Indiana Seniors of the Year:

Karina James and Izaiah Steury

Karina James from Lowell and Izaiah Steury of Angola are the MileSplit Indiana Seniors of the Year for 2021. Both are IHSAA State Champions. Both had amazing seasons where their only losses in the IHSAA calendar were at the State Finals. Both had tremendous postseason success. Both are very deserving of these awards.

Izaiah Steury Profile

Karina James of Lowell was nearly unbeatable over the last two years in cross country. Her only loss in IHSAA competition over the last two years was at this season's State Finals in Terre Haute. She was the top senior in the meet as she ran up against possibly the best underclassmen group in recent memory.

James was the 2020 State Champion and rattled off as many as 18 straight wins before finishing sixth in Terre Haute. James was completely untouchable in Northwest Indiana over the last two years. She was a three-time New Prairie Semi-State Champion- winning this season by 40 seconds over a field that included several All-State runners.

She returned after the state finals to finish third in the Mideast Cross Country Championships in Kettering, Ohio. James helped to lead Team Indiana to a strong showing against the top seniors from Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois.

James then qualified for the Eastbay (Footlocker) National Cross Country Championships, finishing eighth with a PR of 17:34. At the Eastbay finals, James ran a strong race to finish 23rd overall- earning Honorable Mention All-American recognition in the process. 

James was also honored with the prestigious IHSAA Mental Attitude Award at the 2021 State Finals to help culminate an incredible season and career.  

James will continue her running career at Toledo in the fall- joining a growing group of Indiana recruits choosing the Rockets to further their academics and running.