BOYS AND GIRLS XC: Teams, individuals run in regional on Saturday

Kokomo Tribune October 25, 2024

By Tribune Sports Staff

Western's boys cross country team has put together a memorable season by toppling longtime power West Lafayette for the title in the Hoosier Conference meet and by winning the Logansport Sectional.

Now, the Panthers will look to see how they fare in the rough waters of the Brownsburg Regional, which brings together teams and individuals from the Logansport, Harrison, North Central, Terre Haute North and Ben Davis sectionals. The regional is Saturday.

Heavy hitters like No. 3-ranked Brownsburg, No. 6 Carmel, No. 18 Zionsville and No. 20 Ben Davis headline the 25-team field. The top five teams advance to the State Finals along with the top 15 individuals on non-advancing teams. The state meet is Nov. 2 at Terre Haute.

Western took 13th place in last year's regional.

"We're definitely looking forward to regional," Western coach Gary Jewell said. "Last year, because we were such a young team, some of our athletes were ready for the season to be over. That happens more often than we would like to admit. This year, though, I think our group is locked in. They've been looking forward to this for all season."

In addition to Western, the boys teams from Kokomo, Maconaquah, Lewis Cass and Northwestern also advanced from the Logan Sectional to the regional. Eastern's Obi Greene, Carroll's Noah Johnson and Peru's Landen Emerson advanced as individuals.

Jewell is looking for a strong team showing on Brownsburg's course, which he described as fast.

"The latest polls have us finishing around 13th overall, but I think we can do better than that. A realistic team goal is to place in the top 12 and a top-10 placing wouldn't be a stretch. Last year the polls had us 16th but we moved up three spots and were only a point out of the next position," he said.

Individually, Jewell hopes his Nos. 1 and 2 runners, juniors Camden Raab and Miles Rudy, find themselves in the mix for state spots. They lead a postseason lineup that shows only one senior.

"Camden has been ranked in the regional top 20 all season. On paper he's in a good position to get one of the individual state meet spots," he said. "Miles is currently ranked No. 30 in our regional, but he's already beaten several runners ranked ahead of him."

Kokomo is coming off a runner-up finish in the sectional, its best showing since 2013. The Kats are in a regional for the first time since 2017.

"It is a great feeling to be taking the guys to regionals as a team," Kokomo coach Jordan Ousley said. "It has been a work in progress rebuilding the team since I took over a few years ago and to get to the point where we are taking everyone, not just an individual or two, to regionals is big for our program.

"The boys really have dedicated themselves since the end of last season by putting in the winter training, having a good track season, and then this summer and fall they have really been dialed in to reach their goal of advancing as a team."

“The boys worked hard to get here. We know it’s unrealistic to move on to state with our current times. Every runner set a goal to run a new personal best. We aren’t worried about team placement this week. That pressure is gone so we just want to go for it and see how fast we can run,” Perry said.

Eastern’s Greene heads to the regional looking for a repeat trip to state. The Comet senior took 25th in the regional last year to earn one of the advancing spots.

GIRLS RACE

No. 1 Carmel, No. 13 Bishop Chatard, No. 4 Brebeuf Jesuit, No. 14 North Central, No. 15 Zionsville, No. 16 Harrison and No. 20 Brownsburg headline the girls field.

Western junior Camden Raab runs to a second-place finish ahead of Frankfort's Christopher Angeles in the Logansport Sectional's boys race on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Raab led the way as the Panthers won the team title.
Kelly Lafferty Gerber | Kokomo Tribune

Maconaquah heads to the regional as the Logansport Sectional champion. Western and Lewis Cass finished 2-3 and also advanced to the regional as teams.

Ousley hopes the Kats can challenge for a top-15 finish.

"We are in probably the toughest regional in the state out of the five regionals, so we know we have our work cut out for us," he said. "We raced about six weeks ago in the Brownsburg Invitational so we are familiar with the course and the competition that will be there, so we are as prepared as we can be to race on Saturday."

Individually, the Kats are led by junior Cooper Cage. Ousley said Cage has a good feel for the course after running in the regional last year and Brownsburg's invitational last month.

Northwestern coach Josh Perry is looking for his team to cap its season with a solid showing.

Western coach Ray Tetrault is hoping his team can put forth a good effort in the regional.

“I was pretty hopeful going into the tournament season that we could make some noise. Unfortunately we have collectively decided to get sick and miss training with sore throats, coughing and other respiratory issues,” he said.

“I think we can get two runners into the top 50. Kendall DePoy has had a solid season and has led the team all season. I expect her to be in the top 35.”

Tetrault credited the rest of his runners for their work all season.

“All in all, I believe Western will be in the middle of the pack when all the dust settles and the scores are figured out,” he said.

Cass junior Aftin Griffin and Northwestern senior Courtney Adams are strong bets to advance to state as individuals. Last year, Griffin was 21st and Adams was 31st in the regional and both advanced to state.

“Courtney has been to state twice so she knows what it takes. We have talked all week about what it will take to move on. She has had some great workouts and I’m hoping she can take some confidence into the race,” NW’s Perry said.

In addition to Adams, Carroll’s Jillian Salts, Riley Hayden and Audrey Nelson, Kokomo’s Alaina Thompson, Gretchen Riggle and Morgan Rakestraw, Peru’s Bailey Butt and Northwestern’s Ashlyn Kelly also advanced to the regional as individuals.