Columbus North is the heavy favorite to win the Brown County semi-state in both boys and girls. The Bulldogs have been dominant all year, and should cruise to two semi-state championships. Columbus North's boys are one of the favorites to win state, and the girls will also contend for the state title next week at Terre Haute.
Bulldog Junior Reese Kilbarger-Stumpff ran a personal record of 15:21 last week on his way to the regional championship. Camden Marshall out of Corydon Central has also run a 15:21 this year, but that time came back on September 26. Marshall has not run under 15:45 since, including a third place in the Crawford County regional last weekend. That race was won by Jasper's Abe Eckman with a 15:32, two seconds clear of Forest Park's Spenser Wolf.
Bloomington North won the Bedford North Lawrence Regional last week by 15 points over Northview, Bloomington South and Terre Haute North, all three of which were only separated by 11 points. Those four schools will all aim to advance to the state meet, along with Region 15 champions Floyd Central. Castle and Jasper will try to knock one of those schools out of the top six, while Jennings County, Seymour and Terre Haute South all have an outside shot.
Edgewood's Analyssa Crain ran a 17:39 on September 12, the third fastest girls time in Indiana. Crain had won every race she competed in this year until last week, when the Illinois commit ran a 19:31 at the Bedford North Lawrence Regional. It was her sister, Clara Crain that took the win last Saturday with an 18:34.
Columbus North's Makenzie Barnett won a regional last week with an 18:04, 15 seconds ahead of teammate Brianna Newell. Jaydon Cirincione won the Crawford County Regional for Floyd Central with an 18:20, so look for Cirincione, Newell, Barnett and the Crains to have a good race this weekend.
Bloomington North, Floyd Central and Northview will fight for second in the girls race behind Columbus North. Expect Bloomington South to advance, but the last transfer spot is a toss up.
Jasper, South Knox, Edgewood, Barr-Reeve, Brown County and Princeton all have a legitimate shot at running again next week in the state finals.
The Brown County Semi-State will begin at 11:30 AM Eastern Time.