IR DISTANCE EVENTS PREVIEW!!
- lidskins
- Feb 1
- 9 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
BOYS DISTANCE PREVIEW
To start 2026, 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 (6 returning medalists)
Caleb Winders - 12 - Bloomington North - state champion - 1:50
Jace Works - 12 - Columbus North - 2nd at state - 1:52
Jace Trevino - 11 - FW Homestead - 3rd at state - 1:52
Caleb Barnard - 12 - Elkhart Christian - 4th at state - 1:53
Caelan D’Onofrio - 12 - Bloomington North - 6th at state - 1:53
Jackson Yoder - 12 - Concord - 7th at state - 1:54
Of note:
Caden Cassada - 12 - Mt. Vernon - 1:53
Marvin Sanchez-Garcia - 12 - FW Snider - 1:54
Banner Barnes - 11 - Noblesville - 1:54
Colten Smith - 12 - Monrovia - 1:54
Isaiah Vohs - 10 - Noblesville - 1:54
Unlikely to race at state:
Noah Bontrager - 12 - Westview - 1:53
Outlook: Bloomington North senior Caleb Winders got his first individual state championship last spring to go along with a collection of team state titles; he could add to both of those totals this spring with his Cougars in the team race. Winders’ 1:46 in a national meet last June is the Indiana state record–he also owns Indiana class records as a freshman, sophomore and junior–as well as being the all-time U.S. record for a high school junior. A deep and talented field of returners won’t make it easy on him with six of the first seven finishers from last year’s state finals back. Columbus North senior Jace Works and Homestead junior Jace Trevino were second and third at state, respectively; each of them saw marked improvement in the cross country season (as did Winders). The Noblesville duo of Banner Barnes and Isaiah Vohs could push to finish on the podium for the Millers who might also find themselves in the title race.
1600 (5 returning medalists)
Noah Bontrager - 12 - Westview - state champion - 4:02
Baylor Miller - 12 - Northridge - 2nd at state - 4:07
Caelan D’Onofrio - 12 - Bloomington North - 3rd at state - 4:07
Banner Barnes - 11 - Noblesville - 5th at state - 4:10
Zander Ritenour - 11 - Lakewood Park Christian - 9th at state - 4:12
Of note:
Conner Zwissler - 12 - Providence - 4:12
Jace Works - 12 - Columbus North - 4:13
Jackson Gackenheimer - 12 - Warsaw - 4:13
Trey Smith - 11 - Silver Creek - 4:14
Graham Pumphrey - 11 - Columbus North - 4:15
Don’t forget:
Calvin Seitz - 11 - Springs Valley
Outlook: Westview senior Noah Bontrager returns after setting the state meet record in this event last year. His 4:02.60 in that race ranks third all-time, and buzz is building that Bontrager could become the first Hoosier prep under 4:00 for a full mile. Despite all those credentials, he is not a lock. Springs Valley junior Calvin Seitz beat him at the state championship in cross country in a photo-finish; though Seitz did not compete in IHSAA meets last spring, he was eighth in the 1600 as a freshman. Perhaps he will opt for the 3200 fresh, but if not the 1600 at the state meet could be a rematch of this fall’s cross country race. The 1600 could be a pivot-point for the team title race as well with Bloomington North and Noblesville both returning medalists.
