IHSAA State Meet Top Team & Individual Previews

Nov 01, 2024

Boys Teams

This team is arguably the best looking team in the state right now when using the eye test. Ever since Jack Holden returned to the lineup healthy the team has not suffered a defeat with strong performances down the final stretch. The team features several frontrunners including three that have a good chance at seeing the individual podium with Jacob Mitchell, Caleb Webb, and Caelan D'Onofrio all running sub 15:30 this season. A team win would be the program's first since 1980.

Brownsburg

Brownsburg has an elite group of five runners this year that have all been sub 15:42 including Brandon Haas, Ian Baker, Elijah Balbach, Tyler Kerzee, and Aaron Ferkowicz. The team has had a strong close to the season winning the Hoosier Crossroads Conference Title, Sectionals, and knocked off Carmel by a decisive margin at their own Regional meet. The team has finished 5th and 3rd in their two appearances in the state finals back in 2019 and at last year's championship. This team could be a darkhorse to potentially steal the title with their potential to have 2-5 athletes in the top 25 at state.

Noblesville

Noblesville is an interesting team to look at, the team missed the podium with a 12th place finish last year after making it for the first time in a decade the year prior. This year they look to be even more loaded with Junior John Libs having a breakout year. Aside from Nike Twilight he has not placed further back than third place this year. Paring him up with one of last year's top freshmen Banner Barnes and this year's top freshman so far with Isiah Vohs puts the Millers in a great spot heading into the meet. After not competing in sectionals Vohs and Ronnie Neal returned to the lineup to convincingly win the Shelbyville Regional by 33 points. This team will need to run a great race once again at state if they wish to secure their first XC state title in program history.

Evansville F.J. Reitz

After a 17th place finish last season the team looks to be as strong as ever being led by frontrunner and recent Louisville commit Jackson Nolan. The team won an impressive race early in the season knocking off several top ranked schools in Kentucky in the Run of the Gold meet. Most recently the team made some noise giving Bloomington North a scare at the Evansville Regional Championship. With Carter Zieren, WIll Dierlam, and Sayer Mossberger all having a 15:40 or faster this year and placing in the top 13 at regionals they all have a shot at top 25 this weekend.

Columbus North

Coming off a fourth place finish at the state finals last year Columbus North looks to be in a similar spot this season. The team has been battled tested this year with how often they have been put up against other top programs in the state. Neal White and Jace Works are members that could help the team with all-state finishes.

Carmel

After coming off of back-to-back state championships the Carmel Greyhounds find themselves in a spot in which they have not been in quite some time heading into the state finals. The MileSplit virtual meet and INCCStats both give the team an outside chance at making the podium this year. It would be the first time since October 30th, 2010 that the team would not podium as a team. With a pack of five runners with season bests just under the 16 minute mark they could be a team that strikes if any of the five podium favorite teams falter.

Fishers

Having the ultimate low stick with Sam Quagliaroli definitely helps the Tigers as they will essentially only need to score four runners. They will benefit in a larger race due to this advantage but will need to finish well with their pack behind him if they wish to challenge for the podium

Hamilton Southeastern

Liam Powers has had himself quite the season as he looks to be a top 10-20 runner heading into the meet. The team has a handful of runners that have been sub 16 minutes this year and will need their 4-5 to have themselves a day to beat out Carmel and Fishers. They are more than capable of doing it as they finished runner-up to Noblesville at the Shelbyville regional

More: Team Rankings using the MileSplit Virtual Meet can be found HERE