Favorites got it done on the day as well this weekend, but don’t think that they just back into these scenarios each year. Let’s look at what helped these groups get it done.
St. Henry’s ladies were a heavy favorite coming in after an incredible season, but they dealt with all kinds of issues this year. Starting the season without #3 returnee in Class A, Maria Frigo, didn’t seem to handicap the group early as they ripped off several impressive performances led by Ashley Svec. As Frigo started to fully recover from injury, though, the group had to deal with Svec working through some time off of her own. Their depth was enough to cover the missing bodies, but inconsistency from Frigo continued to keep the group unsure of themselves as they moved forward. It forced the younger constiuents from the group to step up and we witnessed the emergence of sophomores Lindsey Hinken, Allysa Brady and Kristi Ryan, who, along with Svec, will hope to continue the Crusaders title streak going into next season. The title came to them because Frigo got out well and hung on for 5th, while Svec and Hinken moved up throughout the race to place right behind Frigo in 6th and 7th. Kelsey Hinken followed in 16th for the group and Allysa Brady surprised with her 27th place finish. They had 6 across the line before anyone else had 4, then 7 before anyone else had 5. They may not be the favorite to start the year next year as they lose Frigo, Kelsey Hinken, and Paige Dooley, but don’t think that this group is every going to hand over the title without a fight.
South Oldham’s ladies did things right at just the right times last year as they grabbed the state title in Class AA on the coattails of Jesse Murner’s state title run. This year, though, they didn’t even need Murner to close out their title. I don’t think anyone doubted that this group would win, but it was the fact that they did it scoring just 41 points that was so impressive. Murner was the first Dragon runner across the line today in 3rd place, but teammates Grace Whitworth and Hannah Ellis followed with top 10 finishes placing 5th and 9th respectively. Kami Orrender followed in 13th place to basically seal the whole thing up, but Lauren Moore and Morgan Nieto got up for 20th and 21st to make it that much more impressive. It was interesting to watch this group all year as each of the runners in their top four placed first for them at one point this year, but it didn’t appear that they were running inconsistently as a group. Lauren Moore hadn’t looked very good since a strong run about a month ago, but her and Nieto were the ones that closed it out today. The scary thing is that Nieto is the only senior from their top seven today and if they come back with anything like what they had today it would be a recipe for another dominating performance.
St. Xavier got it done with consistency and a toughness that they have built by overcoming letdowns, injuries, and countless frustrations. After last year’s state championships the squad was considered a heavy favorite for this year’s title, but they had plenty happen between then and now to affect those thoughts. In the spring, Thomas Mann ran into some back problems that cut his track season short and took away all of his training in the summer. That in and of itself was enough to create some shakiness amongst the group, but there was more. Matt Hillenbrand and Jackson Carnes had very impressive track seasons and coming into the track and field state championships the confidence in their senior campaigns was renewed. Carnes became ill, though, the week of the regional and didn’t compete, completely taking him out of the state championships and abruptly ending what had been an impressive season for him. Hillenbrand was dealt a tough loss, then a win via disqualification for them in the 3200 meter relay, but Hillenbrand had an awful showing the rest of the day taking 2nd to last in the 1600 and running just 1:59 in the 800 and ending up 6th. That was just the spring.
In the fall, Mann was still recovering and didn’t ever get to the form he was in last season. Carnes ripped off an incredible run to start the season at Tiger Run and followed it with a solid run at Trinity, but that was it for his season. Hillenbrand looked primed to fill Carnes spot after winning the Rumble Through the Jungle the weekend before Trinity, but at Trinity, he was back a ways a never really showed the same breakout fitness the rest of the year. This title couldn’t have happened without the emergence of Connor Sheryak, who placed 14th as just a freshman, along with Ian McCaslin, Austin Carter, and Zach Beavin all continuing to progress after being top JV runners in the past. This group loses Carnes, Mann, Hillenbrand, and McCaslin after this year, but for some reason that is not enough to make anyone believe that they won’t be right back in the mix next year. Track season could be even more impressive for these guys in the spring.
Nothing is easy about being the favorite and it is even more difficult when you are trying to repeat. The ladies from St. Henry and South Oldham both found a way to repeat this season as did the boys from St. Henry, though, they didn’t come in as absolute favorites by any means. North Oldham’s boys, Assumption’s girls, and Daviess County’s boys all had top three finishes in their attempts to repeat, but they showed just how hard it can be to have it all come together in consecutive years. Congratulations to all the winners yesterday and we are already thinking about the great things to expect this spring!
Favorites got it done on the day as well this weekend, but don’t think that they just back into these scenarios each year. Let’s look at what helped these groups get it done.
St. Henry’s ladies were a heavy favorite coming in after an incredible season, but they dealt with all kinds of issues this year. Starting the season without #3 returnee in Class A, Maria Frigo, didn’t seem to handicap the group early as they ripped off several impressive performances led by Ashley Svec. As Frigo started to fully recover from injury, though, the group had to deal with Svec working through some time off of her own. Their depth was enough to cover the missing bodies, but inconsistency from Frigo continued to keep the group unsure of themselves as they moved forward. It forced the younger constiuents from the group to step up and we witnessed the emergence of sophomores Lindsey Hinken, Allysa Brady and Kristi Ryan, who, along with Svec, will hope to continue the Crusaders title streak going into next season. The title came to them because Frigo got out well and hung on for 5th, while Svec and Hinken moved up throughout the race to place right behind Frigo in 6th and 7th. Kelsey Hinken followed in 16th for the group and Allysa Brady surprised with her 27th place finish. They had 6 across the line before anyone else had 4, then 7 before anyone else had 5. They may not be the favorite to start the year next year as they lose Frigo, Kelsey Hinken, and Paige Dooley, but don’t think that this group is every going to hand over the title without a fight.