Girls Pre-Season Rankings (11-20)
by Colin Altevogt
#11 Indianapolis Chatard Trojans
Franklin Central Semistate #6
Brebeuf Regional #4
2007 Results:
Ben Davis Sectional: 1st place (43 points)
Ben Davis Regional: 4th place (119 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 5th place (153 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 6th place (210 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Carly Sobolewski (12) – 18:47 (7th place)
Christine Kirby (11) – 19:34 (23rd place)
Emily Boyce (12) – 20:01 (40th place)
Angela Nebesny (12) – 20:35 (68th place)
Nikki Kirschner (11) – 21:27 (104th place)
2008 Outlook:
Chatard has most of last year’s sixth place state championship team back but most improve its depth to return to that high of a ranking among all of Indiana. Senior Carly Sobolewski has emerged as one of the state’s elite, finishing 18th in cross country and third in the track state finals at 3200 meters. The Trojans’ route to the state meet will certainly be difficult, but it could be a path that leads to the podium.
#12 DeKalb Barons
New Haven Semistate #3
West Noble Semistate #2
2007 Results:
West Noble Sectional: 2nd place (38 points)
West Noble Regional: 3rd place (77 points)
New Haven Semistate: 3rd place (137 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 13th place (320 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Autumn Beachy (11) – 19:08 (4th place)
Rachel Hissong (12) – 19:57 (23rd place)
Emily Iddins (12) – 19:59 (24th place)
Carlena Magley (10) – 20:51 (63rd place)
Chelsea Miller (12) – 21:21 (88th place)
2008 Outlook:
DeKalb has been to the past three state finals and has the experience to show for it. With most of last year’s team back, the Barons will be favored to extend that streak to four, giving Rachel Hissong and Emily Iddins four appearances each. Junior Autumn Beachy was 12th at last year’s state meet and will be a favorite to take the individual title at New Haven this season.
#13 Bloomington North Cougars
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #2
Brown County Regional #2
2007 Results:
Brown County Sectional: 2nd place (49 points)
Brown County Regional: 2nd place (42 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 1st place (52 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 5th place (205 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Ann Zerfas (10) – 19:33 (7th place)
Maggie Wagner (12) – 19:34 (10th place)
Holly Biggs (10) – 20:13 (23rd place)
Zoe Withered (11) – 20:16 (24th place)
Emma Winkler (10) – 21:48 (87th place)
2008 Outlook:
After a very slow start, Bloomington North caught fire late last season, losing the regional on a tiebreaker before crushing the field at the semistate and ending on the podium after a fifth place state meet finish. All-Stater Molly Hirt has graduated, and that certainly doesn’t help a Cougar team that was five deep last year. The returning runners will almost assuredly be enough to get North back to a third consecutive state meet. If the Cougars want to be very competitive on the state level again, though, they will need five under 20 minutes as well as an emerging frontrunner.
#14 West Noble Chargers
New Haven Semistate #4
West Noble Regional #3
2007 Results:
West Noble Sectional: 1st place (35 points)
West Noble Regional: 2nd place (67 points)
New Haven Semistate: 4th place (152 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 16th place (399 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Alissa Peterson (10) – 19:13 (6th place)
Rachel Peterson (10) – 19:24 (12th place)
Cassi Grim (10) – 20:57 (67th place)
Allison Musselman (10) – 21:04 (72nd place)
Emily Hursey (11) – 21:14 (83rd place)
Carli Mast (11) – 21:29 (94th place)
2008 Outlook:
West Noble was one of the least discussed teams before last season began but benefited from a top five that included four freshman to advance to the state finals. Six of last year’s seven are back, putting the Chargers in the driver’s seat to return to Terre Haute in November. The frontrunning of the Peterson sisters, who finished 28th and 29th at last year’s state meet, could help the Chargers contend for their first semistate title since 1999.
#15 Franklin Central Flashes
Franklin Central Semistate #7
2007 Results:
New Palestine Sectional: 1st place (57 points)
Rushville Regional: 1st place (32 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 7th place (203 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Allison Blanck (12) – 20:01 (39th place)
Alex Green (10) – 20:03 (43rd place)
Karleen Ritchie (12) – 20:11 (49th place)
Danielle Sullivan (11) – 20:20 (54th place)
Sammie Walsh (11) – 20:37 (71st place)
Lizzie Adams (11) – 21:01 (86th place)
2008 Outlook:
Franklin Central just missed going to the state meet last year. The Flashes bring back six of last season’s seven, but lack the almost requisite frontrunning to advance. Franklin Central should have the tightest pack in the semistate, but not having single-digit points up front could be costly. Each of the returning runners will have to improve to advance, but it’s definitely a possibility again this season.
