IR SPRINTS/HURDLES PREVIEW!
- Jan 16
- 10 min read
Updated: Jan 23
BOYS SPRINT/HURDLE 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.
100 (3 returning medalists)Sebastian Sprague - 12 - Mt. Vernon - 6th at state - 10.67
Zane Catlin - 12 - Sullivan - 8th at state - 10.71
Coleson Kugler - 12 - Wabash - 9th at state - 10.73
Of note:
Gray Backus - 12 - Delta - 10.56
Karwin Pope - 12 - Princeton - 10.63
Angel Wilson - 12 - Noblesville - 10.65
Collin Bumgardner - 12 - Danville - 10.69
Monshun Sales - 11 - Lawrence North - 10.81
Outlook: The top of the podium is gone to graduation, but last year was also an historic year in sprints. Perhaps those performances regress to the mean, or maybe we’ve turned the corner and will come to see many more years like ‘25. Mt. Vernon senior Sebastian Sprague is among top returners from state meet results in three events and might be tempted to try the triple crown along with the long jump, though the Marauders don’t project into the title. Noblesville senior Angel Wilson could be big for the Millers’ title hopes.
200 (4 returning medalists)
Monshun Sales - 11 - Lawrence North - 2nd at state - 21.09
Alonzo Newbern - 12 - Elkhart - 4th at state - 21.54
Coleson Kugler - 12 - Wabash - 7th at state - 21.40
De’Amontey Layne - 12 - Evansville North - 9th at state - 21.69
Of note:
Sebastian Sprague - 12 - Mt. Vernon - 21.57
Khaliq Akou - 12 - Bloomington South - 21.62
Caleb Terril - 11 - Westfield - 21.65
Angel Wilson - 12 - Noblesville - 21.66
Jaron Jones - 12 - Hammond Morton - 21.77
Dennis Mitchell - 11 - Franklin Central - 21.79
Outlook: Lawrence North junior Monshun Sales is the clear favorite here. He medaled in this event as a freshman, an extreme rarity for a ninth-grader in any individual event. He then set the state meet record in the 200 as a sophomore, though it was in the prelims, and that performance ranks eighth in state history. Already so accomplished heading into his junior campaign, Sales is the runaway favorite in this but could be a contender in other events as well. The aforementioned Sprague could finish high up in any sprint event and Wilson or Franklin Central junior Dennis Mitchell could score points from teams that in the preseason look to be on the fringes of contention.
400 (4 returning medalists)
Camran Mitchell - 12 - Charlestown - 3rd at state - 47.98
Sebastian Sprague - 12 - Mt. Vernon - 4th at state - 47.95
Kervenson Clerger - 12 - Franklin Central - 7th at state - 48.25
Ryder Dazey - 12 - Pike - 8th at state - 48.31
Of note:
Phoenix Boyer - 12 - Chatard - 47.88
Jaden Fisher - 12 - Northridge - 48.71
Hayden Bearden - 11 - Brebeuf - 48.77
Rocky Duplessis - 10 - Fishers - 48.86
Mikel Smoot - 12 - Merrillville - 48.86
Micah Robling - 12 - Evansville Harrison - 48.93
James Bosco - 11 - Bloomington North - 48.95
Outlook: The 400 has seen a revival in the last couple of years. We expect that to continue into this spring and beyond. Charlestown senior Camran Mitchell is the top returner from the state finals, by virtue of his third-place finish. Sprague finished just behind him at the state meet and has the best time of any athlete likely to do this event at state. Franklin Central senior Kervenson Clerger should contend also after finishing on the podium the last two seasons. Like Sprague, he may have another race on his legs prior to the 400 if he is on the Flashes’ 4x8. Perhaps Chatard senior Phoenix Boyer switches from the hurdles to flat races in his last campaign to give himself a better chance for an individual win. Bloomington North would love to grab a few points in this event with junior James Bosco.
110 hurdles (3 returning medalists)
Rylan Hainje - 12 - Franklin Central - state champion - 13.28
Evan Williams - 12 - Lawrence Central - 2nd at state - 13.65
Trevor Perkins - 12 - East Central - 9th at state - 14.03
Of note:
Braylin Tisdale - 11 - FW Homestead - 14.10
Darian Walker - 12 - Evansville North - 14.16
Caison Barber - 11 - Center Grove - 14.43
Jamarion Lane - 11 - Avon - 14.45
Zion Clopton - 10 - Harrison (WL) - 14.46
Outlook: We seemed destined for a dip in hurdle performances after the graduation of Tyler Tarter, but that could not have been further from the truth with the emergence of Franklin Central’s Rylan Hainje who obliterated state records in both events as a junior. Hainje’s presence in the hurdles could send athletes scattering into other events, or it could raise the level of competition even higher in ‘26. Lawrence Central senior Evan Williams, runner-up in this event last spring, ranks sixth all-time and has also posted top marks in the open 100.
