IR TOP 50 GIRLS PRESEASON RANKINGS!

Our annual preseason rankings have begun! You have anxiously been awaiting our early look into the best high school cross country teams in Indiana...your wait is over! We will release 10 new teams each week, counting down to the preseason number 1 team! Who will it be? Where will your team rank? Check back frequently to find out!

#46 – West Lafayette Red Devils

Brownsburg Regional #10

State meet history: 18 appearances (last in 2021), 8 podium finishes (last in 2018), 1 runner-up title (2012)

2025 Results:

Harrison (West Lafayette) Sectional: 2nd place (71 points)

Brownsburg Regional: 9th place (286 points)

Returning Runners: (Based on results from the Brownsburg Regional)

Natalie Cuttell (12) - 18:52 (28th place)

Estelle Seymour (12) - 20:20 (92nd place)

Kaia Ursem (12) - 20:44 (111th place)

Emily Zhou (10) - 21:17 (138th place)

2026 Outlook: The Red Devils are on a bit of a drought from the state meet since the restructured tournament, and the path doesn’t get any easier this year. Still, this will be a competitive team with four of seven back from last year, including individual state meet qualifier Natalie Cuttell. West Lafayette’s three returners from the tournament behind Cuttell form the base of a competitive team, and the Devils should be able to count on sophomore Erica Rogers who was the team’s number two runner for much of the season before missing the tournament. This doesn’t look like a state meet team, but another top-ten regional finish seems possible.

#47 - Leo Lions

Manchester Regional #9

State meet history: Never qualified

2025 Results:

West Noble Sectional: 2nd place (91 points)

New Haven Regional: 10th place (321 points)

Returning Runners: (Based on results from the New Haven Regional)

Rowyn Norris (12) - 18:35 (7th place)

Audri Bultemeier (11) - 20:37 (67th place)

Bella Weninger (12) - 20:47 (74th place)

Helena Kortenber (12) - 21:41 (122nd place)

Jaivanie Gould (10) - 22:03 (140th place)

2026 Outlook: The Lions return five of seven from a tenth-place regional team, including frontrunner Rowyn Norris in her senior year. With Norris’ single-digit points at the regional round, making a push for the team’s first ever state meet out of the least treacherous regional is not out of the question. To do that, Leo would likely need a mixture of substantial improvement from its returning line-up and incoming new talent. With that, the Lions could possibly contend for a trip to Terre Haute and without it then Norris is likely qualifying for her fourth individual state appearance in cross country.

#48 – Northridge Raiders

New Prairie Regional #11

State meet history: 26 appearances (last in 2021), 7 podium finishes (last in 2005), 2 runner-up titles (1993, 2002)

2025 Results:

Elkhart Sectional: 3rd place (88 points)

New Prairie Regional: 16th place (415 points)

Returning Runners: (Based on results from the New Prairie Regional)

Brayleigh Adams (10) - 19:33 (24th place)

Rebekah Miller (11) - 21:22 (110th place)

Natalie Gillette (12) - 21:23 (112th place)

Kloey Swathwood (12) - 22:15 (155th place)

Jade Snyder (12) - 22:37 (175th place)

2026 Outlook: The Raiders bring back the majority of a roster that finished in the back half of the regional, and Northridge figures to be more competitive this fall. Sophomore Brayleigh Adams should be a frontrunner for the Raiders; she qualified individually for the state cross country meet last fall and ran some solid races in track where she dipped under 5:30 for 1600 meters. Northridge’s depth doesn’t seem likely to push for advancement out of New Prairie, but the Raiders’ line-up should be bolstered by at least a pair of incoming freshmen, including one that may be able to race with Adams.

#49 – Corydon Central Panthers

Crawford County Regional #6

State meet history: 2 appearances (last in 2023)

2025 Results:

Crawford County Sectional: 2nd place (60 points) 

Mater Dei Regional: 6th place (205 points)

Returning Runners: (Based on results from the Mater Dei Regional)

Gilian Delong (10) - 19:41 (35th place)

Ella Taylor (11) - 19:50 (41st place)

Rachel Rowan (10) - 20:04 (48th place)

Abby Helms (10) - 21:35 (101st place)

Cara Broom (12) - 21:57 (126th place)

Evelyn Sevilla (11) - 22:06 (132nd place)

2026 Outlook: The Panthers have been consistently competitive the last few years, and that seems likely to continue this season. Corydon made its only two state meets in consecutive seasons then has missed the last two years. The roster coming back is close in terms of placement to make it to Terre Haute, though incoming freshmen will certainly throw a wrench into those projections; the Panthers should get one newcomer that will help with scoring, perhaps substantially, this fall.

#50 – Pendleton Heights Arabians

Franklin Regional #14

State meet history: 6 appearances (last in 2016)

2025 Results:

Noblesville Sectional: 8th place place (204 points)

Returning Runners: (Based on results from the Noblesville Sectional)

Anya Zoeller (11) - 17:47 (1st place)

Sadie Rauh (11) - 21:42 (44th place)

Emerson Tetrault (11) - 23:40 (53rd place)

Adalyn Eichhorn (10) - 24:20 (58th place)

Josephine Bell (11) - 24:26 (59th place)

Leni Rauh (11) - 24:27 (60th place)

2026 Outlook: This may be a bit of an overrating, given the Arabians’ returners, but Pendleton has a lot of security at the top of its lineup with the junior Zoeller who has been at the very top of the state since starting high school. Pendleton certainly does have some returning difference makers; senior Maddie Marsh was competitive but missed the tournament last fall while junior Sadie Rauh had a solid track season, qualifying for the regional in the 1600. While the Arabians absolutely could have one of the 50 best teams in Indiana, advancing from the most competitive sectional in the state will be challenging.