#16 West Lafayette Red Devils
New Prairie Semistate #3
2007 Results:
Harrison (West Lafayette) Sectional: 1st place (38 points)
Harrison (West Lafayette) Regional: 1st place (31 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 2nd place (99 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Linsey Daluga (12) – 19:05 (5th place)
Kaisa Goodman (10) – 19:25 (8th place)
Kelsey Lewark (12) – 20:02 (19th place)
Mollie Westbrook (10) – 22:46 (124th place)
2008 Outlook:
West Lafayette certainly isn’t the deepest team around, but the Red Devils have one of the best top trios in the state with Linsey Daluga, Kaisa Goodman and Kelsey Lewark. West Side has been to the past two state finals, but they will need to find depth after their big three to stretch that to a third. With three potential top 15 finishers at the semistate, the remaining runners will just be on clean up duty. Still, it’s a sport that takes five.
#17 Madison Cubs
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #3
2007 Results:
Southwestern (Hanover) Sectional: 1st place (25 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Regional: 1st place (44 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 4th place (162 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 24th place (560 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Chelsea Stephan (10) – 19:12 (5th place)
Kristen Hart (12) – 19:53 (17th place)
Claudie Bilenhaut (10) – 21:04 (50th place)
Elizabeth McCabe (10) – 21:12 (61st place)
Claire Schell (11) – 21:13 (63rd place)
Lindsay Simmons (11) – 21:48 (88th place)
Gwen Grimes (11) – 21:58 (95th place)
2008 Outlook:
Madison brings back all of its team laced with freshmen and sophomores that advanced to the state finals last season. With a great 1-2 punch, Madison is virtually a lock to return to the state meet and could perhaps challenge the Bloomington schools for southern supremacy. The Cubs finished last in the state finals last fall but should be better with a year more of running and experience. Sophomore Chelsea Stephan is a potential All-Stater.
#18 Noblesville Millers
Franklin Central Semistate #8
Brebeuf Regional #5
2007 Results:
Carmel Sectional: 3rd place (77 points)
Brebeuf Regional: 5th place (123 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 8th place (233 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Tiffany Cange (11) – 19:15 (18th place)
Jalynne Foley (11) – 19:52 (33rd place)
Taylor Bowles (12) – 20:22 (58th place)
Haleigh Moore (12) – 20:33 (66th place)
Katie Bittner (10) – 21:37 (110th place)
2008 Outlook:
Noblesville advanced from the killer Brebeuf Regional but fell shy of returning to the state meet after placing eighth at the semistate. The Millers will have to be on in all three rounds in order to get back to the state meet and need to develop a good amount of depth afer losing two of last season’s seven. Still, the returning top three from the semistate were on Noblesville’s third place team in 2006 and must be craving to run in Terre Haute again.
#19 Lawrence North Wildcats
Franklin Central Semistate #9
Brebeuf Regional #6
2007 Results:
Brebeuf Sectional: 3rd place (97 points)
Brebeuf Regional: 6th place (143 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Brebeuf Regional):
Alex Daugherty (12) – 18:40 (4th place)
Alivia Schneider (11) – 19:48 (23rd place)
Hollyn Hartlep (12) – 20:01 (31st place)
Madelyn Wilmes (10) – 20:23 (44th place)
Sarah Field (10) – 20:26 (46th place)
Melanie Pugh (12) – 20:50 (53rd place)
2008 Outlook:
Lawrence North was undoubtedly the best team not at the semistate last year. The Wildcats finished sixth in the guillotine known as the Brebeuf Regional. Before that, the ‘Cats had been harboring legitimate state finals hopes. With its top six back again, including All-Stater Alex Daugherty, Lawrence North is a definite contender to advance to Terre Haute, but only if the ‘Cats can survive the regional round.
#20 Munster Mustangs
New Prairie Semistate #4
2007 Results:
Hammond Gavit Sectional: 1st place (44 points)
Crown Point Regional: 2nd place (49 points)
New Prairie Semistate: 4th place (121 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 14th place (372 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Jessica Kitchell (12) – 20:06 (21st place)
Lyndsey Kunz (11) – 20:14 (23rd place)
Brigid Marriott (11) – 20:37 (37th place)
Kyela Spect (10) – 20:54 (51st place)
2008 Outlook:
Munster only has four runners back from last year’s state finalist team, but they are all high quality and could very well take the Mustangs back to Terre Haute. Obviously, Munster will need to find a fifth runner somewhere. If they can find that, a trip to the state finals should be imminent. Munster will play the role of bridesmaid for the tournament, following last year’s runner-up Lake Central from the sectional.
( Girls 21-30 Teams )