The Scoop: Cameron Todd's Big Move, Plus Upsets & Top Races

Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

Cameron Todd Earns His First Indiana Title In Resounding Fashion; Dowty Holds Off Southerland In Final 200 Meters

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Boys Results l Girls Results

The trip to Terre Haute, most of it west on I-70, took just about 90 minutes for Cameron Todd. 

But his first Indiana state title? Much shorter.

That was a little south of 15 minutes.

On Saturday, the Brebeuf Jesuit (IN) senior and Notre Dame recruit played to his strengths on the Lavern Gibson Championship course, earning some salvo with 1K to go as he went from fourth to first to finish in 14:55.50, securing the fastest performance at the state meet since Futsum Zienasellassie went 14:48.80 in 2011. 

Todd was seven seconds back from his own best time on this course in September at the Nike Town Twilight Invitational, though his final kick over the last 1K ultimately gapped the field. 

Floyd Central's Will Conway -- injury free and running with confidence -- was second in 15:03.30, while Fishers' Sam Quagliaroli was third in 15:06.00. 

Carmel's Anthony Provenzano finished fourth in 15:06.60, but he still left with a title; the Greyhounds destroyed the field, scoring 76 points. 

No team was even within 100 points of Carmel -- and that, according to the Indy Star, was the first time in 20 years a margin of victory was that large. 

But on Saturday, the story was Todd. A race earlier, Provenzano had beaten him. 

A year earlier, Provenzano had nipped him at the line. 

This time, things were different. 

"He sits back and lets those other guys pull him along, and he knows he has the strength and kick to do it," Todd's coach at Brebeuf, Karl Knerr, told the Indy Star afterward. "When I saw him in fourth place at the 4K, right there in the pack, I felt really good." 

Photo Credit: USA Today 

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Measuring your kick is always a process. 

Even the best struggle to properly identify when, how and just how much effort will be needed to close out races. 

On Saturday, that process seemed tenuous for Libby Dowty, too, especially considering the Indian Creek sophomore was gapped by Delta's Nicki Southerland with less than 400 meters to go. 

That's usually Southerland's final move -- and she's dangerous when that happens. 

But Dowty had one more trick up her sleeve, passing the Delta standout once more on the way toward the girls title in Indiana, clocking a finishing time of 17:06.70. 

The performance was 14th-best on the course in history -- counting NXR Midwest, Nike Town Twilight and the XC Town Championship meets -- while it was the fastest any girl has ever run on the course (in the MileSplit database) during the state meet. 

Southerland, who finished as last year's runner-up to Lily Cridge, was second in 17:15.80. 

Bishop Chatard's Julia Score was third in 17:23. 

Homestead's girls captured the team title with 108 points, fending off Ft. Wayne Concordia Luthern, which was second with 115. Valparaiso was third with 146.