In the lead pack

Prep roundup for Friday, Oct. 31

BOYS XC: Panthers' Raab, Rudy, Kats' Cage set for state XC meet

By Tribune Sports Staff

Western seniors Camden Raab and Miles Rudy made strong statements in the IHSAA Brownsburg Cross Country Regional last Saturday.

Raab ran to a second-place finish in the 5K race in a school-record time of 15:13.8, Rudy took fifth place in 15:23.1 and both qualified as individuals for the State Finals on Saturday at Terre Haute.

Raab and Ben Davis senior Aboubakar Ibrahim battled to the regional finish line with Ibrahim winning in 15:11.9.

"I felt pretty good," Raab said. "I thought I could have won so I was a little disappointed on that end, but school record and ultimately made it through [to state] so there wasn't too much to be upset about."

Raab's time broke Chris Williams' school record of 15:22.7 set at the 1980 state meet.

Rudy nearly bettered the former record as well in the regional. He came away with the third-best time in program history.

"I was really surprised with how much time I dropped and that I was in the lead pack as long as I was," Rudy said. "I stayed strong and I kicked down a couple people right at the end to put me in fifth."

The regional featured 25 teams, including three ranked in the state's top 10, and a total of 249 runners.

Rudy said he enjoyed the challenge.

"Very fun — just stay in the pack, see how long you can hold on, and I did a good job keeping up with all of them. I was proud of myself," he said.

Now comes the biggest challenge — the State Finals on Saturday at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute. The boys race is at noon and the girls race is at 1 p.m.

In addition to the Western duo, Kokomo senior Cooper Cage is also in the boys race. Cage learned on Thursday that he has a foot fracture that will require surgery, but he is planning to still run at state.

"I'm happy making state, happy to race with Camden and Miles, I'm pretty good friends with them. I'm excited. It might hurt a little bit, but I didn't come all this way to drop out of state," Cage said.

The Panther standouts are both returning to the state meet. Last year, Raab finished 67th in the 248-runner field in 16:04.6 and Rudy was 89th in 16:15.9.

"I feel ready," Raab said. "I just can't wait to compete out there. Just looking to finish up as high as I can and put a good end to my Western career."

Rudy is eager for another shot at state.

"I wasn't too proud of the race I put together at state last year. This year, I feel a lot better. I tapered less, have more mileage. I'm just ready to go. Hopefully I can get all-state," he said.

The top 25 runners make all-state. Western hasn't had an all-state boys runner since David Graves in 1985.

"It wouldn't surprise me to see Cam in the top four or five and then it also wouldn't surprise me to see Miles in the top 15 to 20," Western coach Gary Jewell said.

Raab and Rudy are plenty familiar with the state course. In addition to last year's state meet, they've run in the Nike XC Town Twilight Meet there last year and again this year.

"I know what to expect," Raab said. "I know how it's going to go out and where sort of I'm going to have to put in moves and how I'm going to have to race."

Raab and Rudy push each other in practices and in races.

"It helps a lot, especially with workouts," Rudy said. "There were a couple times when he wasn't here and I had to do them alone and it definitely was not easy. It wasn't fun either. When he's around, it makes things a lot better and it helps me push to what I want to achieve."

Jewell has enjoyed watching Raab and Rudy develop into two of the program's all-time best.

"Cam went from running 18:20 as a freshman to running 16:29 as a sophomore. Then last year he's down to 15:29. Now he's down to 15:13. It's because he has this drive — he wants to see how good he can be," Jewell said, noting Raab is a student of the sport. "Miles has the same drive. I don't think anyone around here can kick harder than he does. It's amazing what he can do."

Cage took 24th place in the regional in a time of 15:53.4. He is Kokomo's first state qualifier since Jeremy Breedlove in 2013.

"To be honest, I didn't race very good at regional," Cage said. "I got passed up a lot the last 400. I knew I had my spot [for state] and that was pretty much all I cared about and I was running on a little foot injury. Our school record, I just missed by five seconds this year, which kind of sucks."

Cage will have surgery next week for his injury.

"These last two days, I've been running. It's a little uncomfortable, but I'm walking without limping right now," he said. "I really just expected tendinitis or something. I was really surprised about the break. The doctor said I might've had a tiny stress fracture going into regional and then racing on it broke it.

"My initial reaction, I was freaking out, but now I've kind of accepted it. I know God has a plan."

Cage noted the surgery will impact his track season and his goal of breaking the school and county record in the 1,600-meter run.

"That's like three months of running basically gone. The first month I'll be on a scooter. After that, I'll cross-train for two months," he said. "I've been chasing that record since freshman year and I'm getting pretty close. I think I can still do it, but it's going to be a tough recovery."

Cage has signed to run cross country and track at NAIA power Indiana Wesleyan.

"I love their coach, young coaching staff, and it's a Christian-based school. It's perfect for me. It's the only visit I ever took. I just knew it was the spot for me," he said.