IHSAA REGIONAL PREVIEWS!
Here, we take an in-depth look at the team and individual races in each regional! We will start with the Manchester Regional and the Brownsburg Regional. Check back later in the week for the other three previews!
2026 Manchester Regional Preview
Girls Individual Predictions:
1. Kenya Leitch, 12, Columbia City
2. Daphne Weller, 11, Concordia Lutheran
3. Teresina Cordes, 9, Wabash
4. Alice Friesen, 12, Huntington North
5. Alayna Bruckner, 12, Eastbrook
6. Clare Lebrija, 11, Homestead
7. Emery Knoblauch, 9, Homestead
8. Rylie Paskiewicz, 9, Yorktown
9. Leighton Archer, 10, Concordia Lutheran
10. Lindsey Arnold, 12, Homestead
11. Dani Rastrelli, 10, Warsaw
12. Ella Beale, 10, Bishop Dwenger
13. Rowyn Norris, 12, Leo
14. Gwendolyn Chambers, 9, Snider
15. Cate Sunderlin, 10, Carroll (FW)
16. Abigail Ramseyer, 11, Bluffton
17. Iris Salisbury, 10, Homestead
18. Brylee Crass, 12, Concordia Lutheran
19. Maddie Gentz, 12, Concordia Lutheran
20. Georgia Leininger, 10, Snider
21. Shiloh Bunch, 11, Delta
22. Summer Ross, 10, Angola
23. Alivia Bruckner, 9, Eastbrook
24. Madelyn Shively, 11, Columbia City
25. Olivia Ritter, 12, Prairie Heights
How the Girls Individual Race Might Unfold
There are several podium-level runners in this field, so the pace should be fast early on. Look for Kenya Leitch and Daphne Weller to lead the way. Historically, Leitch likes to push the pace and keep it honest. Wabash freshman Teresina Cordes could also be in the mix, she is having a great rookie season. Also watch for Friesen, Bruckner, Lebrija, Knoblauch, and Paskiewicz to be in this lead group We expect a few girls to break 18:00 and several more under 18:30, with Leitch as the favorite to win and Daphne likely to finish second. We expect the final individual qualifier to be somewhere between 25th-28th place.
Girls Teams Predictions:
1. Homestead
2. Concordia Lutheran
3. Columbia City
4. Carroll (FW)
5. Bishop Dwenger
6. Warsaw
7. Eastbrook
8. Huntington North
9. West Noble
10. Plymouth
11. Snider
12. Culver Academies
13. Yorktown
14. Leo
15. Oak Hill
16. Norwell
17. Bluffton
18. Angola
19. Wapahani
20. Delta
21. Frankton
22. Woodlan
23. Lakewood Park Christian
24. Mississinewa
25. Marion
Girls Team Commentary
In the Mix to Win:
* Homestead- The Spartans have qualified the for the past 14 state meets. They should easily make it 15 this Saturday. Homestead lost the sectional last weekend by 4 points (to Concordia Lutheran), but with Lebrija back in the lineup this weekend Homestead is favored to win the regional. Lebrija and Knoblauch are great frontrunners and the Spartans have great depth. They could put their entire top 5 in the top 20 in this race.
* Concordia Lutheran- The Cadets scored a nice sectional win last week over Homestead. This is a program that has finished as state runners-up each of the past 3 years. They are unlikely to finish that high this year, but this is a podium-level squad, led by junior Daphne Weller. Look for more Concordia girls to be down closer to 19-flat over these next two weekends.
In Good Position to Qualify for State:
* Columbia City- The Eagles are looking to advance to their third consecutive state finals and are in great shape to do that. Kenya Leitch is favored to win the race, which means they will only be scoring 4 girls (plus 1 point for Kenya). Shively and Christman are running well at 2-3. They need strong races from their 4-7 to solidify a trip to Terre Haute.
* Carroll (FW)- The Chargers have qualified for the state meet 22 years in a row. This is their Michael Jordan year, #23. Sophomore Cate Sunderlin is running well up front and fellow sophomore Avery Gagnon looked strong at regional. Junior Olivia Conlon is key. If she runs well, the Chargers have enough depth at 4-7 to advance to state.
On the Bubble:
* Bishop Dwenger- The Saints most recently qualified for state in 2018. We predict this is the year they break that drought. Sophomore Ella Beale has been running great in her past 3 races. This is a team that will rely on their top 7 depth to get the job done. We predict Dwenger takes the 5th and final qualifying spot.
* Warsaw- Never count out the Tigers in October. There is a reason they have advanced to the past 6 state meets. Sophomore Dani Rastrelli is a solid frontrunner, but there is often a 1-minute gap between her and her next teammate. They need that gap to be smaller and a full team effort to challenge for a top 5 finish.