3200 (5 returning medalists)
Noah Bontrager - 12 - Westview - state champion - 8:51
Jacob Mitchell - 12 - Bloomington North - 4th at state - 8:57
Jackson Gackenheimer - 12 - Warsaw - 6th at state - 9:05
John Libs - 12 - Noblesville - 8th at state - 9:05
Liam Powers - 12 - Hamilton Southeastern - 9th at state - 9:06
Of note:
Banner Barnes - 11 - Noblesville - 9:06
Caelan D’Onofrio - 12 - Bloomington North - 9:09
Lucas Bartlett - 11 - Carmel - 9:11
Carter Zieren - 11 - Evansville Reitz - 9:12
Camden Raab - 12 - Western - 9:14
Don’t forget:
Calvin Seitz - 11 - Springs Valley
Outlook: Bontrager won this event last year at the state meet as well, just missing the state meet record, a time that has seen the last two champions come within a fraction of a second from breaking. Even with the 1600 on his legs from earlier against a stable of potentially fresh challengers, Bontrager seems the clear favorite based on returners. Still, Seitz is lurking in both this race or the 1600. Distance powers Bloomington North and Noblesville both have returning medalists in this event as well, and that could be key in the team race in this penultimate event. Though he was off the podium last spring in this event, Evansville Reitz junior Carter Zieren made great progress as a distance runner this school year, finishing sixth in the state cross country meet. He could factor in toward the front of the podium this spring.
4x8
Bloomington North won an unprecedented three-peat last year and with all four team members back could very well make it a clean sweep for Winders’ high school career. The Cougars have been pressed in two of their three victories so far and could be this season as well. Columbus North, the cross country state champion this past fall, seems the most likely challenger. The Bull Dogs return three of their four legs from a team that finished third; CN has perhaps the second best 800 runner in the state with Works and shouldn’t be too hard-pressed to find a replacement for the graduated Neal White. Noblesville stayed close with BN through most of the race last year and has the foundation of a great relay in Barnes and Vohs, though they may opt to concentrate on individual events this year. Center Grove returns three of four from a top-five relay as well. Hamilton Southeastern finished just outside of the medals but brings all four back. Castle is the only other state meet team with everyone returning.
For more, subscribe to the Indiana Runner Podcast.
GIRLS DISTANCE PREVIEW
To start 2026, 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 (7 returning medalists)
Ellie Barada - 12 - Bloomington South - state champion - 2:06
Emily Baxter - 12 - Culver Academies - 3rd at state - 2:12
Larkin Taylor - 11 - Carmel - 4th at state - 2:12
Carys Glyn-Jones - 12 - Columbus North - 5th at state - 2:12
Macey Thompson - 11 - Lake Central - 7th at state - 2:12
Mary Asplund - 11 - Bloomington South - 8th at state - 2:12
Katy Green - 12 - Zionsville - 9th at state - 2:13
Of note:
Daphne Weller - 10 - FW Concordia - 2:11
Krista Sytsma - 11 - Kankakee Valley - 2:13
Eden Metz - 12 - Warsaw - 2:13
Unlikely to race at state:
Mallory Weller - 12 - FW Concordia - 2:06
Anissa Lammie - 11 - Hamilton Southeastern - 2:11
Lexi Kollbaum - 11 - Bloomington South - 2:13
Kenya Leitch - 11 - Columbia City - 2:13
Outlook: Bloomington South senior Ellie Barada has the state record and is the only girl in Indiana history to run under 2:04. This is an event that happens later in the meet sequence and is often impacted by preceding races. Regardless of her workload at the state meet, which could be extensive for her title-hopeful Bloomington South team, Barada should win the 800 with ease. Concordia senior Mallory Weller has the fifth-best performance in this event all-time but is unlikely to race this at state (though she was fourth as a sophomore in ‘24). Assuming Weller’s absence and Barada’s dominance, there are a plethora of athletes capable of finishing second and a lot of that could come down to relay duty and qualification in the 1600. In particular, Lake Central junior Macey Thompson was seventh at state in her third race of the day.
