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State Preview Preview
By Colin Altevogt
Girls Coordinator
September 3, 2009
Participating schools: DeKalb, Barr-Reeve, Ben Davis, #16 Brownsburg, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, #1 Carmel, Castle, #24 Indianapolis Cathedral, #14 Center Grove, Clay City, Clinton Prairie, Culver Academy, Danville, Evansville Memorial, Evansville North, Franklin, #3 FW Carroll, Greencastle, Northview, Perry Meridian, Plainfield, Riverton Parke, Roncalli, Seymour, Shakamak, Southport, Sullivan, #15 Terre Haute North, Vincennes Lincoln, West Vigo, #7 Westfield
Last year’s team results
1. Carmel 40
2. FW Carroll 51
3. Westfield 97
4. Center Grove 151
5. Cathedral 165
Top individual returners
1. Brianna Johnson (11) FW Carroll, 18:44
3. Alex Chitwood (11) Carmel, 18:50
4. Renee Wellman (10) Carmel, 18:52
6. Cierstien Deardorf (12) FW Carroll, 19:12
13. Sarah Bennett (10) Carmel, 19:33
The State Preview held on the Laverne Gibson cross country course, home of the IHSAA state finals, features seven teams ranked in the top 25 in Indiana. Chief among the top teams is defending state champion and top-ranked Carmel. The ‘Hounds look to be head and shoulders above the other schools again this season, though they could face challenges from #3 Carroll and #7 Westfield, who will be running in its first 5k race. Individually, state favorites Carmel sophomore Renee Wellman and Culver junior Waverly Neer headline the field. Freshman phenom Tapring Goatee of Terre Haute North should face her first test of the season.
TEAMS TO WATCH
#1 Carmel
The Greyhounds put five runners under 20 minutes, including their top three at 19:00 or faster, en route to an undefeated season against Indiana teams. Carmel has four of last year’s top seven back and again appear to be the team to beat.
#3 Fort Wayne Carroll
The Chargers were just 11 points back from Carmel at this meet, the closest any team got to the ‘Hounds by a large margin. If anyone in the state has a firepower to dethrone the champs, it’s Carroll. The Chargers can certainly match Carmel through three runners. This meet will be telling in terms of the team’s depth.
#7 Westfield
This is the first real test for the Shamrocks, who ran in a hokum karem last weekend and elected to run their JV at a the Harrison 7-way. Westfield has finished on the podium five years in a row, including three consecutive titles.
#14 Center Grove
The Trojans have rebounded well from the last of stars Sarah Higgens and Shelbi Burnett. Burnett’s freshman sister Delainey leads a recharged group of young runners looking to get the Trojans back to the state finals.
#15 Terre Haute North
The Patriots were impressive in an “invitational” in which they were the only team. Freshman Tapring Goatee could help to vault North into the south’s best team. Since the Pats won’t see a lot of competition in the south, this meet will be very important in their rise to the state’s elite.
#16 Brownsburg
Tabbed as a state finalist team in the preseason, the Bulldogs have yet to post any results. They’ll get a great idea about their potential running against state meet hopefuls Westfield, Center Grove and Cathedral.
#24 Indianapolis Cathedral
The Irish were impressive at the new Purdue Invitational, though the course was rumored to be a bit short. Cathedral has a large team and is led by three seniors looking to restore the Irish to their former level of success.
INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH
Aaliyah Evans, Ben Davis
The Ben Davis freshman had a Giant performance at Purdue, finishing only ten seconds behind perennial All-Stater Jordan Chester. The schedule doesn’t get any easier as Evans gets to race against a half-dozen more of Indiana’s best.
Renee Wellman, Carmel
Coming off a 19:30 performance on the challenging Clifty Creek course in Columbus, Wellman figures to be one of three favorites for the individual state title. Having a teammate like Alex Chitwood on her heels can’t hurt.
Alex Chitwood, Carmel
Chitwood was actually beaten by Sarah Bennett at Western last weekend. Nevertheless, she is perhaps the best number two runner in the state and capable of beating nearly anyone on any given day.
Waverly Neer, Culver Academy
The three-time state runner-up in track is looking to assert her dominance on the grass this season. Neer has yet to post any 5k results so it should be interesting to see how she matches up against Wellman, Deardorf and Goatee in her first race.
Cierstien Deardorf, FW Carroll
Deardorf was Carroll’s top runner at the Baron Classic last weekend, and her 19:15 performance on a muddy course is the state’s sixth best time. Is she the Chargers new queen bee?
Brianna Johnson, FW Carroll
Johnson is the defending champion and a two-time All-State finisher. This course is certainly advantageous to her as she has won the state preview meet on it and finished fifth and tenth in two state meets.
Tapring Goatee, Terre Haute North
Like Neer, this will be Goatee’s first chance to test herself against some of the best in the state. The freshman phenom ran 5:08 for a full mile in a road race this summer and went 19:27 in a solo effort at the Sullivan Invitational, the 15th best time in the state thus far.
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