* Eastbrook- This is a school that has never advanced a team to the girls cross country state meet. This is the best team in school history, led by sisters Alayna and Alivia Bruckner. Their 3-5 runners are all freshmen, so this is a program on the rise, but they probably lack the depth required to finish in the top 5. They are a longshot, but their top 2 frontrunners give them a chance.
* Huntington North- Senior Alice Friesen is an elite frontrunner and the Vikings are an experienced group, with 3 seniors in their top 5. They are a longshot, but they are the final team we are placing on the bubble. It’s Lloyd Christmas time.
Boys Individual Predictions:
1. Taegan Mckinney, 12, Carroll (FW)
2. Zander Ritenour, 12, Lakewood Park Christian
3. Jace Trevino, 12, Homestead
4. Kai Feasel, 10, Carroll (FW)
5. Sam Sweet, 11, Carroll (FW)
6. Wyatt Turner, 12, Yorktown
7. Brantley Blair, 9, Oak Hill
8. Memphis Martin, 12, Lakeland
9. Cohen Brunson, 12, Carroll (FW)
10. Thomas Loney, 11, Yorktown
11. Parker Miller, 11, Bishop Dwenger
12. Austin Panning, 10, Concordia Lutheran
13. Myles Cordes, 9, Homestead
14. Caleb Garringer, 12, Jay County
15. Max Arnold, 9, Concordia Lutheran
16. Peyton Engle, 12, Delta
17. Kamden Oswalt, 11, Wabash
18. James Unger, 12, Wabash
19. Louie Pevler, 10, Yorktown
20. Chase Wilson, 12, Northrop
21. Branson Birkey, 12, Homestead
22. Jack McMahon, 12, Homestead
23. Levi Cordes, 11, Homestead
24. Camden Bayless, 9, Homestead
25. Cal Sloffer, 12, Carroll (FW)
How the Boys Individual Race Might Unfold
This field is absolutely loaded! Mckinney, Ritenour, Trevino, Feasel, Sweet, and Turner are all potential top 10 finishers at the state finals. Having said that, there isn’t a single clear favorite. All those guys are within several seconds of each other, so it is hard to tell if anyone will take the lead and push the pace early. I would not be surprised if these guys are all still together around 9:40 through 2 miles. All of them possess elite closing speed, so it is hard to predict a favorite – so I’m not going to. Just sit back and watch an amazing race up front! The top 30 is going to be loaded with guys on team qualifiers, so don’t be surprised if the last individual qualifier is as deep as 35th place.
Boys Teams Predictions:
1. Carroll (FW)
2. Homestead
3. Yorktown
4. Concordia Lutheran
5. Oak Hill
6. Bishop Dwenger
7. Wabash
8. Warsaw
9. Leo
10. Norwell
11. Angola
12. Lakewood Park Christian
13. Northrop
14. Bellmont
15. Culver Academies
16. Lakeland
17. Plymouth
18. Delta
19. Columbia City
20. Muncie Central
21. New Haven
22. Monroe Central
23. Adams Central
24. Marion
25. Wes-Del
Boys Team Commentary
In the Mix to Win:
* Carroll (FW)- The Chargers have one of the best trios in the nation in Mckinney, Feasel, and Sweet. Senior Cohen Brunson is having a great season, as is senior Cal Sloffer. The Chargers are the #1 team in the state for a reason, and they should be considered the favorite to win this regional. They sat most of their varsity at sectional, so they should be ready to race for a regional title.
* Homestead- The Spartans’ results at Sectional were sub-par (for their elite standards), but don’t be fooled – this is a team that can run with anyone. Trevino looked smooth in his sectional victory and this team is so deep with sub-16:00 PRs. They are the only team that can challenge Carroll.
In Good Position to Qualify for State:
* Yorktown- This school qualified for their first state meet last year, and this year they are even better! Wyatt Turner is an elite frontrunner and Thomas Loney & Louie Pevler are having great seasons. The Tigers should earn their second straight state meet appearance.
* Concordia Lutheran- The Cadets always reload. Freshman Max Arnold has been an October surprise, finishing 2nd in a loaded New Haven Sectional last weekend. The Cadets are only 5 deep, though, typically with a 30+ second gap after that. If they run a solid team race, they should qualify for state for the 5th year in a row.
On the Bubble:
* Oak Hill- The Golden Eagles seem to be a perennial bubble team, but their last boys team state meet appearance was 21 years ago (2005). Freshman Brantley Blair is elite up front. They will need a solid team race to make it to Terre Haute.
* Bishop Dwenger- Junior Parker Miller has had a breakout season, and sophomore Liam McCanna is solid. After that, they have work to do. The last Dwenger boys team to qualify for state was back in 2013.
