Girls Pre-Season Rankings (1-10)
by Colin Altevogt
#1 Lake Central Indians
New Prairie Semistate #1
2007 Results:
Hammond Gavit Sectional: 1st place (16 points)
Crown Point Regional: 1st place (18 points)
New Prairie Semistate: 1st place (32 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 2nd place (114 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Megan Plenus (11) – 18:54 (3rd place)
Dana Payonk (11) – 18:54 (4th place)
Rachel Zajac (12) – 19:13 (7th place)
Kailey Jensen (11) – 19:57 (18th pace)
Anna Kacius (10) – 20:56 (53rd place)
2008 Outlook:
Adding up returners from the state meet based off the amount of points each scored, Lake Central defeats Carmel 129 to 146. Taking into account that the Indians’ duo of Megan Plenus and Dana Payonk did not run as well as usual in Terre Haute, Lake Central is hands down the favorite heading into this season. The Indians’ have four potential All-Staters with Plenus, Payonk, Rachel Zajac and Kailey Jensen. If Lake Central can put four in the top 25, it’s hard to see them not winning.
#2 Carmel Greyhounds
Franklin Central Semistate #1
Brebeuf Regional #1
Carmel Sectional #1
2007 Results:
Carmel Sectional: 2nd place (43 points)
Brebeuf Regional: 2nd place (54 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 2nd place (87 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 4th place (146 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Alex Chitwood (10) – 19:04 (15th place)
MacKenzie Skarcan (10) – 19:17 (17th place)
Kristen Schulz (12) – 19:17 (20th place)
Kayla McCurdy (12) – 19:27 (21st place)
Kim Phan (12) – 19:49 (29th place)
Lindsey Brown (11) – 19:54 (34th place)
Kelly McCurdy (12) – 20:15 (51st place)
2008 Outlook:
Carmel returns all seven of its runners from last season’s fourth place state finals team. In the final year of legendary coach Chuck Koeppen, the Greyhounds should be feeling quite a bit of urgency to send their mentor out on top. While the pack will be strong, nearly any of Carmel’s runners have the potential to break out and finish All-State. Rumors of a strong freshmen class will only help the ‘Hounds as will the experience. Carmel’s runner have a combined 14 cross country state finals appearances.
#3 Westfield Shamrocks
Franklin Central Semistate #2
Brebeuf Regional #2
Carmel Sectional #2
2007 Results:
Carmel Sectional: 1st place (30 points)
Ben Davis Regional: 1st place (40 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 1st place (52 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 1st place (81 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Kaitlyn Love (12) – 18:38 (4th place)
Waverly Neer (10) – 18:57 (11th place)
Bre’anna Smith (11) – 19:46 (26th place)
Jessica Burton (10) – 19:52 (31st place)
Alex Holland (11) – 20:03 (42nd place)
2008 Outlook:
A dynasty in current operation, Westfield has won the past two state championships. The Shamrocks do lose All-Staters Maggie Bingham and Breanne Ehrman but bring back All-Staters Kaitlyn Love and Waverly Neer. In fact, Neer battled injury for much of the early season as a freshman and still rebounded well enough to finish 23rd in her first ever state finals. This season, however, the ‘Rocks will face their toughest test ever.
#4 Valparaiso Vikings
New Prairie Semistate #1
2007 Results:
Chesterton Sectional: 1st place (37 points)
Chesterton Regional: 1st place (40 points)
New Prairie Semistate: 3rd place (106 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 10th place (278 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Megan Ranegar (12) – 18:33 (2nd place)
Cassandra Kirk (11) – 20:18 (25th place)
Emma Weismann (11) – 20:27 (32nd place)
Jillian Ranegar (12) – 20:28 (33rd place)
Jessica Stanfill (12) – 20:38 (38th place)
Hanna Mueller (12) – 21:14 (71st place)
Sarah Wallace (10) – 21:42 (85th place)
2008 Outlook:
The best girls cross country program of the last decade, last season’s tenth place finish snapped an eight-year streak of finishing either first or second at the state meet. With everyone returning from last year’s team, the Vikings might start another string this season. Senior Megan Ranegar is the state’s top returner after finishing second to three-time state champion Alex Banfich in Terre Haute. The rest of the team forms a pretty good pack and could return Valparaiso back to its usual spot on the podium.
#5 Bloomington South Panthers
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #1
Brown County Regional #1
2007 Results:
Brown County Sectional: 1st place (26 points)
Brown County Regional: 1st place (42 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 2nd place (80 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 15th place (376 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Brooke Bierhaus (10) – 19:43 (14th place)
Nicole Lucas (10) – 20:05 (20th place)
Ashley Lewandowski (10) – 20:09 (22nd place)
Taylor Wheeler (10) – 20:22 (27th place)
Carly Derheimer (11) – 20:26 (30th place)
Erin Brown (10) – 20:54 (42nd place)
2008 Outlook:
Bloomington South had a freshman-laden team that was on fire mid-season. The Panthers dominated a good field at the Conference Indiana meet before slamming Bloomington North at the sectional. By the end of the season, however, South tailed off a bit, perhaps due to the long season that the first year runners were not accustomed to. With a year more experience, South could find itself on the podium and should battle crosstown rival Bloomington North for southern supremacy again.
