Photo: Mike Kepner/MileSplit Indiana
- - -
Tomorrow night, some of the best runners in the country will toe the line under the lights at the historic LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.
A year ago, the greatest high school runner of all-time, Jane Hedengren, bettered Ciara O'Shea's (Madison Central) previous record of 16:52.1, breaking the tape as the clock read 16:50.63.
On the boy's side, McCalllie's (Tenn.) Jack Bowen followed Hedengren's lead and snagged the boy's meet record, running 14:41.68.
This year, the competition is arguably as deep as it ever has been, and we've got a front row seat to what might be the fastest night in the meet's history.
LIBBY DOWTY & ISABELLA KELLER READY TO SQUARE OFF
While Timpview (Utah) is not making the trip this year, the girls' field is still loaded with talent. Leading the way are Indian Creek's (Ind.) Libby Dowty and Effingham's (Ill.) Isabella Keller are one of the top two returners from last year.
Dowty has yet to lose a race this fall. She is on a five-race winning streak, highlighted by a dominant performance at the Hoosier Legends Conference Meet last weekend, where she won by nearly two minutes.
Keller has only raced twice so far this season, but she has made both efforts count. She opened her season with a new 3-Mile best of 15:51.46 at the Spartan Classic last weekend.
A year ago, Dowty and Keller finished second and fourth here, with times of 17:00.79 and 17:15.94, with Dowty holding the edge in their head-to-head matchup.
Carmel's depth makes them a team to watch yet again, led by its trio of Annabel Pollert (17:22), Sadie Foley (17:28), and Larkin Taylor (17:32) will be aiming for strong individual results as well as a second straight team crown.
Pendleton Heights sophomore Anya Zoeller is another rising star. She has opened her season 4-1 with a season-best of 16:53.5, making her one of the top underclassmen in the nation.
Other names to keep in the mix include Aubrey Denning (Effingham), Caitlin Hawkins (Fishers), Lily Rollings (Greenwood Community), Kelsey Rehmel (North Central), and Alivia Lozier (Westfield).
IT'S ANYBODY'S RACE TO WIN ON THE BOYS' SIDE
Photo: Bryan Guevara/MileSplit Texas
- - -
On the boy's side, tomorrow's showdown feels wide open, with more than a dozen athletes capable of taking the tape if it is their day.
From out of state, Denton-Guyer's (Texas) Ruel Newberry enters with momentum after a statement win at Nike South, where he ran 14:39.
St. Xavier's Dom Ellis and Cooper's (Ky.) Paul Van Laningham are right in the mix as well. They went 1-2 at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational in 14:38.02 and 14:38.5. Cleveland's (Tenn.) Owen Clemons, a future NAU Lumberjack, was just behind in 14:39.64.
Indiana natives will have their say, too. Columbus North's duo of Denton Sluder (14:57) and Jace Works (15:01) headline the local charge as they look to add another chapter to their team's winning legacy.
Noblesville's (Ind.) John Libs, a 14:58 performer this fall, will try to improve on his 17th-place finish from a year ago.
Other in-state threats include Bloomington North's Caelan D'Onofrio and Jacob Mitchell, along with Evansville F.J. Reitz's Carter Zieren.
From outside Indiana, Rock Bridge's (Mo.) Luke Sievers and Raymore-Peculiar's Gabriel Voelker add even more depth to the race.
Put it all together, and you have one of the deepest and most unpredictable boys' races in meet history.