* Wabash- The Apaches qualified for state in 2023 and 2024, but missed out last year. They looked great at sectional last weekend, behind the trio of Oswalt, Unger, and Church. But they are not very deep. They need big races at 4-5 to be a state meet team.
* Warsaw- The Tigers have depth, but they lack an elite frontrunner. They are going to have to put a bunch of guys under 17:00 and rely on the strength of their pack to advance
2026 Brownsburg Regional Preview
Girls Individual Predictions:
1. Annabel Pollert, 12, Carmel
2. Addyson Bautista, 10, Terre Haute North
3. Larkin Taylor, 12, Carmel
4. Ella Staton, 12, Avon
5. Aliyah Yorek, 9, Heritage Christian
6. Stelle Banwart, 9, Zionsville
7. Letty Banwart, 11, Zionsville
8. Alena Wigger, 10, Avon
9. Isabel Garcia, 12, Brebeuf
10. Tessa Vantuno, 9, North Central
11. Grace Leppert, 12, Chatard
12. Olivia Ruch, 9, Carmel
13. Isabella Burgess, 12, Harrison
14. Margo Halle, 11, Carmel
15. Chanlie Busch, 9, North Putnam
16. Lily Gahl, 9, Zionsville
17. Olivia Haberman, 12, Avon
18. Jane Porzel, 12, Zionsville
19. Charly Wolfrum, 10, Heritage Christian
20. Megan Race, 12, Zionsville
21. Riley Myers, 11, Carmel
22. Claire LaBar, 11, Heritage Christian
23. Kendra Harless, 10, Brownsburg
24. Katie Zhuravlev, 11, Carmel
25. Aly Connors, 10, Avon
How the Girls Individual Race Might Unfold
Carmel senior Annabel Pollert has been the number one runner in the state for nearly all of the season, and her adjusted rating on inccstats is almost thirty seconds ahead of the field in this regional and nearly a minute ahead of third place. Terre Haute North sophomore Addyson Bautista did finish ahead of Pollert at the Nike XC Town Twilight a couple weeks ago, and her adjusted rating was 17 seconds faster than Pollert in the sectional round. The race figures to come down to those two, both of whom should factor into the individual race the next weekend at the state championship. Pollert’s classmate Larkin Taylor, who missed a couple races to start the season, has been solid since returning and should lead the chase pack.
Girls Teams Predictions:
1. Carmel
2. Zionsville
3. Avon
4. Heritage Christian
5. Harrison (WL)
6. North Central
7. Brownsburg
8. Chatard
9. Brebeuf
10. Terre Haute North
11. Terre Haute South
12. Herron
13. Faith Christian
14. Pike
15. Plainfield
16. West Lafayette
17. McCutcheon
18. Western
19. Northwestern
20. Jefferson
21. Cass
22. Clay City
23. South Putnam
24. Kokomo
25. West Vigo
Girls Team Commentary
In the Mix to Win:
* Carmel - The Greyhounds are seeking a third consecutive state championship next week and look to be in a similar spot the last two years a couple weeks out from the big race. With the frontrunning duo of Pollert and Taylor, the ‘Hounds essentially score three runners at a meet of this size. Carmel won its sectional by just nine points over Zionsville, and both teams had typical scorers sit out that should return this week.
In Good Position to Qualify for State:
* Zionsville - The Eagles are a lock to qualify and look to be in position to challenge for a podium spot at state. This team is an exciting mix of youth and experience with three potential All-Staters at the top of the lineup. If Zionsville runs its full lineup, the Eagles could potentially challenge the roster that Carmel ran in the sectional round.
* Avon - The Orioles qualified for the state meet last year with a very young group. This year’s team is better and should safely move on to Terre Haute. Senior Ella Staton has enjoyed a breakout season and sophomores Alena Wigger and Aly Connors could give Avon three frontrunners at the regional level.
* Heritage Christian - A couple of newcomers, including frontrunner Aliyah Yorek, should propel the Eagles to their first ever state meet. Yorek’s stability at the front of the lineup gives the Eagles a lot of security, and the depth is good enough to weather any potential issues in this round.
On the Bubble:
* Brownsburg- The Bulldogs are looking to return to the state by virtue of a solid team race on their home course. A mock meet shows that the final spot out of this regional could be very close between four teams.
* Chatard - The Trojans have handled the challenges of graduation well and look to be in a position to challenge for advancement to state. Senior Grace Leppert gets Chatard off to a great start in scoring.
* Harrison - The Raiders don’t have a true frontrunner, and they had the lowest team rating in the sectional round of our bubble teeams. However, this group has shown the best knack for running well at the most crucial times in recent years.
* North Central - The Panthers were fifth in their sectional but project better for the regional round. A great race from freshman Tessa Vantuno coupled with the return of senior Ruby Brown would put NC right in the mix.
