The boys and girls cross-country postseason will take a slightly different path for Bartholomew and Brown County schools this fall.
Instead of the sectional, regional and semistate all being at Brown County’s Eagle Park like they’ve been the past few years, Columbus North will host this year’s regional at Ceraland. The sectional and semistate still will be at Brown County.
Both North and Columbus East use Ceraland for their home meets, although their courses are different. The Olympians are scheduled to host the crosstown dual meet on Aug. 27, and the Bull Dogs host the North Classic on Sept. 7.
Both courses were affected by the Inaugural Tough Mudder Indiana Classic earlier this month, with the East course taking the biggest hit.
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“I think it’s all right,” North boys coach Danny Fisher said. “It’s cross-country, so you want to face some adversity. (North girls) coach (Rick) Sluder and I went out there (last week), and it was fine. They made it so the course wasn’t affected too much. It’s hard, so it’s going to be fast.”
Here is a look at those and other area boys programs. The girls cross-country previews will appear in Wednesday’s Republic.
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs are coming off a sixth-place finish in the state meet. North won sectional and regional titles and finished second in the semistate.
The top three runners from that team have graduated, but two sophomores who made it to state in track as freshman return and several others have made big improvements.
“We had a great summer,” Fisher said. “Coming off team camp, we’re rolling on all cylinders. We’re ahead of expectations with where we are right now. It’s going to be an exciting year.”
Sophomores Matt Newell and Reese Kilbarger-Stumpff were state track qualifiers in the 1,600 meters and the 4×800 relay. Junior Collin Pruitt and Carson Littrell also were on that 4×800 team, and junior Andy Stohr was a fill-in on that relay at state.
Sophomore Evan Carr also ran varsity cross-country as a freshman last year. Junior Austin Pulkowski has the inside track on the other varsity spot.
Pushing for spots in the top seven are junior Jackson Davis and sophomore Will Kiel. Sam Hobbeheydar and Clayton Guthrie lead a big freshman class.
“I’d say we’re 12 or 14 kids deep,” Fisher said. “We could almost field two varsity teams at a lot of meets and be competitive, based on their potential.”
Columbus East
The Olympians will try to bounce back after finishing seventh in the sectional last season. The top five make it to regional.
“Definitely, we want to get the team to regional,” East coach Ryan Burke said. “I think the guys have kind of set a goal for themselves to get the team to semistate.”
Senior Nick Walter and sophomore Tyler Hertle were regional qualifiers as individuals last season. Also returning to the varsity are seniors Ryan Sadtler and Matthew Novreske, junior Casey Bartholomew and senior Colby Hertle
Junior Kaden Wise, sophomore Cameron Stevens, senior Brandon Taylor and junior Mason Curry are battling for the final varsity spot.
“We have a smaller group, but I think we’re going to be pretty competitive with the guys we’ve got,” Burke said. “I think bringing six guys back from varsity last year is definitely a benefit for us. They can build off what they did last season.”
Hauser
The Jets will have enough runners to score team this year after not being able to do that last season.
Junior Ryan Ault was a regional qualifier as an indivdual. But he is the lone returning runner on the six-man team.
Hauser did win the Mid-Hoosier Conference middle school title last season, and freshmen Noah Estes, Alex Bower, Tanner Ault, Cameron Toole and Aiden Cheshire are now with the high school squad.
“There’s some talent coming up,” Hauser coach Ben Finke said. “It’s just a matter of adjusting to the high school level and the talent level. There’s a lot of potential there.”
Jennings County
The Panthers will look to continue their run after winning Hoosier Hills Conference and Southwestern (Hanover) Sectional titles and making the state finals each of the past three years.
Jennings finished 24th at state last season. The top five make the medals podium.
“We want to try to maybe get on that podium,” Jennings coach Bryant Layman said. “We’ve redone our schedule. We have to raise the bar because our conference is even tougher this year.”
