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Eagle Classic Preview
By Colin Altevogt
Girls Coordinator
September 10, 2009
Participating schools: Bloomington North, #8 Bloomington South, Brown County, Clarksville, #6 Columbus North, East Central, Eastern Greene, Eastern Pekin, Edgewood, Forest Park, Franklin Central (JV only), Franklin, Floyd Central, Greensburg, Horizon Christian, Indian Creek, Jeffersonville, Lawrence Central, Madison, Martinsville, Mt. Vernon, New Albany, North Central (Farmersburg), North Central (Indy), North Harrison, Northview, Perry Central, Silver Creek, Tell City, #5 Terre Haute North, Terre Haute South, Trinity Lutheran, Seymour, Union County, West Vigo
Last year’s team results
1. Columbus North 59
2. North Central 89
3. Bloomington South 96
4. Madison 151
5. Franklin 230
Top individual returners
2. Siri Retrum (12) Columbus North, 19:22
4. Chelsea Stephen (11) Madison, 19:29
5. Nicole Lucas (11) Bloomington South, 20:03
7. Emily Cotterman (10) Terre Haute North, 20:16
8. Erika Wilson (12) Eastern Pekin, 20:18
For the southern part of the state, the Eagle Classic serves much the same purpose as the FlashRock, New Prairie and New Haven Invitationals for their respective areas of Indiana: a chance to race on the course before late October. Still, the Eagle Classic draws teams from all around the state. Last year, a Carmel Semistate team in Columbus North easily ran away from the field on a muddy course.
This time around shouldn’t be such a cakewalk for the Bull Dogs. While the girls race won’t feature a shootout between two state championship hopefuls, there will be a trio of schools hoping to earn podium appearances as well as a handful of potential All-State individuals.
TEAMS TO WATCH
#5 Terre Haute North
Led by two freshmen, the recharged Patriots look like a podium team after being under the radar in the preseason. North was only five points behind a shorthanded Carmel squad (running without Wellman and Chitwood) and well ahead of Westfield, last year’s fifth place state finals team. The Pats should have the best 1-2 punch at this meet.
#6 Columbus North
The Bull Dogs are ranked at the same spot that haunted them at the state finals last year. North put four runners under 20 minutes last weekend at Martinsville, but have yet to face any tough team competition. This should be the Dogs’ first real test before a much bigger one at FlashRock next week.
#8 Bloomington South
Another young team, the Panthers were great at Harrison last weekend. Freshman Anna Voskuil and junior Nicole Lucas are among the best runners in the southern semistate. South should battle Terre Haute North for southern supremacy all season.
INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH
Nicole Lucas, Bloomington South (Brown County Semistate #4)
Lucas was the semistate champion last season and a Preseason All-Stater. She has been her team’s number two so far this year, but finished only five seconds behind teammate Anna Voskuil at Harrison. She could certainly find herself in the mix Saturday.
Anna Voskuil, Bloomington South (Brown County Semistate #2)
One of three freshman phenoms in this race, Voskuil has handled duties all season as South’s number one. Her time at the Harrison Invitational is one of the ten best in the state thus far.
Jessica Richardson, Columbus North (Carmel Semistate #19)
A former role player on solid teams, the North junior has come into her own as a frontrunner. Richardson has beaten two-time All-Stater and teammate Siri Retrum in each race this season and has yet to lose to a runner from Indiana.
Tapring Goatee, Terre Haute North (Brown County Semistate #1)
Perhaps a contender for the individual state title, Goatee ran very well against the formidable Waverly Neer at the State Preview last weekend. She appears to be, hands down, the best runner in the southern semistate, and is certainly among the top tier in Indiana. | |