BOYS SPRINT/HURDLE 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.
100 (4 returning medalists)Marcus Townsend - 12 - Avon - 2nd at state - 10.60
Kellen Watson - 12 - Penn - 3rd at state - 10.59
William Riley - 12 - Greenwood - 4th at state - 10.50
Damario Moore - 12 - Lawrence North - 9th at state - 10.81
Of note:
Isaac Canady - 12 - North Central - 10.64 (wind aided)
Tayshaun Williams - 12 - LaPorte - 10.76
Jaron Thomas - 12 - Concord - 10.78
Tristen Newsome - 12 - FW North - 10.80
Zachary Anderson - 12 - Elkhart - 11th at state prelims
Outlook: This may be the event of the season with three of last year’s top four returning, all of whom have multiple top-five finishes in high school. Picking a favorite is impossible. Avon senior Marcus Townsend has maybe been the most consistently good and had the top finish last season. Greenwood senior William Riley has the best PR and appears on the top 25 all-time performances list; he also had the best finish at state in 2023. Penn senior Kellen Watson has finished in between the aforementioned two at the last two state meets, fourth as a sophomore and third as a junior. Lawrence North senior Damario Moore finished on the podium last spring as well and leads a strong sprint group for the Wildcats that has an outside shot to contend for the state championship. Mason Alexander finished fifth in this event as a junior but graduated early from Hamilton Southeastern and won’t compete this spring.
200 (6 returning medalists)
William Riley - 12 - Greenwood - 2nd at state - 21.69
Tayshaun Williams - 12 - LaPorte - 3rd at state - 21.68
Marcus Townsend - 12 - Avon - 4th at state - 21.62
Zane Catlin - 11 - Sullivan - 6th at state - 22.10
Monshun Sales - 10 - Lawrence North - 8th at state - 21.96
Edwin Watson - 11 - Brebeuf - 9th at state - 22.37
Of note:
Jerome Smith - 12 - Lawrence North - 21.43
Christian Ortiz - 12 - Hamilton Southeastern - 21.62
Kalen Sargent - 12 - Chatard - 21.77
Landon Terry - 12 - Tell City - 11th at state prelims
Outlook: This is a deep field with six of the nine podium finishers back this spring. Riley was second in this event to go along with his fourth-place finish in the 100. Townsend was fourth in this event to go long with his second-place finish in the 100. Both are capable of completing the double, though fatigue could be a factor with preliminary rounds plus relay duty. Lawrence North senior Jerome Smith had the best time among returners but did not advance to the state finals in this event. LN needs every point it can get in the sprints to stay in title contention so two on the podium here would be huge. HSE senior Christian Ortiz had a top time last year for another title contender but might prefer just the 400 and relay duty.
400 (4 returning medalists)
Dehnm Holt - 12 - North Central - 3rd at state - 47.63
Christian Ortiz - 12 - Hamilton Southeastern - 5th at state - 48.44
Kervenson Clerger - 11 - Franklin Central - 6th at state - 49.13
Camran Mitchell - 11 - Charlestown - 7th at state - 48.79
Of note:
Devonti Carter - 12 - FW Northrop - 47.81
Kalen Sargent - 12 - Chatard - 48.17
William Shearer - 12 - Hobart - 48.52
Reagan Shaver - 12 - Evansville Mater Dei - 48.63
Jett Goldsberry - 11 - Heritage Hills - 48.65
Outlook: This event could be a crossroads for title contenders with North Central senior Dehnm Holt and Oritz of Hamilton Southeastern the top two returners. Both seem likely to be at the front of this field and on very good 4x4 relays later in the meet. Fort Wayne Northrop senior Devonti Carter has the second best returning time behind Holt; Carter has run cross country the last couple of seasons and would make an interesting candidate to move up to 800, though that seems unlikely. Chatard senior Kalen Sargent posted great times in the 200 and 400 last year, but did not compete in either at state. The Trojans are on the fringes of contention and would need high podium finishes by him in both events to vie for a team trophy.
110 hurdles (3 returning medalists)
Kieran Barnewell - 12 - Chesterton - 3rd at state - 14.11
James Finley - 12 - Andrean - 4th at state - 14.37
John Peters - 12 - Merrillville - 7th at state - 14.06
Dallas Johnson - 12 - Center Grove - DQ’d in finals - 14.25
Of note:
Davion Chandler - 12 - Lawrence North - 14.43
Evan Ellis - 12 - Plainfield - 14.46
Evan Williams - 11 - Lawrence Central - 14.57
Marcus Bright - 12 - Delta - 14.58
Outlook: This is a pretty open event after the dominance of the now graduated Tyler Tarter last spring. Chesterton senior Kieran Barnewell is the top returner by virtue of his third-place finish, and Merrillville senior John Peters had the best time. Merrillville has potential to get in the mix for the team title as does Center Grove with senior Dallas Johnson qualifying for the final at the state meet in 2024. Senior Davion Chandler getting into the final would be massive for LN as well.
