Columbus North’s Kyleigh Wolf, Carys Glyn-Jones (1174), Macy Eaton (1172) and Emma Lowther (1170) begin the Brown County Sectional Oct. 19, 2024, at Eagle Park in Nashville, IN.
The Republic file photo
If things go according to plan, Columbus North’s girls and boys will end up on the awards podium at Saturday’s Cross Country State Finals.
But the Bull Dogs are hoping for a little better than top-five finishes, which would put them on the podium at Terre Haute’s LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. They think both teams can finish in the top three and possibly even contend for state titles.
“The boys, we believe we can compete for a top-two-to-three spot and maybe even compete for the title,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “We’ve beaten every team in the state this year, and we think we can compete with them.
“At the Twilight meet (against most of the state contenders at LaVern Gibson), our girls were in first place at two miles, and we’ve gotten stronger since then,” he added. “So we definitely think that we can compete for a podium spot. There’s some really good teams right now, but we know we can compete with those teams, so we definitely feel like we can be a top-five candidate.”
The fifth-ranked Bull Dog girls are coming off a regional championship last week at Evansville. Senior Carys Glyn-Jones won the individual title and was followed by senior Kyleigh Wolf, sophomores Tristan Works and Emma Lowther, senior Macy Eaton and sophomores Rendy Zhong and Adira Sluder.
Junior Ainsley Sherlock, who has been one of North’s top five runners most of the past three seasons, did not run because of an injury. It is uncertain if she will compete at state.
“The girls ran fantastic,” Rick Sluder said. “We had a good game plan going into that meet, and they executed. So we’re really excited about the direction the girls are headed. We’re ready to see what we can do at the state meet.”
Columbus North’s Neal White and Jace Works fight their way through the pack at the start of the Brown County Sectional Oct. 19, 2024, at Eagle Park in Nashville, IN.
The Republic file photo
The sixth-ranked Columbus North boys finished third in the regional behind top-ranked Bloomington North and Evansville Reitz. Senior Neal White has led the Bull Dogs all season and was followed in the regional by juniors Jace Works and Denton Sluder, seniors Jonny Klaus and Draven Martinez, sophomore Justin Reckers and junior Logan Vanzant.
“For the boys, we’re not going to make any excuses,” Rick Sluder said. “That was a long travel, and I maybe didn’t prep them the way I could have. But we still ran a great race. We averaged 15:44 for our top five, and I think we’re ready. We’re really ready to go. We didn’t have the best race down there last year, and we missed the podium (at state) by two or three points, and now, we feel the same way. Our boys run really well on the LaVern Gibson course, so we’re excited, and we’re ready to go.”
Jennings County’s Kraedyn Young crosses the finish line to win the boys race at the Hoosier Hills Conference meet Oct. 5 at Ceraland.
The Republic file photo
Meanwhile, two other local runners will be competing after qualifying for state as individuals in Jennings County senior Kraedyn Young and Hauser junior Nolan Dailey. Young took the second individual qualifying spot, and Dailey claimed the 15th and final one.
“Originally when I finished, I didn’t know if I’d made it,” Dailey said. “I thought I was 15th or 16. I knew it would be really close.”
Hauser’s Nolan Dailey pulls in front of Columbus North’s Denton Sluder to finish seventh at the Brown County Sectional Oct. 19, 2024, at Eagle Park in Nashville, IN.
The Republic file photo
Dailey is the first Hauser boys runner to advance to state since 1982.
“I think it’s a really cool experience,” Dailey said. “I’m happy it worked out the way it did. I’m really glad my school is supporting me as much as they are. My coaches and teammates are also a big part of helping me get to where I am.”
Dailey is hoping to break his 5K (3.1-mile) personal-best of 16 minutes, 8 seconds that he set at the Brown County Sectional.
“Time-wise, I would really like to go sub-16, but I would really like to get top 100 at the state meet,” Dailey said. “I just want to get out there and compete. I’m really excited for it.”
The girls race begins at noon, followed by their awards ceremony. The boys race is at 2:30 p.m., followed by their awards ceremony.