#6 Columbus North Bull Dogs
Franklin Central Semistate #3
2007 Results:
Edinburgh Sectional: 1st place (38 points)
Greensburg Regional: 1st place (40 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 3rd place (135 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 7th place (258 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Siri Retrum (11) – 18:58 (12th place)
Caitlin Burke (12) – 19:36 (25th place)
Jiliane Lakin (12) – 19:50 (30th place)
Tori Ashman (10) – 19:57 (37th place)
Jess Richardson (10) – 20:10 (47th place)
Virginia Steilberg (11) – 20:11 (48th place)
2008 Outlook:
After a two-year hiatus from the state finals, Columbus North returned to the state finals last year off the strength of some new runners. Junior Siri Retrum improved continuously throughout the season in her first year for the Bull Dogs, eventually placing 15th at the state meet. Perhaps one of the deepest teams in Indiana last year, the Dogs had eight different girls break the 20 minute barrier in the season, six of which are coming back. With such a strong team returning, North will be looking to get on the podium for the first time since 2004.
#7 Carroll (Fort Wayne) Chargers
New Haven Semistate #1
West Noble Regional #1
2007 Results:
Fort Wayne Northrop Sectional: 1st place (19 points)
West Noble Regional: 1st place (32 points)
New Haven Semistate: 1st place (48 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 3rd place (119 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Brianna Johnson (10) – 18:16 (1st place)
Samantha Ginther (12) – 19:46 (18th place)
Janelle Gordy (10) – 20:49 (60th place)
Rebecca Downs (12) – 21:11 (79th place)
2008 Outlook:
Semistate results do not display the real potential of Carroll, who nearly finished second place at last year’s state finals and returns four of those runners. Sophomore Brianna Johnson finished fifth at the state meet in her first season of high school cross country and should lead the Chargers again. Fellow sophomore Janelle Gordy ran 19:33 in the regional and Rebecca Downs went 19:43 in the sectional. Both also ran well at the state meet.
#8 Center Grove Trojans
Franklin Central Semistate #4
2007 Results:
Edinburgh Sectional: 2nd place (54 points)
Greensburg Regional: 2nd place (50 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 6th place (170 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 12th place (312 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Sarah Higgens (12) – 18:40 (5th place)
Shelbi Burnett (12) – 18:57 (10th place)
Sophie Paquette (11) – 19:49 (27th place)
Nicole Kruezman (11) – 20:44 (75th place)
Hannah White (10) – 21:02 (88th place)
Chloe Hedeen (10) – 22:40 (141st place)
2008 Outlook:
Center Grove rode three horses to the state meet, banking on the frontrunning of All-Staters Sarah Higgens and Shelbi Burnett. The Trojans will again count on those two plus Sophie Paquette if they are to advance to a fourth straight state finals. If the Trojans want to return to the podium where they finished in 2006, they will need to improve at the fourth and fifth spots.
#9 Northridge Raiders
New Haven Semistate #2
Elkhart Central Regional #1
2007 Results:
Elkhart Central Sectional: 1st place (35 points)
Elkhart Central Regional: 1st place (41 points)
New Haven Semistate: 2nd place (79 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 9th place (264 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Hanna Mercer (12) – 19:33 (16th place)
Megan Hammel (12) – 19:44 (17th place)
Lisa Bond (11) – 20:18 (39th place)
Hayley Kiel (11) – 20:19 (40th place)
Emily Mercer (12) – 21:07 (74th place)
2008 Outlook:
Traditionally one of the best programs in Indiana, Northridge has won four of the past six semistates and qualified for the past eight state finals. Last year’s ninth place finish came in a sub-par race for the Raiders. With five coming back, coupled with a great middle school program and solid junior varsity squad, Northridge should again contend for the semistate title and a podium spot.
#10 Indianapolis Cathedral Irish
Franklin Central Semistate #5
Brebeuf Regional #3
2007 Results:
Brebeuf Regional Sectional: 2nd place (50 points)
Brebeuf Regional: 3rd place (91 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 4th place (135 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 11th place (300 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Katy Achtien (12) – 19:08 (16th place)
Paige Mason (11) – 19:33 (22nd place)
Kelly Shew (12) – 19:56 (36th place)
Molly Lawless (11) – 20:21 (56th place)
Katie Cleary (11) – 20:44 (74th place)
2008 Outlook:
Cathedral was one of the teams that survived the Brebeuf Regional and was later rewarded with a trip to the state meet. Senor Katy Achtien, who has twice been a cross country All-Stater will once again lead the Irish. Like a handful of teams in their area, Cathedral has podium potential but may not get out of the regional.
( Girls 11-20 Teams )