Sectional 16 - Noblesville
Boys Race
Photo by Mike Kepner
The boys kicked off the day at Noblesville with Sam Quagliaroli and Matthew Kim from Fishers expected to work together and break away from the pack. These two ended up establishing a lead before the mile with Noblesville's Jack Strong hanging tough with the two Tigers with the three about 40m ahead of a large chase pack. By the time they finished their first woods loop Sam and Matthew had gapped Jack where he joined his teammates Sam Rinker and Ronnie Neal to take positions 3-5. After the first woods loop Sam began to gap his teammate with the two extending their lead to over 100m. Sam would end up winning the individual title in a time of 15:13.7 with Matt finishing relatively close behind with a 15:27.5. Coming down the final homestretch it was Rinker and Nate Thomas battling for position with Rinker having the better kick out outlast Fisher's #3 runner. Cameron Smith from Lapel would end up being the top individual advancing not on a team with a time of 16:13.0.
In the team race Fishers placed 4 runners in the top 6 to secure the sectional championship. This was the team's first title since 2019 and 5th in program history. Noblesville, who was favored going into the meet, would finish second by 12 points after frontrunner Caden Click appeared to not have the best day. Hamilton Southeastern would not be too far behind with 59 points with Guerin Catholic and Westfield taking the last two advancing spots.
Watch race videos and interviews from the Noblesville sectional
Girls Race
Photo by Mike Kepner
As the girls race got underway the drizzle began to pick up further impacting course conditions. The girls race appeared to be less strung out with several girls in the mix just before the mile. Ava Jarrell from Pendleton Heights had the slight advantage in the lead with Elizabeth Smith in second, Elizabeth Butler third, Summer Rempe fourth, Margaret Powers fifth and Alivia Lozier sixth. After the first woods loop the pack decreased to a size of 4 with Jarrell still in the lead followed by Smith, Butler, and Rempe. As the girls exited their second woods loop Ava looked to increase her lead putting about 10m on Summer who had worked her way up to second. In the final K there was not much ground gained or lost as Ava would come across the line in first with a 18:12.2 with Summer and Margaret finishing close behind with times of 18:15.0 and 18:17.8. Abby Lotter from Fishers would end up being the top individual advancing not on a team with a time of 19:48.0.
In the team race Noblesville, being led by Summer and Nadia Perez, placed 4 girls in the top 10 to win the sectional championship by 8 points over Hamilton Southeastern. This was the team's 3rd straight sectional championship and 4th in the past 5 years. HSE put up a fight for the win as they placed their scoring 5 in front of Noblesville's 5 scorers. Ava Powers also appeared back in their lineup after not being listed for their last meet at Nike XC Town Twilight and will play an instrumental part in HSE's hopes at a state title. Other qualifying teams included Westfield, Guerin Catholic, and Pendleton Heights
Watch race videos and interviews from the Noblesville sectional