1600 (7 returning medalists)
Mallory Weller - 12 - FW Concordia - state champion - 4:43
Anya Zoeller - 10 - Pendleton Heights - 2nd at state - 4:49
Lexi Kollbaum - 11 - Bloomington South - 4th at state - 4:54
Sadie Foley - 12 - Carmel - 5th at state - 4:46
Macey Thompson - 11 - Lake Central - 6th at state - 4:56
Laura Barco - 12 - Martinsville - 7th at state - 4:57
Jenna Walker - 10 - Kankakee Valley - 8th at state - 4:57
Of note:
Ellie Barada - 12 - Bloomington South - 4:49
Daphne Weller - 10 - FW Concordia - 4:57
Libby Dowty - 12 - Indian Creek - 4:57
Kenya Leitch - 11 - Columbia City - 4:58
Julia Score - 12 - Chatard - 4:58
Annabel Pollert - 11 - Carmel - 4:58
Ceci Jackson - 12 - Chatard - 4:59
Outlook: Weller won this event in a tactical race last spring, and her 4:37 converted from a national meet ranks second all-time. She did miss the majority of cross country, including the entire tournament and postseason competitions, but it seems likely she will be in a position to defend her titles from ‘25. That won’t be easy. Carmel senior Sadie Foley ranks tenth all-time in this event, finished third in the state cross country meet and may be fresh for this race depending on her team’s strategy regarding the 4x8. Pendleton Heights sophomore Anya Zoeller pushed Weller in this race at state last year; she ranks 18th in state history. The wildcard is Barada, who will have a full day between the various relays and the 800 but could add the 1600. Her 4:42 converted from a national meet ranks fourth all-time in a distance she has only run a handful of times in high school.
3200 (7 returning medalists)
Mallory Weller - 12 - FW Concordia - state champion - 10:17
Julia Score - 12 - Chatard - 2nd at state - 10:28
Annabel Pollert - 11 - Carmel - 3rd at state - 10:28
Kenya Leitch - 11 - Columbia City - 4th at state - 10:29
Libby Dowty - 12 - Indian Creek - 6th at state - 10:35
Lucy Wood - 12 - Brebeuf - 7th at state - 10:36
Dakotah Moore - 12 - Northridge - 8th at state - 10:36
Of note:
Anya Zoeller - 9 - Pendleton Heights - 10:32
Aurelia Martoglio - 12 - Bloomington South - 10:34
Larkin Taylor - 11 - Carmel - 10:38
Kelsey Rehmel - 12 - North Central (Indy) - 10:39
Lila Van Hoveln - 11 - Penn - 10:41
Daphne Weller - 10 - FW Concordia - 10:42
Alivia Lozier - 11 - Westfield - 10:43
Alice Friesen - 11 - Huntington North - 10:44
Outlook: Weller won this event to complete the Triple Crown as a junior in a race that went nearly down to the line. Repeating as champion will be tougher with all the returning performers. Weller does rank third all-time over this distance with a 10:02 converted indoor performance. Chatard senior Julia Score (19th), Carmel junior Annabel Pollert (20th) and Columbia City junior Kenya Leitch (22nd) also rank in the top 25 and challenged for the win at the state meet. Indian Creek senior Libby Dowty ranks 11th from her sophomore year when she ran 10:15; she missed a substantial amount of time with an injury from wrestling season but returned in time to finish sixth. Dowty won the state championship in cross country this past fall, her second title on the grass. Being the last of the four distance events, this race is often impacted by the other distances.
4x8
Bloomington South won this event at state, broke the state record and returns all four runners, including the state record holder in the open 800. Yet, the Panthers aren’t a lock to win it again this year. Carmel finished within two seconds of Bloomington South and also return all four. Concordia won this event in ‘24; although the Cadets graduated two of those runners, they have also reloaded with a multitude of capable distance runners. The dream match-up is these three schools with fully stacked lineups at the state meet, a rematch of sorts from this fall when they took the first three team places. Team title considerations may change that, especially for Carmel who could successfully defend last year’s state championship but will need even more production from its trio of distance stars. In addition to those three potential sub-nine schools Chatard, Columbia City and Lake Central return all four relay members from podium squads. Floyd Central and Homestead also return all four and might even be able to upgrade one or two of the legs to improve their state meet placing.
For more, subscribe to the Indiana Runner Podcast.
Comments