ranta - Chesterton