300 hurdles (3 returning medalists)
Antonio Smith - 12 - North Central - 4th at state - 38.65
Damario Moore - 12 - Lawrence North - 7th at state - 38.05
Ben Tapak - 12 - Center Grove - 9th at state - 38.55
Of note:
Phoenix Boyer - 11 - Chatard - 38.64
Kieran Barnewell - 12 - Chesterton - 38.78
Tristan Baxter - 12 - Center Grove - 38.88
Bret Lange - 12 - Heritage Hills - 38.92
Hayden Bearden - 10 - Brebeuf - 39.01
Outlook: The aforementioned Tarter, state record holder in this event, is gone and leaves a very crowded field. Many of the contenders in this event are on top teams as well. Lawrence North senior Damario Moore had the best time, though North Central senior Antonio Smith was the highest finisher at state. Both are on teams harboring realistic hopes to win the state championship. Center Grove senior Ben Tapak is one of those teams as well, and the Trojans have a lengthy history of success in this event. Teammate Tristan Baxter could put two CG seniors onto the podium and bring the total into double digits from just this race. Brebeuf sophomore Hayden Bearden is an athlete to watch for this spring. He did not qualify for state in the 300s but ran under 50 seconds already over 400 meters indoors this winter.
4x1
Outlook: HSE won in 2024 and returns two due to an early graduation. Center Grove was second and has all four back. Cathedral was fourth and has three of those boys returning. This seems an unusually deep list of returners on top teams compared to typical years. Despite dealing with debilitating injury issues, Brownsburg was sixth last year and returns three so the Bulldogs could storm back this spring. Concord and Brebeuf are two other schools that finished on the podium and lose only one to graduation. Lawrence North and North Central both had potential for great relays but neither advanced from the regional.
4x4
North Central won this race last year and returns three, including possibly the best 400 runner in the state. Chatard was second in a near photo finish with NC and also brings back three. Like in the 4x1, Center Grove has everyone back from a high-placing squad (fourth in 2024). Bloomington North finished on the medal stand (eighth last year) and could add runners from their great 4x8 to go along with three returners on the 4x4.
For more, subscribe to the Indiana Runner Podcast.
GIRLS SPRINT/HURDLE 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.
100 (2 returning medalists)
Kennedi Bradley - 11 - Chesterton - 5th place - 11.96
Nadia Ford - 10 - FW Carroll - 6th place - 12.00
Of note:
Kya Crooke - 12 - Heritage Christian - 11.46 (wind aided)
Ahniyah Bennett - 11 - Connersville - 11.99
Izzy Neal - 12 - Brownsburg - 12.03
Iana Tecson - 11 - Evansville North - 12.08
Tiara Gray - 12 - Portage - 12.10
Emily Norris - 12 - Carmel - 11th in prelims at state
Outlook: Due to the scant amount of returning medalists, this is an event potentially very open going into 2025. Chesterton junior Kennedi Bradley is the top returner and has the best returning legal time from last year. Carroll sophomore Nadia Ford finished just behind Bradley at state, and her team’s title hopes revolve around her performances. Connersville junior Ahniyah Bennett was fifth as a freshman in 2023 but did not advance to state last spring at this distance. Heritage superstar Kya Crooke is in a similar position: she medaled two years ago in this event but did not compete at state last year. The Evansville North duo of Iana Tecson and De’Janay Lane could jumpstart their team’s title contention with a great spring in both short sprints. Carmel senior Emily Norris has just missed the medal stand the past two years and could really help her team’s title hopes this year.
200 (5 returning medalists)
De’Janay Lane - 11 - Evansville North - state champion - 24.58
Ahniyah Bennett - 11 - Connersville - 2nd at state (‘23 state champ) - 24.53
Nadia Ford - 10 - FW Carroll - 6th at state - 24.70
Izzy Neal - 12 - Brownsburg - 7th at state - 25.15
Emily Norris - 12 - Carmel - 8th at state - 25.07
Of note:
Tiara Gray - 12 - Portage - 24.60
Iana Tecson - 11 - Evansville North - 24.65
Aniyah McKenzie - 11 - Lawrence Central - 24.91
Abby Journay - 11 - New Palestine - 24.99
Outlook: This event is much deeper than the 100, and we have the rare opportunity to see two state champions compete in the event they won this season. Lane won in 2024 with Bennett taking the crown the year before, though Bennett has the top returning mark from last season. Portage senior Tiara Gray has the third best mark among returners, not far behind Lane and Bennett with Tecson of Evansville North also very close. The 200 could be a big showdown of athletes looking to score team points as the meet winds down. Evansville North has two potential finalists, Ford provides hope for Carroll and Norris has been a constant among the state’s best for Carmel. Both Norris and Brownsburg senior Izzy Neal scored in the half-lap distance at state the past two years along with Bennett.
