BOYS DISTANCE PREVIEW
To start 2025, we’re previewing all 16 events heading into the track & field season. Performances listed reflect an athlete’s best mark on TFFRS from last season. We also have accompanying podcasts that can be heard on Apple or Spotify.
800 (3 returning medalists)
Caleb Winders - 11 - Bloomington North - 2nd at state - 1:49
Mason Schmitz - 10 - Hamilton Southeastern - 4th at state - 1:52
Will Larrison - 12 - Waldron - 8th at state - 1:54
Of note:
Jace Works - 11 - Columbus North - 1:54
Caden Cassada - 11 - Mt. Vernon - 1:55
Ian Baker - 12 - Brownsburg - 1:55
Aboubakar Ibrahim - 11 - Ben Davis - 1:55
Mason Vrshek - 12 - Center Grove - 1:55
Rayce Wolff - 11 - Martinsville - 1:55
Vince Reimondo - 12 - Southmont - 1:55
Outlook: Bloomington North junior Caleb Winders has been second the past two years, and this certainly seems the year he gets his first individual state championship. His 1:49.74 at New Balance Nationals last summer is third all-time, and he holds class records from both his freshman and sophomore seasons. Hamilton Southeastern sophomore Mason Schmitz nearly broke Winders’ freshman mark last year, and he’s established himself ahead of the rest of the field; Schmitz did not run cross country this past fall. Waldron senior Will Larrison is the other returning medalist after finishing eighth last spring. Columbus North junior Jace Works and Ben Davis junior Aboubakar Ibrahim both have elite times among returners in this event and enjoyed successful cross country seasons in which they finished All-State. Either could be an interesting candidate to move up to the 1600 in what could be a much more open field.
1600 (3 returning medalists)
Ian Baker - 12 - Brownsburg - 4th at state - 4:14
Calvin Seitz - 10 - Jasper - 8th at state - 4:17
Ahmed Saleh - 12 - Mt. Vernon - 9th at state - 4:17
Of note:
Caelan D’Onofrio - 11 - Bloomington North - 4:14
Jack Strong - 12 - Noblesville - 4:16
Jack Holden - 12 - Bloomington North - 4:16
Sam Vaught - 12 - Roncalli - 4:16
Max Malloy - 12 - Elkhart - 4:17
Outlook: This is the most open and intriguing distance race, perhaps the most interesting individual event for the boys heading into 2025. Brownsburg senior Ian Baker is the top returner by time and place, giving him tentative favorite status heading into this spring. Jasper’s Calvin Seitz could be a difficult contestant for anyone, especially with the famous sophomore jump in performance. A host of others with potential to finish very high on the podium could be encumbered by relay duty: Bloomington North duo of Caelan D’Onofrio and Jack Holden finish just off the medal stand but will likely be needed for the Cougars’ 4x8 relay that is looking to three-peat. Elkhart senior Max Malloy was ninth as a sophomore in 4:15 but elected for the relay as a junior, helping his team to finish third. Noblesville also has a pair that ran under 4:20 last spring in Jack Strong and Banner Barnes.
3200 (3 returning medalists)
Noah Bontrager - 11 - Westview - 5th at state - 9:01
Shane Conroy - 12 - Portage - 6th at state - 9:02
Jack Hearld - 12 - Danville - 7th at state - 9:04
Of note:
Jackson Nolan - 12 - Evansville Reitz - 9:06
Ian Baker - 12 - Brownsburg - 9:07
Jacob Mitchell - 11 - Bloomington North - 9:13
Liam Bauschke - 12 - Mishawaka - 9:13
Max Malloy - 12 - Elkhart - 9:13
Don’t forget:
Sam Quagliaroli - 12 - Fishers
Neal White - 12 - Columbus North
Outlook: This will be another very competitive year in the longest race in high school. Westview Noah Bontrager is the highest returner, has the best time and enjoyed a very successful season in the fall. Fishers senior Sam Quagliaroli had an even better fall, winning the individual state championship in cross country, but he missed most of last outdoor season after winning the 3200 indoors at the HSR Finals. Columbus North senior Neal White finished second to Quagliaroli at that HSR race and also missed the tournament outdoors. Danville senior Jack Hearld emerged as one of the state’s best distance runners last spring, running 9:04 and earning a medal in the 3200 before carrying that momentum to a third-place finish this fall. It now takes under 9:00 to make the top 25 all-time list in the 3200, and we will likely add more names to the sub-nine club this spring.
4x8
Bloomington North has won this the last two years and while there are no guarantees in sports, the Cougars seem close to a lock already despite graduating half of last year’s winning group. A combination of D’Onofrio and Winders means BN just needs to hold it together in the middle, and senior Jack Holden is probably capable of a 1:52 or 1:53 carry as well. The real race should be for second. Elkhart was a surprise third-place finisher last year and returns both its stars plus another leg. Fishers graduates its two fastest legs from a second-place team, but the return of Quagliaroli could still make this a competitive group at a school that has finished no lower than fourth since Covid. Carmel is the only team in addition to BN and Fishers with multiple top-three finishes in the last four seasons, and the ‘Hounds return two legs from a team that won the slow heat at state in 2024 but finished off the medal stand. Wapahani and Westfield return three legs from podium relays. Noblesville has potential for a very fast relay, maybe one that could even push Bloomington North, though the Millers have elected to focus on individual events most years. Brownsburg and Columbus North could piece together very competitive teams but may opt for open events with their stars as well.
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GIRLS DISTANCE PREVIEW
To start 2024, we’re previewing all 16 events heading into the track & field season. Performances listed reflect an athlete’s best mark on TFFRS from last season. We also have accompanying podcasts that can be heard on Apple or Spotify.
