SHELBYVILLE — Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon proved the entire regular season they were two of the better boys cross country teams in the state.
Unfortunately for the Cougars and Marauders their ticket to the IHSAA Boys Cross Country State Finals may have been the toughest to obtain.
Saturday’s Shelbyville Regional included seven state-ranked teams with only the top five earning spots in the Oct. 28 finals in Terre Haute. Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon finished sixth and seventh, respectively, missing out on bringing their full squads to the state finals.
There was good news, too.
With the top 15 individuals not associated with the top five teams also advancing, four Hancock County senior runners were able to move on to the season-ending big meet.
Greenfield-Central seniors Carter Crouch, Chris Ross and Liam Brinkruff and Mt. Vernon senior Colin Strachman will represent their schools and county at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. It is Brinkruff’s second straight year to make it to the state meet.
“We’re probably the best two teams not to advance in the whole state,” Mt. Vernon coach Bruce Kendall said. “You can’t say it for sure, but we’ve run those teams (in other regionals) and been better than them.”
No. 3 Fishers edged No. 4 Hamilton Southeastern, 86-89, to take the team title. No. 6 Noblesville placed third with 106, followed by No. 13 Center Grove (123) and No. 17 Franklin Central (150).
G-C, ranked No. 22, scored 198, while No. 23 Mt. Vernon finished with 217.
“Sixth place was where we were seeded all season. It was going to take us running real well and everybody else not running well and we didn’t have the best day today,” Greenfield-Central coach Aaron Smith said. “I’m definitely glad the three made it.”
Crouch led all area runner by placing sixth with a 5K time of 15:57.70. Ross was 15th in 16:11.13. MV’s Strachman was 21st (16:16.37) and Brinkruff took the 14th of 15 qualifying spots by finishing 29th in 16:26.78.
“It’s great,” Crouch said of qualifying for the state meet with two teammates and classmates. “I’ve known Liam since third or fourth grade and I’ve known Chris since seventh grade. It’s nice to be able to go on with them. They are like brothers to me.”
Ross just missed out making the state meet a year ago when the IHSAA had a different qualifying format.
In previous years there was also a semi-state race, but it was only the top 10 that moved on to the state finals.
“It means a lot to make it to state,” Ross said. “Last year I was really disappointing not making it on this course. I’ve been really motivated with the training that we’ve been doing. It wasn’t really the race that I wanted, I really wanted our whole team to make it.
“It’s great (to go with Carter and Liam). We’re all great friends, training partners. We train every day together and we do stuff outside of practice, like a family, a family of brothers. It means a lot to make it with them and share that experience.”
Brinkruff was right on that border of continuing his final high school season.
“I wasn’t completely sure (that I made it),” he said. “I knew I was around 30th place. I thought I’d have more room than I really did. Last year I was around 25th and I was the ninth individual. It was closer than I expected but I’m glad I was able to make it on.”
Last year, Brinkruff made it with teammate Griffen Wheeler, now running at the University of Southern Indiana.
“It’s good to be able to make it to state, but it’s not the race I wanted, of course,” Brinkruff said. “We weren’t able to make it as a team, but I am happy we are able to send three on.
“It was unfortunate that Chris didn’t make it last year and Carter has just had a great season from last year to this year. It’s good to see they were able to do it this year and I’m glad to tag along with them.”
For Mt. Vernon’s Strachman, getting to the state meet was a bit of a sigh of relief.
“It feels great. It gets a weight off my shoulders,” he said. “I had a really good freshman year and just average sophomore and junior years. This year, everything has clicked. It feels pretty good.
“All the struggles, all the mileage, finally getting to this point, it’s just a weight off my shoulders.”
Kendall said, on the bus ride over, that Strachman was noticeably quiet.
The senior said he was focusing on what could have been his final high school race.
“I was trying to focus and not get too wound up,” Strachman said. “I’ve been in this atmosphere for four years. Some of the team, this is new to them. I had to relax. I couldn’t make the meet bigger than what it was.”
New Palestine and Eastern Hancock each had three runners in the regional race.
The Dragons were led by Jake Cooper, who finished 64th with a time of 16:53.83. He was one spot ahead of Royals junior Preston Markley, who placed 65th in 16:53.83.
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2023 IHSAA Shelbyville Regional 4 Boys Cross Country Meet
Team scores: Fishers 86, Hamilton Southeastern 89, Noblesville 106, Center Grove 123, Franklin Central 150, Greenfield-Central 198, Mt. Vernon 217, Guerin Catholic 273, Lawrence North 281, Perry Meridian 323, Milan 347, Pendleton Heights 354, Indian Creek 364, Richmond 366, Greenwood 402, Westfield 406, Franklin 475, Cathedral 496, Madison 506, Batesville 537, Austin 546, Northeastern 570, Hagerstown 606, Henryville 640, Rushville 687, New Washington 727.
Greenfield-Central (198): Carter Crouch (6th, 15:57.70), Chris Ross (15th, 16:11.13), Liam Brinkruff (29th, 16:26.78), Braylon Mumaugh (83rd, 17:15.96), Henry Rahe (102nd, 17:31.37), David Wasson (147th, 18:04.05), Bryce Cotterman (165th, 18:22.22).
Mt. Vernon (217): Colin Strachman (21st, 16:16.37), Xaiden Jenson (49th, 16:44.46), Brayden Strantz (50th, 16:44.56), Caden Cassada (54th, 16:46.37), Austin Baugh (71st, 16:59.66), Cooper Hunziker (81st, 17:11.54), Isaiah Njau (123rd, 17:43.03).
New Palestine (No team score): Jake Cooper (64th, 16:53.23), Jacob Collins (166th, 18:22.25), Gavin Smith (208th, 19:07.52).
Eastern Hancock (No team score): Preston Markley (65th, 16:53.83), Brandon Metz (70th, 16:59.47), Andrew Metz (214th, 19:14.28).