Eight runners return with varsity experience, led by senior frontrunner Carter Leak. Also back are sophomore Lane Elsner, junior Gavin Hendrix, sophomore Logan McIntosh, senior AJ Siener, junior Drew Stroud, senior Jason Gasper and sophomore Ian Campbell.
“That 4, 5, 6 and 7 are going to change a lot,” Layman said. “We’re well rounded on the back end for once. We’re truly experienced.”
Brown County
The Eagles made it to regional last year after finishing fifth in the sectional, but lost their top two runners to graduation.
Junior Cameron Fox is the lone returning runner who competed in the postseason. Sophomore Rhett Silbaugh ran during the regular season.
Freshman Chase Austin likely will be the team’s No. 1 runner. The rest of the squad consists of sophomore Waylon Patrick and freshmen Rafe Silbaugh and Dylan Taylor.
“It’s going to be a developing year,” Brown County coach Rob Abraham said. “Hopefully, by the end of the year, we should be able to get something going.”
South Decatur
The Cougars return six varsity runners from a team that finished seventh in the South Dearborn Sectional.
Sophomore Trevor Newby was a regional qualifier as an individual. Also returning are sophomores Nick Keppel and Terry Redelman, senior Logan Platt and sophomores Bradley Walling and Tyler Hibbard.
Josh Shouse also ran some varsity last season. South Decatur also has added a trio of freshmen from the middle school team that finished second to Hauser in the MHC in Chase Kalli, Jack Hamilton and Damian Jackson.
“We have been logging miles as a team since camp week in July,” South Decatur coach Bethany Fromer said. “They are still keeping logs of miles so that they can stay motivated as a team. I always stress to them that what they log on the summer matters. It builds a good base for the season. We have some great leaders and a good balance. We are ready and motivated to take on the season.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers have only two runners to begin the season.
Sophomore Parker Young is the lone returner. He is joined by sophomore newcomer Landen Burton.
“Both of those are pretty good athletes who could do well,” Edinburgh coach Amy Schilling said. “We’re still trying to recruit more to make it a full team. We’re trying to get more basketball players that aren’t doing anything.”
Trinity Lutheran
Like Edinburgh, Trinity will have just two runners this season.
Senior Jordan Peters returns from last season. He is joined by sophomore newcomer Evan Hunt.
“Jordan always has had pretty lofty goals, which I really enjoy,” Trinity coach Jennifer Hildreth said. “He’s talking about getting to regional this year, and if he works hard, he has a chance at that. Evan is starting out in pretty good shape, so that may be a goal he has for himself at the end of the season, as well.”
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The 2019 boys cross-country schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Aug. 21; at Brown County Challenge;5:45 p.m.
Aug. 24;at Zionsville Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Aug. 27;Columbus North;5:30 p.m.
Aug. 31;at Rushville Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 7;at Columbus North Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 14;at Ben Davis Invitational;9:30 a.m.
Sept. 28;at Bedford North Lawrence Invitational;9 a.m.
Oct. 5;HHC at Jeffersonville;9 a.m.
Columbus North
Aug. 24;at Zionsville Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Aug. 27;Columbus East;9:30 p.m.
Sept. 7;Columbus North Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 14;at Brown County Eagle Classic;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 17;at Jennings County Big Blue Invitational;5:15 p.m.
Sept. 21;Conference Indiana at Terre Haute;9:30 a.m.
Sept. 28;at New Haven Invitational;Noon
Oct. 5;Nike Valley Twilight at Terre Haute;6:45 p.m.
Hauser
Saturday;at Austin Invitational;9 a.m.
Aug. 24;at Indian Creek Invitational;9 a.m.
Aug. 31;at Rushville Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 3;at Greensburg (with South Decatur);5 p.m.
Sept. 7;at East Central Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 14;at Whiteland Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 21;MHC at Blue River Park;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 28;Hauser Heritage Day Classic;9 a.m.
Oct. 1;at Morristown;5 p.m.
Oct. 3;at Greensburg Invitational;5 p.m.
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