(The Noblesville Boys are one of many teams who could win tomorrow's Hamilton County meet)
Photo by Jacob Musselman
The Hamilton County Championship is set to take place tomorrow night, with the first race set to take off at 5:30PM. This meet will be a big indicator as to what individuals and teams are ready to step up to the plate.
MileSplit Indiana will be on-site for race video, interviews, and photos! Read our preview down below.
Course Map:
Course Tour by Becca Atchley
Meet Records:
Boys: Gabe Fendel (Hamilton Southeastern): 15:15.00 - 2017
Girls: Sarah Leinheiser (Carmel): 18:08.27 - 2015
Course Records:
Boys: Ben Veatch (Carmel): 14:53.60 - 2015
Girls: Sarah Leinheiser (Carmel): 17:24.60 - 2015
Top 10 5K PRs In Hamilton County (Boys)
(12) Travis Hickner - Noblesville - 15:22.6
(12) Cole Kimmel - Noblesville - 15:32.4
(10) Kole Mathison - Carmel - 15:32.7
(11) Bennett Dubois - HSE - 15:55.1
(11) Charlie Schuman - Carmel - 15:56.1
(12) Andrew Anderson - Noblesville - 15:56.2
(11) Kai Conner - Westfield - 15:57.7
(12) Will Clark - Fishers - 15:58.6
(12) Jaylen Castillo - Fishers - 15:59.1
(12) Matthew Leppert - Fishers - 16:02.3
Top 10 5K PRs In Hamilton County (Girls)
(12) Halle Hill - HSE - 18:07.8
(12) Maria Mitchell - Hamilton Heights - 18:14.6
(10) Jasmine Klopstad - Carmel - 18:24.4
(10) Bridget Gallagher - Guerin Catholic - 18:33.5
(12) Brooke Waldal - Carmel - 18:35.1
(12) Annie Christie - Carmel - 18:48.9
(11) Jamie Klavon - Carmel - 18:50.7
(10) Brooke Lahee - Noblesville - 18:50.8
(11) Alivia Romaniuk - Carmel - 18:51.2
(11) Vera Schafer - Fishers - 18:51.3
Team Preview (BOYS):
The team battle at the Hamilton County Meet Tuesday evening features 3 preseason top 5 teams that includes Carmel, Noblesville and Fishers. So far this season, Carmel has won the Terre Haute Valley Kickoff earlier this month while Noblesville has won the Huntington North Invitational and the Noblesville Invitational 4K, and Fishers has raced their all out squad one time in the Brownsburg 4K quad meet, which ended up being a runner up performance to Columbus North (Who's preseason #1). After this race, we will have a lot of answered questions about all 3 state title contending teams, especially any breakout runners from any of these teams that will most likely shine tomorrow night in the first big meet of the season for all these teams after not being able to have a track season last spring. It's hard to pick a favorite between these 3 teams as all 3 have looked strong to start this season, but would be very surprising to see anyone outside these three teams win a Hamilton County title. Although, HSE is the team looking to upset one of these three teams if one of these teams falter as they are a preseason top 8 team. Which means they definitely are capable of shocking any of the top 3 teams tomorrow night if they can put together a great team race.
Individual Preview (Boys):
The Individual race headlines pre race favorite Carmel Sophomore phenom Kole Mathison who was the County Champion last fall. Kole has raced once so far this fall, which ended up being a 15:53 5K performance on a hot and humid Terre Haute Valley Kickoff on the Lavern Course which is really impressive in Mid-August. With his very impressive 9:10 3200 in July, on top of his impressive start of the season on lavern gibson, the meet record of 15:15 could be in jeopardy if conditions are fair as Mathison is the Future of Indiana High School Distance running. The person who will challenge Mathison for the title is Noblesville Senior Travis Hickner, who is definitely capable of winning this race and defending his home course. Hickner did not race the Hamilton County meet last fall, but we fully expect him to race tomorrow night. Hickner has had a strong start of the season as well. Putting up a 15:32 5K at the Huntington North Invitational a little over a week ago, 10 seconds behind Izaiah Steury who broke 9 minutes for 3200 a little over two weeks ago. Hickner did not race last "track season" in the summer but his 15:32 5K shows he's in very good shape and good enough to challenge Kole Mathison for the title and also potentially dip under the 15:15 meet record as well. Last season in the school season, Mathison and Hickner went 2-2 in head to head matchups. Also, look for guys like Noblesvilles Cole Kimmel and Andrew Anderson, Fishers Will Clark, Jaylen Castillo and Matthew Leppert, Carmels Charlie Schuman, HSEs Bennett Dubois and Westfields Kai Conner to be towards the front of the race looking to break 15:45 in conditions that are fair. But also lookout for any breakout individuals to shine tomorrow night.
Team Preview (Girls):
The Girls Team race headlines the Carmel Greyhounds, the Preseason Number 1 team in Indiana. We consider the Carmel Girls to be big time favorites Tuesday Night. So far, the Carmel girls have run an all out squad one time. Which was at the North Central Dual 4K Meet, which they swept. Look for the Carmel Girls to hog the front of the race and potentially put 5 girls in the top 10. But Lookout for teams like HSE and Noblesville to take those 2-3 spots in the Team Battle. Both HSE and Noblesville are podium threats in Terre Haute in October. HSE had run 2 Hokum Karems so far in 2020, winning both of those. While Noblesville Opened their season last weekend by winning the Noblesville Invitational 4K, beating the likes of Bishop Chatard. The 2-3 spots will be interesting to watch, but we'd be surprised if Carmel doesn't run away with the County Title.
Individual Preview (Girls):
The Girls Individual preview Headlines lots of individuals as the girls Individual Race is a little more open than the guys. We will view Carmel Senior Annie Christie as the slight favorite, as she broke 5 for 1600 meters this summer while winning the Carmel vs North Central Dual a little over a week ago running 14:42 for 4K. HSE Senior Halle Hill is also considered one of the favorites for tomorrow night's race as she has the fastest PB in 18:07 that she ran her freshman year. Look for Hamilton Heights Senior Maria Mitchell to also chase the title as she was All State in Terre Haute Last fall and boasts a 18:14 5K PB. Lastly, Carmels Jasmine Klopstad is also definitely capable of winning tomorrow evenings race, as she was slightly behind Christie in their meet a little over a week ago. Any of those 4 girls have a shot to win the individual title. But also look out for any breakout individuals and freshman who may challenge the front and go for the win.