* Kole Mathison heads up to the podium after winning the Indiana state XC boys title
Photo Credit: Owen Fink/MileSplit
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MIDWEST REGION:
Runners in the Midwest always have to brace for the worst at the Team Midwest Regional.
That's because the variables are never quite what you expect. You could get a beautiful day in Terre Haute, Indiana, or you could get biting wind, freezing cold, soggy terrain, or even a muddy mess.
Those who arrive from Indiana at least come with experience. The Midwest region also includes runners from Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri.
This regional championship is held at Lavern Gibson, which also hosts the Indiana State Championships, the Nike Town Twilight meet and has previously held the NCAA Championships.
For our money, it would be hard to bet against Kole Mathison in this situation. The Carmel High School star won his first Indiana state championship two weeks ago and remains unbeaten through seven races this fall. The Colorado recruit, currently ranked No. 7 on the MileSplit50, has also run on this course a handful of times over his career, so he certainly knows how to manage the terrain.
Along with Mathison, the Carmel boys are coming off a hard-fought three-point win at the Indiana state championships over surging Zionsville.
Perhaps that close win gave this team confidence. And that sense of purpose could do wonders to elevate the Greyhounds into an automatic qualifying position for Team Nationals come December.
But they are certainly no lock. There are many teams which expect to challenge Carmel, the first among them being Plainfield South (IL). The Class 3A champions from Illinois are coming off their own fight at the Illinois states championships, which saw them defeat Hinsdale Central (IL) by a mere point.
Carmel enters the regional ranked at No. 3 nationally, while Plainfield South is at No. 6. From there, three more nationally ranked teams are in the field, including No. 13 Zionsville, No. 18 Mason and No. 23 Center Grove.
Only two automatic team-qualifiers exist, which makes matters more compelling.
On the individual side of things, it could be a real hoot.
Mathison may have an edge due to his experience, but any number of boys could also win this race: That includes No. 4 Hunter Jones of Benzie Central (MI); No. 8 Connor Burns of Southern Boone County (MO); No. 11 Sage Wilde of Liberty North; or perhaps even on a great day, Hinsdale Central's Aden Bandukwala (above), the reigning Illinois Class 3A champion, could possibly steal things.
Mathison, Jones and Burns have combined for 26 wins over the 2022 season. All three, to varying degrees, could compete for a national title in December.
MileSplit50 Midwest Regional Rankings
1. Carmel (IN)
2. Plainfield South (IL)
3. Zionsville (IN)
4. Mason (OH)
5. Center Grove (IN)
Team Midwest Team Predictions
Cory's Picks
| finish | team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Carmel (IN) |
| 2 | Zionsville (IN) |
| 3 | Plainfield South (IL) |
| 4 | Hinsdale (IL) |
| 5 | Mason (OH) |
Ashley's Picks
| finish | team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Carmel (IN) |
| 2 | Zionsville (IN) |
| 3 | Plainfield South (IL) |
| 4 | Hinsdale (IL) |
| 5 | Center Grove (IN) |
Team Midwest Individual Predictions
Cory's Picks
| finish | individual |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kole Mathison |
| 2 | Hunter Jones |
| 3 | Sage Wilde |
| 4 | Connor Burns |
| 5 | Aden Bandukwala |
Ashley's Picks
| finish | individual |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter Jones, Benzie Central (MI) |
| 2 | Kole Mathison, Carmel (IN) |
| 3 | Connor Burns, Southern Boone County (MO) |
| 4 | Sage Wilde, Liberty North (MO) |
| 5 | Benne Anderson, Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (MI) |