800 (5 returning medalists)
Ellie Barada - 11 - Bloomington South - 2nd at state - 2:06
Mallory Weller - 11 - FW Concordia - 4th at state - 2:09
Carys Glyn-Jones - 12 - Columbus North - 6th at state - 2:11
Ciara Kepner - 12 - Hamilton Southeastern - 7th at state - 2:12
Katy Green - 11 - Zionsville - 9th at state - 2:13
Of note:
Brinkley Cooper - 12 - Noblesville - 2:13
Hallie Mimbela - 12 - Center Grove - 2:14
Macey Thompson - 10 - Lake Central - 2:15
Unlikely to race at state:
Anissa Lammie - 10 - HSE - 2:12
Ava Jarrell - 12 - Pendleton Heights - 2:13
Outlook: Bloomington South junior Ellie Barada moved up from the 400 marvelously, running the sixth-fastest performance all-time and pushing eventual state champion Nicki Southerland to the line. Cross country state champion Mallory Weller of Concordia will have decisions to make in the tournament; she has top 25 performances all-time in the three distance events and her team won the 4x800 relay last year. HSE senior Ciara Kepner has finished on the podium each of the last two years in this event and could provide even more points for the perennially contending Royals.
1600 (2 returning medalists)
Savanna Miller - 12 - Franklin Central - 6th at state - 4:53
Julia Score - 11 - Chatard - 8th at state - 4:54
Of note:
Ava Jarrell - 12 - Pendleton Heights - 4:45
Mallory Weller - 11 - FW Concordia - 4:49
Libby Dowty - 11 - Indian Creek - 4:56
Elizabeth Butler - 12 - HSE - 4:58
Sadie Foley - 11 - Carmel - 4:59
Kenya Leitch - 10 - Columbia City - 4:59
Freshmen phenoms:
Anya Zoeller - Pendleton Heights
Jenna Walker - Kankakee Valley
Daphne Weller - FW Concordia
Shreya Nayee - Penn
Lana Bruggeman - Lake Central
Outlook: With the top five graduated and just two medalists returning, this is a very open event in which the winner probably did not compete in this event at state last year. There are three current high school students that have won individual state championships in cross country or the 3200: Weller, Indian Creek junior Libby Dowty and Pendleton Heights senior Ava Jarrell with both Weller and Jarrell in the top 25 all-time in this event. Any would probably be favored if in this race fresh against the returning field. Five freshmen finished in the top 15 at the state finals this fall for cross country. That class-including Pendleton Heights’ Anya Zoeller who ran under 5:00 in eighth grade–could have a profound impact on the races this spring. Based on order of events, this can be a tricky event. Hamilton Southeastern senior Elizabeth Butler elected for the team’s 4x8 and the 3200 last spring but did run under 5:00. Carmel junior Sadie Foley scored in this event as a freshman and just missed the podium last year. It would be too hyperbolic to declare any season “now or never” at a school the size of Carmel, but this spring does perhaps offer the Greyhounds their best chance to win in many seasons.
3200 (5 returning medalists)
Ava Jarrell - 12 - Pendleton Heights - state champion - 10:10
Libby Dowty - 11 - Indian Creek - 2nd at state - 10:15
Elizabeth Butler - 12 - Hamilton Southeastern - 4th at state - 10:33
Kenya Leitch - 10 - Columbia City - 7th at state - 10:34
Alice Friesen - 10 - Huntington North - 8th at state - 10:36
Of note:
Mallory Weller - 11 - FW Concordia - 10:24
Julia Score - 11 - Chatard - 10:28
Brylee Crass - 10 - FW Concordia - 10:55
Alivia Lozier - 10 - Westfield - 10:55
Sadie Foley - 11 - Carmel - 10:55
Freshmen phenoms:
Anya Zoeller - Pendleton Heights
Jenna Walker - Kankakee Valley
Daphne Weller - FW Concordia
Shreya Nayee - Penn
Lana Bruggeman - Lake Central
Outlook: Being the penultimate event in the traditional sequence, the 3200 can be affected by the three distance events before it. This also has potential to be the best event at the state meet this season. Jarrell, last year’s state champion, holds the number four performance in state history and Dowty, who finished second, sits tenth in the all-time rankings. Weller and Chatard junior Julia Score are also in the top 25 ever for the 3200, though neither ran this as her primary event in 2024. Carmel, with three girls in the top 20 at state this fall, could get some points at the back of the podium here. Butler finished fourth for HSE last year and may opt for the 3200 again. Both Carmel and HSE could be looking for points in the last two events to secure the team title at state.
4x8
Concordia, off the strength of Weller’s 2:09 anchor, passed Carmel in the last leg of this event to win last year. Carmel avenged that loss this cross country season with a 16-point victory in Terre Haute. The Cadets graduate two key legs but have potential replacements after a strong cross country season while the Greyhounds bring back three and have no lack of options in this event in which they’ve finished no lower than fourth since Covid. HSE balanced its lineup in an effort to maximize team points, leaving Kepner fresh for the open 800, and ultimately finished third. On paper, the Royals could also build a squad capable of approaching 9:00.
Homestead, Noblesville and Whiteland all finished on the podium, return three of four legs but each graduated the fastest. North Central and Center Grove finished behind those schools but earned medals last spring and return all four. Chatard was a very competitive tenth-place team and bring back all four from a squad that didn’t use star Julia Score; the Trojans would be unlikely to contend to win but could certainly finish higher with her. Lake Central could form an interesting team; star Macey Thompson ran 2:15 as a freshman then finished fourth at the state meet individually in cross country this fall to lead her team to a third-place finish. Penn is another large school with a star freshman that could bolster an already competitive group.
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