Indiana Boys Cross Country Preseason Top 25 Teams

Justin Amburgy

These preseason rankings are based on the best times from the 2023 season for returning athletes. A significant caveat with these rankings is that they do not account for incoming freshmen (more impactful for girls' rankings than boys') and some courses are inherently faster than others. Times hold less value in cross country compared to track due to these differences, making it challenging to have an objective ranking system. Nonetheless, we have compiled the top times from last season as one lens to view the 2024 season. From this, we can identify potential athletes and teams poised to make an impact this year.

After a tough state meet last year, Bloomington North will be looking for redemption. Caelan D'Onofrio and Jack Holden narrowly missed the podium in the 1600m, finishing 10th and 11th, respectively, while Jacob Mitchell placed 15th in the 3200m state finals. Caleb Winders earned his second consecutive state runner-up performance in the 800m before becoming the fourth Indiana high schooler in state history to break the 1:50 barrier at New Balance Nationals. Additionally, the team continued their success in the 4x800m relay, winning another state championship despite the rain. Adding even more firepower to this squad, Caleb Webb is now eligible to compete in the IHSAA tournament after sitting out a year following his transfer from Edgewood. He could be an integral piece for a squad that certainly has a state title in their sights.

Behind Bloomington North, several Hamilton County schools will attempt to spoil the Cougars' chances at a state title. Hamilton Southeastern (HSE), Fishers, Carmel, and Noblesville round out the top five based on a simulated meet. The Mudsock rivalry looks to be at an all-time high this year, with crosstown rivals HSE and Fishers having identical scores of 234 in the simulation. Their sixth runners, used in high school tiebreaking scenarios, are separated by only two seconds, adding to the intrigue. Fishers may have the upper hand in a practical meet with frontrunner Sam Quagliaroli leading the charge. Carmel is another interesting team, taking a massive hit after graduating their top three runners from last year-Tony Provenzano, Kyle Grove, and Thomas Biltimier, who finished 4th, 7th, and 21st, respectively, at the state meet. Despite this, the Greyhounds still have four additional runners who ran sub-16 last season and should have no problem finding a fifth with their depth.

Noblesville, Evansville F.J. Reitz Memorial, Columbus North, Brownsburg, and Franklin Central all have strong chances for a team podium finish this fall. Of this group, Columbus North actually has the best squad in the state when only considering returners from last season's state championship meet. Northridge, which came out third in the same simulation, could also be a dark horse contender for the podium this year.