300 hurdles (4 returning medalists)
Rylan Hainje - 12 - Franklin Central - state champion - 35.82
Phoenix Boyer - 12 - Chatard - 2nd at state - 36.79
Carter Campbell - 12 - Winchester - 5th at state - 38.27
Braylin Tisdale - 11 - FW Homestead - 9th at state - 38.72
Of note:
Kamarion Ayres - 12 - McCutcheon - 38.85
Aaron O’Neill - 12 - Lake Central - 38.85
Alan Hays - 12 - Bloomington North - 38.87
Sam Long - 12 - Hamilton Southeastern - 38.89
Outlook: This might be Hainje’s better event, although that is a tough distinction since he holds the all-time best performances in each hurdle race. Boyer ranks fifth all-time but might opt for the 400 instead in the tournament. Like the 400, Bloomington North would love to get points out of this with senior Alan Hays.
4x1
Outlook: Lawrence North won last spring, and bring back just one, although that returner could stake claim as the best sprinter in the state. Lebanon finished a surprising fourth and returns three of those four. Westfield finished seventh with a squad of three juniors and a sophomore so the Shamrocks figure to be a contender this year. Bloomington South, Evansville North, Chesterton and Bloomington North are the other state finalists with four returning team members. Franklin Central was DQ’d at the state finals but brings back three relay members from a team that entered the meet as the third seed.
4x4
North Central and Chatard rewrote the records books indoors and outdoors in ‘25, though NC returns no one and Chatard is besieged by graduation as well. Franklin Central has proven to be a mid-distance powerhouse in recent years, and the Flashes return all four from a fourth-place state meet team (a squad that doesn’t even include Hainje). Mt. Vernon in eighth is the other podium group without any seniors. This figures to be a very competitive year as HSE, Bloomington North and Chesterton all return three from top-nine teams. Evansville North brings back all four from a squad that was tenth. Brownsburg, Northridge, Merrillville and Carroll also return entire teams that qualified for state.
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GIRLS SPRINT/HURDLE 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.
100 (5 returning medalists)
Nadia Ford - 11 - FW Carroll - state champion - 11.68
Kennedi Bradley - 12 - Chesterton - 2nd at state - 11.71
Nife Ogunleye - 10 - Brownsburg - 3rd at state - 11.80
De’Janay Lane - 12 - Evansville North - 5th at state - 11.95
Moriah Henry - 11 - Zionsville - 8th at state - 12.10
Of note:
Kennedy Stephens - 12 - Highland - 11.95
Za’Nariae White - 10 - Terre Haute North - 11.99
Aniyah McKenzie - 12 - Lawrence Central - 12.05
Elnora Stevenson - 12 - Whiteland - 12.14
Outlook: After a lot of graduation from the podium two years ago, this season has a more typical number of All-State returners. Carroll sophomore Nadia Ford won this race at the state finals last season. In this and the 200, Ford figures to be a difficult contestant for anyone to beat. She ranks 15th all-time over 100 meters while Chesterton senior Kennedi Bradley sits 19th. Brownsburg sophomore Nife Ogunleye enjoyed an excellent freshman year and could be a contender in the sprints. Terre Haute North sophomore Za’Nariae White showcased a lot of ability upon entering high school; she may factor into multiple events by the state meet.
200 (6 returning medalists)
Nadia Ford - 11 - FW Carroll - state champion - 24.02
De’Janay Lane - 12 - Evansville North - 2nd at state (‘24 state champ) - 24.21
Jaidyn Kimbrough - 10 - SB Adams - 4th at state - 24.59
Kennedi Bradley - 12 - Chesterton - 5th at state - 24.66
Mia Smith - 11 - Valparaiso - 7th at state - 24.78
Emmerson Williams - 12 - North Central (Indy) - 9th at state - 24.53
Of note:
Nife Ogunleye - 10 - Brownsburg - 24.18
Aniyah McKenzie - 12 - Lawrence Central - 25.00
Moriah Henry - 10 - Zionsville - 25.06
Elnora Stevenson - 12 - Whiteland - 25.10
Outlook: This event was one of the deepest heading into ‘25 and culminated in an historically close race at the front. The 200 has seen three different state champions in as many years, all of whom are currently still in high school. Though she did not record any outdoor times last year, Connersville senior Ahniyah Bennett won the half-lap distance as a freshman back in ‘23. By virtue of her win last year as well as her 23.83 performance at a national meet last summer (10th all-time), Ford enters the season as the favorite. Evansville North senior De’Janay Lane could certainly topple Ford as she did in ‘24 and nearly did last June with just .01 separating the two state champions.