400 (4 returning medalists)
Omema Anyanwu - 12 - Zionsville - state champion - 55.67
Kristina Petkova - 11 - Goshen - 5th at state - 56.40
Gabriela Grande Rosas - 11 - Carmel - 6th at state - 56.88
Kylie Bird - 12 - Portage - 9th at state - 57.42
Of note:
Anissa Lammie - 10 - HSE - 55.34
Ava Grace Winters - 11 - Lawrence North - 56.42
Adeline Shultz - 10 - Floyd Central - 56.56
Ciara Kepner - 12 - HSE - 56.91
Outlook: Zionsville senior Omema Anyanwu is one of just four returning individual winners among 13 open races going into 2025. She passed several in a tight field to win this event after entering last spring as the top returner when she was fourth as a sophomore in 2023. Hamilton Southeastern sophomore Anissa Lammie returns with the best time and was pretty dominant through most of the outdoor season but missed the podium at state. Her school could be in the title mix again, which is also the case for Carmel junior Gabriela Grande Rosas who was sixth at state. Avon senior Nevaeh Wren climbed the podium in this event in 2023 but missed it last spring. The aforementioned Lane and Bennett, both state champions over 200 meters, could become contenders in this by moving up in distance.
100 hurdles (4 returning medalists)
Isabella Sotelo - 10 - Eastern Hancock - 3rd at state - 14.72
Aubrey Runyon - 12 - Franklin - 5th at state - 14.52
Reese McKinney - 11 - Chatard - 8th at state - 14.58
Sophia N’Gbesso - 11 - Brownsburg - 9th at state - 14.94
Of note:
Adriana Swanson - 11 - SB Washington - 14.77
Alexa Yeomans - 12 - South Ripley - 14.86
Antre’Onna Osby - 11 - Lawrence Central - 14.97
Jai Brown - 10 - Pike - 11th in prelims at state
Outlook: Eastern Hancock sophomore Isabella Sotelo is the top returner by state meet place in an event that typically takes time to master. Franklin senior Aubrey Runyon has the best performance among those still in high school and the most experience as the only two-time medalist in this event. Those are probably the top two contenders. South Bend Washington junior Adriana Swanson finished sixth in 2023 and missed the final as a sophomore by just one place in the prelims. Though she’s never competed in this event in her first three years of high school, this could be a potential (albeit unlikely) landing spot for Crooke in trying to maximize points for Heritage Christian’s title chances.
300 hurdles (4 returning medalists)
Aubrey Runyon - 12 - Franklin - 5th at state - 44.38
Isabella Sotelo - 10 - Eastern Hancock - 6th at state - 44.41
Kate Kubacki - 12 - Cathedral - 7th at state - 44.41
Kenzie Crooke - 10 - Heritage Christian - 8th at state - 45.01
Of note:
Kya Crooke - 12 - Heritage Christian - 2nd at state in ‘23 - did not race in ‘24
Adelle Schlotterback - 12 - FW Carroll - 44.38
Alyssa Davis - 12 - FW Carroll - 44.84
Sophia N’Gbesso - 11 - Brownsburg - 45.23
Outlook: Runyon and Sotelo flip here as the top two returners from state. Cathedral senior Kate Kubacki is a contender as well after finishing in the medals the last two years, fourth as a sophomore and seventh as a junior. If Heritage Christian is going to win an unlikely team championship, it could hinge on this event. Sophomore Kenzie Crooke was eighth as a freshman, and though she doesn’t have a top time, she displayed a knack for performing well when it matters most. Older sister Kya did not compete in this event at all last year but was second at the state finals in 2023 and holds the 13th best mark in state history, well over a second faster than anyone else entering this spring. Double digit points paired with dominance in the field events could vault HC to the title.
4x1
Outlook: Carroll has three back from last year’s winning team as does Lawrence North who finished a very close second. Evansville North, a team with real championship potential, has three back from a fifth-place team that includes two stars. No podium team returns all four, although Franklin was 12th with no seniors.
4x4
Outlook: Carmel returns all four from a relay that won for the second year in a row. North Central was very close in second and brings back three of four. Hamilton Southeastern was among the pre-race favorites and, despite a late-meet substitution still nearly pulled off the win. Munster and Evansville North both made the medal stand and, like Carmel, return all four team members. Evansville North moving from eighth last year into the top four this season could be big for team points.
For more, subscribe to the Indiana Runner Podcast.
Comments