Related: 2024 Preseason Rankings for all 308 Indiana Boys XC Programs

Preseason Boys Top 25 Rankings


RANKTEAMTIMESCORE
1165
1) Jacob Mitchell15:18.209
2) Caleb Winders15:39.7021
3) Caelan D'Onofrio15:40.6024
4) Jack Holden15:50.2033
5) Caleb Webb16:08.8078
Average Time: 15:43.50
Total Time: 1:18:37.50
1-5 Split: 50.60
6) Jake Gentry16:30.60155
7) Nathan Campbell17:10.60367
T-2234
1) Liam Powers15:42.4726
2) Riley SCHAMP15:50.8634
3) Vega Nicolas15:57.5050
4) Smith Isaac15:58.4051
5) Nick Vega (same name as #3, manually added 9 points)16:03.9064
Average Time: 15:54.63
Total Time: 1:19:33.13
1-5 Split: 21.43
6) Michael Chalfant16:07.4273
7) Ben Tuckis (used for tiebreaker)16:12.1086
T-2234
1) Sam Quagliaroli14:52.801
2) Nate Thomas15:52.3039
3) Parker Melling16:01.5457
4) Bryson Slagle16:02.7058
5) Henry Wood16:09.7579
Average Time: 15:47.82
Total Time: 1:18:59.09
1-5 Split: 1:16.95
6) Cooper Mohr (used for tiebreaker)16:10.7984
7) Dylan Wolf16:20.77114
8370
1) Ian Baker15:17.058
2) Brandon Haas15:53.4942
3) Elijah Balbach16:03.6863
4) Eli Balbach (same name as #3, manually added 104 points)16:07.4072
5) Tyler Kerzee16:10.1981
Average Time: 15:54.36
Total Time: 1:19:31.81
1-5 Split: 53.14
6) Gavin Nelson16:36.58176
7) Hunter Sardinas17:06.30344
4277
1) Jack Capes15:49.7032
2) Kiefer Jay15:54.7043
3) Jonah Kaul15:58.8052
4) Carter Buhr15:59.0053
5) Deklin Bowser16:15.0097
Average Time: 15:59.44
Total Time: 1:19:57.20
1-5 Split: 25.30
6) Josh Cale16:20.90115
7) Eli Gomez16:23.00121
5295
1) Ronnie Neal15:27.4113
2) Jack Strong15:36.4018
3) John Libs15:51.9337
4) Jack Shinneman16:14.6296
5) Jude Naville16:25.18131
Average Time: 15:55.11
Total Time: 1:19:35.54
1-5 Split: 57.77
6) Caden Jackson16:26.80138
7) Cooper Click16:30.23153
6347
1) Jackson Nolan15:06.102
2) Sawyer Mossberger15:43.7027
3) Brice Johnson15:52.1038
4) Carter Zieren16:15.90100
5) Will Dierlam16:37.50180
Average Time: 15:55.06
Total Time: 1:19:35.30
1-5 Split: 1:31.40
6) Caleb Meritt16:44.98207
7) Josiah Spanner17:30.40513
7358
1) Neal White15:12.003
2) Draven Martinez16:05.0068
3) Jace Works16:05.3069
4) Logan Vanzant16:17.90107
5) Jonathan Klaus16:20.00111
Average Time: 16:00.04
Total Time: 1:20:00.20
1-5 Split: 1:08.00
6) Denton Sluder16:23.30124
7) Cole Stevens16:56.40279
9
Franklin Central High School (IN) (Brownsburg is 8th)
436
1) Evan Farmer15:40.1923
2) Justin Reedus15:56.8047
3) Andrew Wright16:21.98117
4) Emilio Leal16:22.80119
5) Ian Tharp16:24.91130
Average Time: 16:09.34
Total Time: 1:20:46.68
1-5 Split: 44.72
6) Joshua Lasley16:56.39278
7) Cooper Trout17:00.10310


10503
1) Jackson Gackenheimer15:38.4020
2) Tyler Mimnaugh15:53.3041
3) Clark Meridew16:04.8067
4) Rick Orr16:33.00164
5) Noah McPhail16:45.90211
Average Time: 16:11.08
Total Time: 1:20:55.40
1-5 Split: 1:07.50
6) Miles Rager16:48.80238
7) Alex Schrock16:58.80300
11589
1) Baylor Miller15:57.2048
2) Marc Hernandez16:12.5088
3) Xavier Miller16:22.80119
4) Joe Keyser16:23.40125
5) Brady Hicks16:45.60209
Average Time: 16:20.30
Total Time: 1:21:41.50
1-5 Split: 48.40
6) Milo Bullaro17:22.80449
7) Colin Mack17:33.00531
12744
1) Mason Nobles15:39.8022
2) Sam Sienkowski15:57.4049
3) Otto Leake16:13.1091
4) Thomas Krueger16:33.80169
5) Sam Carpenter17:18.30413
Average Time: 16:20.48
Total Time: 1:21:42.40
1-5 Split: 1:38.50
6) Desmond Calhoun17:44.80641
7) Jacob Kusbel17:47.70671
13745
1) Matt Givens16:01.4056
2) Kush Grewel16:27.30140
3) Jack Ryan16:28.30146
4) Tanner Mammolenti16:41.70197
5) Aidan Probst16:44.10206
Average Time: 16:28.56
Total Time: 1:22:22.80
1-5 Split: 42.70
6) Brody Lederer16:50.50245
7) Shahmeer Turk16:53.70268
14787
1) Xaiden Jenson16:17.71105
2) Caden Cassada16:23.73126
3) Cooper Hunziker16:29.42151
4) Brayden Strantz16:38.20183
5) Ahmed Saleh16:47.00222
Average Time: 16:31.21
Total Time: 1:22:36.06
1-5 Split: 29.29
6) Austin Baugh16:52.30259
7) Cooper Huntziker17:07.80356
15823
1) Evan McMahon16:03.2059
2) Aiden Waugh16:10.3082
3) Josh Rodgers16:36.80177
4) Riley Lembke16:51.10248
5) Alex Macdonald16:51.90257
Average Time: 16:30.66
Total Time: 1:22:33.30
1-5 Split: 48.70
6) Cooper Knoblauch16:55.40273
7) Ryan Yoder17:02.90324
16871
1) Cameron Cox16:15.7098
2) Curtis Williams16:28.70147
3) Jayden Salo16:30.80157
4) Michael Leavitt16:47.40226
5) Mason Vrshek16:49.91243
Average Time: 16:34.50
Total Time: 1:22:52.51
1-5 Split: 34.21
6) Baylor Winkelmann16:59.50305
7) Ethan Holbrook17:00.10310
17908
1) Ben Perschon15:34.3016
2) Evan Smith16:20.50113
3) Kristopher GArner16:34.90173
4) Patrick Ryan16:54.80271
5) Dominic Negrete17:04.40335
Average Time: 16:29.78
Total Time: 1:22:28.90
1-5 Split: 1:30.10
6) Matt Tuley17:16.30398
7) Jake O'Sullivan17:30.30510
18918
1) Grant Hostetler16:03.3062
2) Gus Phillips16:20.15112
3) Keegan Terry16:37.40179
4) Max Frank16:51.20251
5) Charlie Cromer17:00.90314
Average Time: 16:34.59
Total Time: 1:22:52.95
1-5 Split: 57.60
6) Elliott DeRyke17:36.50563
7) Issac Fox17:40.00598