400 (6 returning medalists)
Anissa Lammie - 11 - Hamilton Southeastern - 2nd at state - 55.09
Kristina Petkova - 12 - Goshen - 3rd at state - 55.87
Kylee Regalado - 12 - Tri-West - 4th at state - 55.85
Katherine Simmons - 10 - Mt. Vernon (Fortville) - 5th at state - 56.25
Norah Reiger - 11 - Hamilton Heights - 7th at state - 56.70
Reagan Furnas - 10 - FW Dwenger - 9th at state - 57.64
Of note:
Ellie Barada - 12 - Bloomington South - 55.41 (800 state champ)
Gabriela Grande Rosas - 12 - Carmel - 57.08
Adeline Schultz - 11 - Floyd Central - 57.37
Emily Baxter - 12 - Culver Academies - 57.51 (3rd in 800)
Eden Wolfe - 11 - Brownsburg - 57.51
Chloe Senefeld - 12 - Hamilton Southeastern - 57.57 (2nd in 300h)
Emma Kincaid - 12 - Bremen - 57.60
Outlook: Two-time state champion Omema Anywanwu graduates which should open this field up quite a bit. HSE junior Lammie has run top times since entering high school (and even prior to that); she was second last year and, by the numbers, has a gap on the field that is not insignificant. Her team being in the title mix again could mortgage Lammie’s chances in an individual event. Goshen senior Kristina Petkova, 5th in ‘24 and 3rd in ‘25, could earn a third consecutive medal in this event.
100 hurdles (7 returning medalists)
Adriana Swanson - 12 - SB Washington - state champion - 13.83
Jai Brown - 11 - Pike - 2nd at state - 14.01
Isabella Sotello - 11 - Eastern Hancock - 3rd at state - 14.30
Jordyn Fort - 10 - Merrillville - 6th at state - 14.51
Analise Smart - 10 - FW Homestead - 7th at state - 14.55
Emerson Chambers - 11 - Columbus North - 8th at state - 14.62
Khala Williams -Thomas - 12 - FW Northrop - 9th at state - 14.47
Of note:
Jada Harper - 10 - New Albany - 14.00
Jurnee Pearson - 11 - Merrillville - 14.61
Reese McKinney - 12 - Chatard - 14.66
Adriene Shaevitz - 12 - Bloomington South - 14.71
Antre’Onna Osby - 12 - Lawrence Central - 14.73
Sophia N’Gbesso - 12 - Brownsburg - 14.79
Outlook: Both hurdle races project to be very competitive this spring. Defending state champion Adriana Swanson of South Bend Washington ran 13.83 to win this event at the state meet, and her 13.81 in a subsequent postseason meet ranks fifth all-time. New Albany sophomore Jada Harper has run 13.97, 11th all-time, in a meet in Kentucky. Harper was not able to challenge Swanson in the finals of this event after falling in the preliminary round at the state meet. Pike junior Jai Brown ranks 14th all-time in this event and should challenge Swanson and Harper.
300 hurdles (6 returning medalists)
Jada Harper - 10 - New Albany - state champion - 41.52
Chloe Senefeld - 12 - Hamilton Southeastern - 2nd at state - 42.62
Sophia N’Gbesso - 12 - Brownsburg - 3rd at state - 42.84
Isabella Sotelo - 11 - Eastern Hancock - 5th at state - 43.25
Athena Dixon - 12 - North Central (Indy) - 6th at state - 43.59
Adriana Swanson - 12 - SB Washington - 8th at state - 44.05
Of note:
Khala Williams -Thomas - 12 - FW Northrop - 44.34
Outlook: Harper was able to brush off a sub-par race at the regional level and win this event from the first heat last year in a blistering 41.52. That ranks second all-time, just .16 off the state record that has stood for over a decade. Harper could certainly eclipse that this season and may be on her way to becoming one of the most decorated individuals in state history. HSE senior Chloe Senefeld switched from flat races to the hurdles last season with great success; she was second at the state meet in this event, and her time is tied for ninth ever. Brownsburg senior Sophia N’Gbesso ranks 15th all-time, and her performances make the Bulldogs a team contender that should rival Senefeld’s strong Southeastern group. Eastern Hancock junior Isabella Sotelo has earned medals in each hurdle race both years of high school so far and could earn rankings in the top 25 all-time this year.
4x1
Outlook: Carroll returns three, including the state’s top sprinter, from a team that finished second last spring (and the Chargers won in ‘24). That returning core with the presence of Ford makes Carroll the favorite. Brownsburg won in ‘25 and has two back from that relay, plus a deep sprint group from which to promote for this spring. Another sprint powerhouse, North Central, brings back three from a squad that was fourth at the state meet. Pike (5th) and Valparaiso (6th) were the two podium relays with no seniors. Lawrence Central had everyone back, including two All-State-caliber individuals, from a team that just missed the medals.
4x4
Outlook: Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel and North Central have been at the top of the state in this event for years. HSE got the win last year over Carmel; each school brings back two of their four but also have a wealth of talent to draw from to continue into contention this season. Brownsburg, who was third last season, is in a similar position to Carmel and HSE. Bloomington South finished fourth and returns all four, including all-world mid-distance star Ellie Barada. The Panthers could be in team title contention this spring as well. Chatard has three girls back from a seventh-place relay for a school that is a fixture at the state level.
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