Columbus North’s Brianna Newell holds up the runner-up trophy while the team reacts after posing for photos at the IHSAA Cross Country State Finals Saturday, October 29,2022 at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
TERRE HAUTE — Although top-ranked Columbus North wasn’t able to defend its girls cross-country state title, the Bull Dogs weren’t left with much regret.
North put together some solid performances on a tough LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course Saturday afternoon. It just so happened that second-ranked Noblesville had an even better day.
Noblesville outscored the Bull Dogs 122-153. Carmel finished third with 176.
“We had a great day,” North girls coach Rick Sluder said. “We were excited coming in, and we knew it would be a battle with Noblesville. We worked our butts off today. I’m so proud of those seven girls, and really the whole crew of 35. They ran outstanding 1-through-7. Everytime we yelled, they responded with great effort. I just couldn’t be happier with how they performed.”
The Bull Dogs put two runners in the top 10. Senior Julia Kiesler led the way with a fourth-place finish in 17 minutes, 36.4 seconds for 5,000 meters (3.1 miles).
Kiesler was the top finisher among team-scoring runners. The top three were individuals, led by Bishop Chatard’s Lilly Cridge winning in 17:14.6.
“I’m really happy with it,” Kiesler said. “I pushed through all the pain, and I made myself really proud today. The weather was cooperating for me today.”
Senior Lily Baker ram 18:07.5 to finish ninth, one spot below where she finished last season at state.
“I was hoping to place better than I did last year, but I have zero complaints about my race today,” Baker said. “There were a couple moments where I could have given up, but I stayed as strong as I could, and I’m happy with it. I think everyone ran to the best of their abilities today, and Noblesville just had it in them a little bit more than we did.”
Senior Brianna Newell took 32nd in 18:58.8.
“I’m overall really happy with my performance today,” Newell said. “I had a race plan to go out not super fast so I wouldn’t burn out, and I think that really helped me. I was able to move my way up through the pack through the entire race. I couldn’t ask for a better race, so I’m thankful.”
Also for the Bull Dogs, senior Julie Klaus finished 92nd in 19:56.8, and freshman Ainsley Sherlock rounded out the scoring with a 96th-place finish in 19:57.6. Senior Ellen White took 103rd in 20:01.7, and senior Sydney Morlok was 110th in 20:10.1.
“This is one of the best and deepest women’s fields that Indiana has had, and for (Kiesler) to get fourth was amazing,” Sluder said. “Lily coming in the top 10 again two years in a row is just amazing. Bri really fought through the middle of her race and just really hung right in there and really kept us in a position to compete for first. Our 4-5-6-7 kind of stayed close together, and they battled. They came through for us, and if they don’t, we’re not second. So I’m excited for them, and I’m really proud of the seven girls that ran today.”
Brown County had one individual runner at state. Hadley Gradolf, who was making her fourth appearance in the state meet, finished 69th in 19:31.1.
