Noah Bontrager has been the top dog in the 1600m all season. There is one more race to decide the definitive #1 choice (Austin Wilson photo)
Date: Friday, June 6, 2025
Location: North Central High School; Indianapolis
Meet Information: HERE
Opening thoughts: The Indiana Outdoor Track & Field State Finals are set to return to Indianapolis for the boys and girls this upcoming spring after nearly 20 years in Bloomington, excluding 2020 and 2021. The North Central Panthers are no strangers to hosting the event, having previously done so from 1972 to 1982 and again in 1997, according to the IHSAA record book.
Remember, this is Indiana, and that means severe weather can occur at any moment. The outlook for several thunderstorms may affect the schedule and outcome of the championship.
Lawrence North is the top-rated team in the IATCCC Coaches' poll. But Avon, Franklin Central, Indy North Central, Bloomington North, and Merrillville will be vying for the first and second-place team trophies.
The fireworks will start with the field events-
The high jump appears to be the marquee event, with five performers clearing 6'11" or better. Led by US#5 Jordan Randall (Jr., Warsaw), who is undefeated through the entire 2025 calendar, which includes an indoor national title at the Nike Indoor Nationals (NIN), clearing a best of 7'2.25." Going into this weekend, Randall indicated he wants to leap over 7'3", which will put him second all time in Indiana annals with a season to go.
With discus throw state leader Zack Frieden (Sr., Kankakee Valley) not in the field, Donovan Arnold (Jr., Concord) and Westen Ott (Jr., Churubusco) seem to be the favorites for the gold medal. Arnold won the Concord Regional by five feet over Ott. Arnold's monster performance of 190'5" was a 16-foot personal best. Kaleb Rasheed (Jr., Avon) comes in with the second-best regional performance of 188'3." This will be a fun event to watch.
Westen Ott will return to compete in the shot put with an undefeated streak on the line. He is the state leader with a whopping 64'11.75" and ranking inside the top 20 nationally. Adam Camphor (Sr., Merriville), Austin Grays (Sr., Avon), Benjamin Brown (Sr., Southport), and Kameron Kauffman (Sr., Warsaw) were 60-foot performers at the regional round.
Isaac Roman (So., Crown Point) is one of the top underclassmen pole vaulters in the country, ranking #4 in his class. On the season, he has just one blemish, from the indoor season, losing to rival Demarco Easter (Jr., Merriville). Roman avenged that loss a while ago and has put up a state-leading 16'9" at the regional round.
We are going to see how real Jaylen Ramsey (Sr., Merriville) is after leaping 24'2.5" at the Valparaiso Regional. Wind gauges and level pits will be on site!
Indiana has individual star power, too-
The Hoosier land is more than corn and basketball buckets. There is also a wealth of great track and field athletes.
The sprints are especially deep, so let's start with the 100m. Lawrence North duo Jerome Smith (Sr.) and Damario Moore (Sr.) could go 1-2, especially after posting slick 10.44 and 10.49 marks last month. There are plenty of sub-10.70 performers in the field. The prelims will determine the top nine to the finals.
Add another Smith (not related) in Antonio Smith (Sr., North Central) in the 200m. He ditched the 300 Intermediate Hurdles, finishing fourth in the state last year. Smith leads the regional qualifiers (21.34). Marcus Townsend (Sr., Avon) will carry his team's title hopes on his back, running 21.59 at regionals. Jerome Smith is also a person of interest in this event.
Dehmn Holt (Sr., North Central) is a superstar in the 400, breaking the 47-second barrier several times, running a PB 46.76 at the Marion County meet, which ranks #2 in state history. After giving up the 200, the DePaul University-bound Holt has a legitimate chance to go under 46.50. If he does that, he will be in a company by himself.
The 110HH will be especially deep with four hurdlers under 14.00. Rylan Hainje (Jr., Franklin Central) clocked a state best and regional leading 13.57. Still new to the event, Hainje broke the state indoor 60HH record (7.76) and didn't make the state finals last year. He will have Evan Williams (Jr., Lawrence Central) and John Peters (Sr., Merrillville) on his tail.
Hainje held off Phoenix Boyer (Jr., Indy Bishop Chatard) in the 300H 37.04 to 37.06. Hainje's mark is #8 and Boyer is #10 in state history. The rematch should be one for the ages.
The relays are gonna be hot, hot, hot-
The 4x800 has been on a pedestal at the state level for years, and this year it will continue. Defending champion Bloomington North ran 7:47.94 in torrential rains a year ago. They would go on to clock 7:38.02, showing their true selves. This season, the Cougars ran 7:47.60 to win their regional. That's IN #2 behind Center Grove's 7:45.46. Behind them both is Columbus North's 7:47.80. Keep an eye on section two and watch someone throw down a sub-7:40.
Brownsburg's 4x100 state record of 40.70 is in real jeopardy if the weather conditions are ripe. Lawrence North's quartet is filled with individual talent, and they ran 40.76 to win their regional championship. While the Wildcats appear to be the heavy favorite, nothing is a sure thing in this crapshoot relay. If there are signs of danger, Brownsburg could come in for the takeover.
The "Showstopper" could be a record-breaking one. There are six teams under 3:20 coming in, but most notably are Chatard and North Central, who clashed at the Lawrence Central Regional. Chatard's "A" is battle-tested (won the Eastern Relays vs. Ohio's top team, Beavercreek) and regional leading 3:14.09 is IN #2 all time. North Central will have the crowd on their side as well as an opportunity to grab a trophy. The Panthers ran 3:14.50 and will be in it to win it.
Noah Bontrager leads the distance running attack-
After producing an outstanding cross-country season that netted All-American honors, Noah Bontrager (Jr., Westview) has not slowed down. He has zoomed through the stoplight and has yet to stop. Bontrager will compete in the 1600 and 3200m runs as the favorite.
In the 1600, Bontrager put the state on notice after winning the Flashers Showcase Mile in 4:07.73 and later followed it up at the Goshen Regional with one of the fastest times in the country, 4:05.04. It could be a sit and kick affair in a 27 field race, but that would be dangerous traffic-wise. Plus, it would play into the hands of Bontrager, doubling back several hours later. Baylor Miller (Jr., Northridge) may have the best opportunity of stopping Bontrager. He took second to him last week in 4:10.37.
One could only hope that a tough race in the "mile" will sap the favorite, Bontrager, for the 3200. He cruised in this event outdoors, running 8:55.79. His regional time was 9:01.26, good enough to get a favorable place on a crowded starting line. However, Bontrager's overall best is 8:46.75 from a third-place finish at the Nike Indoor Nationals in March. His pal Sam Quagliaroli (Sr., Carmel) has the best time out of the regionals, dropping an 8:59.30. Things will be much closer than you think.
Caleb Winders (Jr., Bloomington North) is the odds-on favorite, coming in with impressive marks on his resume. He ran 1:49.90 during the indoor season and later copped All-American honors at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Championships. Outside, he has led his top-rated 4x800 when it counted on anchor and produced a state-leading 1:50.88. After taking second in the finals in two consecutive seasons, Winders will be seething for his first title.