Boys Individual Predictions:
1. Keegan Terry, 12, North Central
2. Jonah Kaul, 12, Carmel
3. Lucas Bartlett, 12, Carmel
4. Quinn Murray, 12, Avon
5. Landon Crawn, 10, Terre Haute South
6. Owen Pritchard, 10, North Central
7. Kelton vonEhronkrook, 12, Cascade
8. Ashton Hultman, 11, Brownsburg
9. Josiah Aynes, 12, Brownsburg
10. Grant VanNahmen, 11, Carmel
11. Ryan Evans, 12, Plainfield
12. Francis Holohan, 12, Pike
13. Elliott Rader, 11, Herron
14. Wes Grant, 11, Brownsburg
15. Tim McCluskey, 11, Brownsburg
16. Jacob Tilton, 12, Harrison
17. Hunter Lehe, 11, Faith Christian
18. Marshall Stout, 10, Brownsburg
19. Aiden Miller, 12, Terre Haute South
20. Carter Kellett, 10, Carmel
21. Beck Bennett, 11, Western
22. Aedan Aspaas, 12, Avon
23. Trevor Walton, 12, Carmel
24. Ben Meisner, 12, Carmel
25. Simon Gerber, 11, Avon
How the Boys Individual Race Might Unfold
North Central senior Keegan Terry and Carmel seniors Lucas Bartlett and Jonah Kaul appear to be the class of the field here. Terry won at the MIC by a second over Kaul, though Kaul was the top finisher among this field at the Nike Twilight meet a few weeks ago. The three also raced on this course in early September at the Brownsburg Invitational with Bartlett winning by a few seconds over Terry and Kaul third. Bartlett won last week in the sectional round by less than two seconds over his teammate and Terry not far behind. Terry did beat Kaul (and Bartlett, who is much improved this fall) in last year’s regional meet. Avon senior Quinn Murray won the Ben Davis Sectional and should be in the mix here while Terre Haute South sophomore Landon Crawn easily won his sectional and has displayed a fearless race strategy through the season. Terry’s teammate, sophomore Owen Pritchard, could be a darkhorse contender.
Boys Teams Predictions:
1. Carmel
2. Brownsburg
3. North Central
4. Avon
5. Harrison
6. Zionsville
7. Terre Haute South
8. Northview
9. Chatard
10. Plainfield
11. Brebeuf
12. Northwestern
13. Ben Davis
14. West Lafayette
15. Herron
16. McCutcheon
17. Western
18. Faith Christian
19. Frankfort
20. Lafayette Jeff
21. South Vermillion
22. Clay City
23. Clinton Central
24. Owen Valley
25. Logansport
Boys Team Commentary
In the Mix to Win:
* Brownsburg - The Bulldogs have had a solid season, enjoying a top-five state ranking nearly all season. Brownsburg has five very solid runners and then a drop after that. If all five race to the top of their capabilities, the ‘Dogs become a very hard team to beat. That’s exactly what happened at the Eagle Classic when they posted a 118 team rating on inccstats, best of any in the regional this season. To challenge for the win, Brownsburg will likely need a very similar performance for all five scorers.
* Carmel - The Greyhounds have won two of the three years of this regional since the restructuring of the tournament. Carmel boasts more frontrunning in its top duo of Bartlett and Kaul while junior Grant VanNahmen has emerged in recent weeks as a potential All-Stater as well. The ‘Hounds clearly ran hard last weekend with Barlett and Kaul posting the top two adjusted ratings across the entire state and all seven runners under 16:10 raw time and in the top seven overall. With every team running its best lineup this weekend, the projections point toward a closer score than recent weeks might suggest.
In Good Position to Qualify for State:
* Avon - The Orioles have at times looked more like a bubble team but have performed well in recent weeks, including posting the seventh best team rating in the state in the sectional round. The return of senior Isaac Washington has given the O’s a big boost in the last two weeks.
* North Central - The Panthers were solid in the sectional round, posting a team rating on par with Brownsburg in the sectional round. The Panthers’ duo of Terry and Pritchard could yield fewer than ten points through two runners, and the depth is good enough to qualify comfortably for next week.
On the Bubble:
* Harrison - The Raiders are in a solid position to qualify after posting the fifth best team rating in the regional at the sectional round. That performance was without senior Jonathan King (alternatively listed as Alex King). His return would make Harrison a very tough out.
* Zionsville - The Eagles could possibly be the best team in the state not competing at the state finals. Zionsville’s depth is solid, predictably enough for the second largest team in the state with over a hundred boys on the roster this season, but the lack of frontrunning could be the Eagles undoing in trying to qualify for Terre Haute. Still, if any team in the projected top five trips up, Zionsville is there to step over them.
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