Girls Pre-Season Rankings (41-50)
by Colin Altevogt

#41 New Palestine Dragons
Franklin Central Semistate #14

2007 Results:
Carmel Sectional: 5th place (144 points)
Rushville Regional: 3rd place (111 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 14th place (365 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Courtney Edon (10) – 19:35 (24th place)
Eliabeth Staab (11) – 20:52 (82nd place)
Erin Komornik (11) – 21:00 (84th place)
Kinzie Alter (11) – 21:28 (108th place)
Lauren Sams (10) – 21:49 (121st place)

2008 Outlook:
With a solid frontrunner in sophomore Courtney Edon, New Palestine should again be a team in attendance at the semistate. Though they don’t appear to be a team in danger of challenging for a top six spot, Edon could go as an individual and the Dragons are a threat to finish in the top ten at the toughest semistate in Indiana.


#42 Southport Cardinals
Franklin Central Semistate #15

2007 Results:
Ben Davis Sectional: 2nd place (47 points)
Ben Davis Regional: 4th place (97 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 19th place (463 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Nicolette Crouch (11) – 20:15 (50th place)
Jill Graves (12) – 20:48 (79th place)
Allison Zorman (11) – 21:51 (122nd place)
Chrissy Carmichael (11) – 21:54 (124th place)
Emiliee Vessell (10) – 21:56 (126th place)
Rachel Case (10) – 22:00 (129th place)
Emily Odle (10) – 22:15 (132nd place)

2008 Outlook:
Inexperience may have cost an up and coming Southport team at last year’s semistate, where the performances don’t illustrate the potential of this Cardinal team. Just a week prior, the Cards put six runners under 21 minutes at the Ben Davis regional. Watch for sophomore Emily Odle to be Southport’s top runner. Though she was seventh on the team at the semistate, Odle was the Cards’ number two at the sectional and regional before having a solid track season at 3200 meters.


#43 Hamilton Southeastern Royals
Franklin Central Semistate # 16
Brebeuf Regional #7
Carmel Sectional #6

2007 Results:
Carmel Sectional: 6th place (146 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the Carmel Sectional):
Jessica Postelwaite (10) – 20:12 (13th place)
Maddie Green (11) – 21:33 (32nd place)
Erin Reske (12) – 21:38 (35th place)
Kate Thompson (11) – 21:53 (39th place)
Elyssa Goldstein (12) – 22:45 (43rd place)

2008 Outlook:
Geography is the main deterrent in the Royals postseason hopes. Last year, HSE finished sixth in a loaded Carmel sectional that features seven of this year’s preseason top 50 teams. Without some improved depth, frontrunner Jessica Postelwaite could again make the trip to the Noblesville Regional as an individual.


#44 Hebron Hawks
New Prairie Semistate #7

2007 Results:
Rensselaer Central Sectional: 1st place (53 points)
New Prairie Regional: 5th place (128 points)
New Prairie Semistate: 13th place (308 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Trisha Hanlon (11) – 20:26 (31st place)
Laura MacNeill (10) – 20:50 (49th place)
Elizabeth MacNeill (11) – 21:09 (64th place)
Jordan Hanaway (10) – 22:19 (109th place)
Jasmine Sheetz (11) – 22:39 (120th place)
Molly Marshall (12) – 23:20 (137th place)
Stacy Blank (12) – 23:47 (141st place)

2008 Outlook:
A school of less than 350, Hebron was a tough 13th at last year’s New Prairie semistate. While the Hawks lack a little bit of depth, they do return all of last season’s team with the top five sophomores or juniors. If all five can improve slightly on last year’s performances and the Hawks can perhaps find one more runner around 21 minutes, this is a potential state finalist squad.


#45 Mishawaka Cavemen
New Haven Semistate #13
Elkhart Central Regional #5

2007 Results:
South Bend Riley Sectional: 1st place (50 points)
Elkhart Central Regional: 3rd place (93 points)
New Haven Semistate: 13th place (295 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Ashley Name (11) – 20:32 (47th place)
Anne Ellis (11) – 20:45 (57th place)
Courtney Padgett (11) – 21:30 (97th place)
Emily Thomsen (11) – 22:33 (121st place)
Sarah Louderback (12) – 22:46 (125th place)

2008 Outlook:
Mishawaka loses Katelyn Eberhardt, its frontrunner last season but will gain back Emily Haines, who ran 19:38 in the regional but did not appear in the semistate results. With Haines and Name, who finished fourth place in the state finals 800 and should be looking to continue that momentum into the fall, Mishawka has two potential frontrunners to lead the way for what should be a competitive team. A run toward the state finals will require improved depth.