191011
1) Jonas Church16:12.5088
2) Isaiah Cordes16:23.20123
3) Jace Bullins16:46.70220
4) Brett Shull16:47.40226
5) Ezra Church17:07.50354
Average Time: 16:39.46
Total Time: 1:23:17.30
1-5 Split: 55.00
6) Chase Howard18:01.30813
7) Kasen Oswalt18:14.40941
201086
1) Zach Risner15:36.8419
2) Mitchell Ford16:46.64219
3) Colin Packer16:51.10248
4) Ian Foster16:56.12277
5) Gavin Thornberry17:02.70323
Average Time: 16:38.68
Total Time: 1:23:13.40
1-5 Split: 1:25.86
6) Kevin Garcia17:10.84368
7) Quinn Murray17:18.20411


211126
1) Ryan Miloudi15:44.9130
2) Jack Chandler16:32.16160
3) Zach Johnson16:53.60267
4) Luca Reynolds16:56.50282
5) Lincoln Miller17:13.80387
Average Time: 16:40.19
Total Time: 1:23:20.97
1-5 Split: 1:28.89
6) Ryan Kelley17:55.00753
7) Aiden Graves18:31.311139
221149
1) Jack Turnbull15:19.5011
2) Elijah weaver16:28.20145
3) Noah Berg16:59.80308
4) Owen Haan17:05.06337
5) Jackson Meneely17:06.80348
Average Time: 16:35.87
Total Time: 1:22:59.36
1-5 Split: 1:47.30
6) Jackson Nobbe17:07.00351
7) John Bailey17:14.78394
231151
1) Owen Mohler16:38.67184
2) Will Snedeker16:41.13193
3) Landon Jones16:48.44235
4) Ty Conner16:51.71255
5) Owen Dilley16:56.76284
Average Time: 16:47.34
Total Time: 1:23:56.71
1-5 Split: 18.09
6) Caleb Haney17:05.40340
7) Bryce Pittman17:25.06470
241159
1) Aiden Borbiev16:22.50118
2) Taegan McKinney16:34.10170
3) Cohen Brunson16:43.20203
4) Zaraab Habib16:47.80230
5) EJ Ellingson17:21.40438
Average Time: 16:45.80
Total Time: 1:23:49.00
1-5 Split: 58.90
6) William Lecoque17:36.10560
7) Dominic Bieberich17:44.70640
251290
1) Aiden Miller16:33.60168
2) Braeden Chastain16:38.00182
3) Braden Fears16:56.60283
4) Owen Frazier17:03.46326
5) Jackson Wright17:04.10331
Average Time: 16:51.15
Total Time: 1:24:15.76
1-5 Split: 30.50
6) Tyreese Brannon17:29.10501
7) Micah Jarvis17:39.80595