Menu
All-state repeat for Wilson
Tiger Cub sophomore duplicates eighth-place finish on windy day
TERRE HAUTE — Unseasonably warm temperatures and gusty winds helped keep the times down at the Indiana High School Athletic Association state cross country meet on Saturday at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course.
The physical environment was much different than a year ago, but one thing remained the same — Greencastle’s Emma Wilson finished eighth for the second straight year to earn all-state honors.
The sophomore ran a time of 18:40.3, which was 24.2 seconds slower than her finish a year ago on the same course.
By comparison, the time for the girls’ winner (Tyler Schwartz of DeKalb) was 38 seconds slower than last year’s champion (Sarah Leinheiser of Carmel).
“I started toward the middle and worked my way up,” Wilson said afterward. “I was glad to get eighth place.”
The LaVern Gibson course is much different than the previous levels of state competition, and is more similar to that of South Putnam’s sectional site than the flat terrain of Ben Davis and Shebyville the past two weeks.
“The start and finish here are really long,” Wilson said. “The back part where you are doing the loops is mostly uphill; that’s the toughest part.”
Placing eighth two straight years is obviously an impressive accomplishment.
Does Wilson think she can move up on the leaderboard next year?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “We’ll see.”
DeKalb junior Tyler Schwartz claimed the girls’ crown in 18:08.6, pulling away from Carroll sophomore Abigail Green (who ended in 18:17.4).
Carmel’s girls continued their dynasty, as the Greyhounds of coach Mark Ellington collected five of the top 21 spots in the race for 44 points to win for the seventh straight year.
Carroll (Fort Wayne) took runner-up honors for the second straight year with 113 points. Third-place Homestead and fourth-place Zionsville both enjoyed their best finish ever with 157 and 166 points, respectively, with Noblesville holding down fifth place with 245.
Maddie Dalton was the third overall finisher for the Greyhounds in 18:27.0 followed by fourth-place teammate Christina Geisler in 18:28.3. Freshman Phoebe Bates was sixth in 18:37.2 and seniors Rachel Anderson (18:57.1) and Leinheiser (19:02.7) ended 21st.
Wilson was the only Western Indiana Conference competitor in the meet.
The Carroll boys’ team was presented its first state championship trophy.
Among individuals, Oldenburg Academy senior Curtis Eckstein left no doubt, finishing well ahead of the field to win the boys individual state championship in 15:13.3.
Runner-up Gabe Fendel, a junior at Hamilton Southeastern, finished in 15:40.7.
Third place went to junior Skylar Stidam (15:51.6) of Christian Academy of Indiana, sophomore Mitchell Rans (15:57.2) of Caston was fourth, and Lowell junior Alec Fleming (15:57.8) ended fifth. Eckstein’s 27.4-second differential was the second-largest winning margin since 1968 and he became the first cross country state champion in his school’s history.
Austin Haskett of Edgewood was the only WIC runner in the field, earning all-state honors by placing 18th in 16:13.6.
Rhys Grealish of Avon was his team’s highest finisher, placing 30th in 16:25.4.
Danville’s Daniel Gerber, the South Putnam sectional and Ben Davis regional champion, was 146th in 17:39.3.
Following the races, Eckstein was named the winner of the Charles F. Maas Mental Attitude Award and Carmel High School’s Rachel Anderson received the Girls Mental Attitude Award.
Eckstein earned the boys’ overall state championship while Anderson finished 19th overall in helping her school to its seventh consecutive state title.
Both individuals for nominated for the awards by their coach and school principals, and were determined to have best demonstrated mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in cross country by the IHSAA Executive Committee.
Anderson is interested in studying biology and plans to run cross country and track at an undecided college.
Eckstein is also undecided on his college choice but plans to study engineering.