#46 Heritage Hills Patriots
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #10

2007 Results:
Jasper Sectional: 1st place (62 points)
Crawford County Regional: 3rd place (78 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 6th place (198 points)
IHSAA state finals: 23rd place (558 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Cecilia Oxford (10) – 20:20 (26th place)
Rebecca Bell (12) – 21:38 (80th place)
Kimberly Pund (11) – 21:41 (82nd place)
Heather Schaeffer (10) – 21:42 (83rd place)
Lyndsi Woolems (11) – 24:07 (141st place)

2008 Outlook:
Heritage Hills has five of its top seven returning from last year’s state finalist team. Being one of the first four teams to benefit from the expansion of the state finals field to 24 teams, the Patriots lose top runner Tricia Oxford as well as their number three runner. Those graduations will hurt, but Heritage Hills could still be a competitive team in the south.


#47 Fishers Tigers
Franklin Central Semistate #17
Brebeuf Regional #7
Carmel Sectional #6

2007 Results:
Carmel Sectional: 5th place (144 points)
Brebeuf Regional: 9th place (249 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the Carmel Sectional):
Emily Kuhn (10) – 20:30 (17th place)
Alex Thompson (10) – 21:13 (29th place)
Carrie Gavit (11) – 21:34 (33rd place)
Kelsey Sager (12) – 22:51 (45th place)
Hayley Summers (10) – 24:01 (48th place)

2008 Outlook:
Like cross-town rival Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers has a rough road through the tournament that will make it hard to get through the sectional and regional rounds. Though the team will be hard-pressed to make it through the opening round, its future looks bright with its top three returning for another year.


#48 Homestead Spartans
New Haven Semistate #14

2007 Results:
Bellmont Sectional: 1st place (34 points)
Marion Regional: 3rd place (88 points)
New Haven Semistate: 16th place (418 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Carolyn Mutton (11) – 21:08 (75th place)
Alexandra Kattman (12) – 21:09 (76th place)
Katrina Schreiber (10) – 21:58 (110th place)
Chloe Smith (11) – 22:46 (126th place)
Laura Donnell (11) – 22:50 (130th place)
Meghan Terrell (12) – 22:54 (132nd place)

2008 Outlook:
Homestead returns a solid majority of its sectional championship team from last season, including its typical top three. Terrell was actually team’s usual frontrunner but had an off day at the semistate, running as the Spartans’ number seven. With her, Mutton and Kattman up front, Homestead should have a solid squad, though it will take some newcomers and major improvement throughout the roster to challenge for a state finals berth.


#49 East Central Trojans
Franklin Central Semistate #18

2007 Results:
South Dearborn Sectional: 1st place (45 points)
Greensburg Regional: 4th place (115 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 16th place (418 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Kristal Studer (12) – 19:01 (14th place)
Hannah Messmore (12) – 20:24 (62nd place)
Kellie Gaustad (11) – 21:21 (97th place)
Krystal Barnhorst (10) – 23:09 (144th place)

2008 Outlook:
As was the case last year, East Central is coming off a strong spring in which the Trojans’ 4x800 meter relay earned All-State honors. Still, the Trojans haven’t had good luck in the past translating spring success onto the grass. Senior Kristal Studer returns for her senior year after advancing as an individual to last year’s state finals. Behind Studer, her teammates need to develop some depth after only bringing back four from last year’s team. Senior Kayce Doogs, a 3200 meter state finalist in the spring, could certainly help the cause if she runs.


#50 Crown Point Bulldogs
New Prairie Semistate #8

2007 Results:
Crown Point Sectional: 1st place (30 points)
Crown Point Regional: 3rd place (78 points)
New Prairie Semistate: 9th place (265 points)

Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Laicee Pierce (10) – 19:46 (16th place)
Ksenia Pilarski (11) – 21:24 (77th place)
Morgan Kleinaman (11) – 21:42 (84th place)
Maggie Schwuchow (12) – 22:10 (103rd place)

2008 Outlook:
Crown Point returns four of its top five from last year’s ninth place semistate team, including frontrunner Laicee Pierce who was less than a second from advancing to the state finals as an individual last season. Pierce should be ready to make a leap forward after a strong track season in which she won two sectional titles and advanced to the state finals in the 3200. Her teammates need improvement behind her, but a state finals berth is not out of the question in what may be the weakest semistate in Indiana.