FlashRock Invitational Preview
By Colin Altevogt
Girls Coordinator
September 17, 2009
Participating Green Race schools: Avon, #18 Indianapolis Cathedral, Delta, #19 Fishers, #2 Franklin Central, Greenfield Central, Greenwood, Guerin, #10 Huntington North, Lawrence Central, New Palestine, North Central (Indy), Perry Meridian, #9 Pike, Plainfield, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Roncalli, Southport, #7 Westfield, #20 Zionsville
Participating Blue Race schools: Ben Davis, #8 Bloomington South, Brebeuf, #14 Brownsburg, #13 Center Grove, Columbus East, #6 Columbus North, Danville, East Central, Frankfort, Franklin, #17 Hamilton Southeastern, Indian Creek, Lafayette Jefferson, #4 Noblesville, Scecina, Seymour, Terre Haute South, Tri-West, Vincennes Rivet, #23 Warren Central
Last year’s combined results
1. Franklin Central 117
2. Noblesville 120
3. Columbus North 126
4. Westfield 130
5. Center Grove 167
Last year’s top returners
3. Jasmine Al-Anzi (10) Franklin Central, 18:36
5. Siri Retrum (12) Columbus North, 18:50
6. Helen Willman (10) Noblesville, 18:52
8. Brooke Morgan (10) Hamilton Southeastern, 19:03
9. Nicole Lucas (11) Bloomington South, 19:08
The combined results at least year’s FlashRock Invitational were a harbinger of things to come. First through fourth place were separated by merely 13 points, the same amount that separated second through sixth at the semistate on the same course just six weeks later. So close were the teams that Franklin Central, who had been beaten by Noblesville in the heads-up Green Race, actually leapfrogged the Millers in the combined results.
This season’s meet figures to be just as exciting with 14 teams ranked in the top 25. The two race meet appears to be divided up rather evenly. Franklin Central, though receiving no love in the coaches’ poll, looks like the overall favorite. Many teams dreaming of advancing to Terre Haute will throw down here.
TEAMS TO WATCH
Green Race
#2 Franklin Central
The Flashes have two of the state’s absolute elite, and the depth isn’t bad either. Perhaps #1 Carmel’s greatest threat in repeating at state champions, FC has five girls with times in the top 100 in the state. A dominating win here could send a message to absent Carmel.
#7 Westfield
The Shamrocks have been slow out of the gate and lack their usual frontrunner(s). Still Westfield is one of the best coached teams in the state with a tradition that has fueled five consecutive podium appearances. The pack is key to the ‘Rocks, who can put all their runners between 19:50 and 20:30.
#9 Pike
The Red Devils get another great chance to match up against the semistate’s best teams. The surging Pike squad looks like a potential state qualifier. The Devils looked great in downing Center Grove, another potential state finalist team, last week at Ben Davis.
#10 Huntington North
The Vikings have been up and down already in this short season. They were beaten in a weekday meet by Warsaw but were dominant last weekend at Blackford. HN appears to be a lock coming out of the New Haven Semistate, but this meet gives them a look at some of Indiana’s best.
#18 Indianapolis Cathedral
One of the largest teams in Indiana with 90 girls on their roster for this meet, Cathedral has shown great frontrunning. Still, the Irish look to have run shorthanded in a few recent meets. An important regular season meet such as this one should be very telling.
#19 Fishers
The Tigers looked good at Ben Davis but ran without Makayla Schultheis. With her as a frontrunner, Fishers certainly has potential to compete for a bid to the state finals.
#20 Zionsville
A team that didn’t advance from the sectional last year looks much improved this season. Freshman Courntey Sampson leads the charge, and the closer teammate Maria McGraw can stay to her, the better.
Blue Race
#4 Noblesville
The Millers looked good upfront at Maconaquah but ran without some of their usual best in the line-up. The young Noblesville team’s order is seemingly interchangeable but is usually led by either sophomore Helen Willman or sophomore Rachel Kacer. A showdown with Columbus North should be interesting as each team has two frontrunners followed by a solid pack.
#6 Columbus North
The Bull Dogs were solid at Brown County, bringing five runners in under 20 minutes. Along with Carmel, Franklin Central and Noblesville, CN is one of four teams with five runners on the top 100 performances list. Two-time All-Stater Siri Retrum appears to be on the rise.
#8 Bloomington South
The Panthers head to their second of three consecutive invitationals that serve as semistate previews before heading to New Haven next week. A good frontrunning duo makes up for a slight lack of depth, at least in terms of state-level competition.
#13 Center Grove
The Trojans were awesome at Brebeuf, but is the team led by three freshman starting to feel fatigued? CG was beaten pretty handily by Pike last week. How they rebound in this meet should be a good indicator of the rest of their season.
#14 Brownsburg
Except for an appearance at the State Preview meet, the Bulldogs haven’t faced a lot of stiff competition. Another team seeming to be on the bubble for a state finals bid, Brownsburg’s performance here could answer a lot of questions.
#17 Hamilton Southeastern
The Royals were great in the county meet, nearly defeating Westfield. A good frontrunner and a decent pack could vault HSE to Terre Haute, though the road to the semistate isn’t exactly paved.
#23 Warren Central
The Warriors ran well at Maconaquah and are back in the rankings after a little absence from the top 25.
INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH
Green Race
Jasmine Al-Anzi, Franklin Central
The sophomore that was easily FC’s number one as a freshman now has some company up front. She and Sullivan look very likely to finish 1-2, but in what order and how fast?
Dani Sullivan, Franklin Central
The senior Flash holds the best time in the state and looks like a potential individual champion. This race will only be Sullivan’s second of the season and first since defeating preseason favorite Dana Payonk at Harrison two weeks ago.
Blue Race
Aaliya Evans, Ben Davis
Not much is known about the Giant freshman, but she did run somewhere in the neighborhood of 19:30 on the state finals course.
Anna Voskuil, Bloomington South
The Panther freshman is one of three great first year rookies out of the south. Voskuil was very close to FC’s Al-Anzi at Harrison.
Maddie Webster, Brownsburg
Webster was phenomenal at the State Preview and could be an individual qualifier to the big show if her team does not finish in the top six at the semistate.
Brooke Morgan, Hamilton Southeastern
Morgan was also competitive at the State Preview and ran well at the Hamilton County meet. A low score certainly helps her team’s chances.
Rachel Kacer, Noblesville
Kacer is one of the five fastest freshman in the state and only one of 19 girls in the state under 19 minutes thus far.
Helen Willman, Noblesville
After a solid freshman campaign, Willman has come into her own this season. Certainly, either of the Miller duo is capable of winning this race individually.