HANCOCK COUNTY — Area runners competing in Saturday’s IHSAA Boys and Girls Cross Country State Finals are hoping to benefit from course familiarity.
The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute was also the site for the season-opening Valley Kickoff on Aug 12 and the Nike Twilight Invitational four weeks ago on Sept. 30.
Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon competed in both events.
On Saturday, five Cougars and two Marauders will try to finish their seasons — and for some high school careers — with a strong performance in the biggest race of the year.
“I PR’d at the Nike Twilight meet so I’m pretty excited to run on that course again,” Mt. Vernon sophomore Hannah Hauser said.
Hauser broke her 5K school record, which she had set earlier in the year, with at time of 18:50 on the same course she’ll be running Saturday.
She’s the first Marauder female to make it to the state meet since Amye Adcock qualified in 2005.
She is one of three county runners in the 2:30 p.m. girls race.
Greenfield-Central will be represented by freshman Josie Kinnaman and junior Lexie Copeland.
It’s just the second time G-C has had state qualifiers for the girls race. Audrey Brinkruff made the state meet in 2019. It’s the first time the Cougars have had two runners make it.
In the boys race, which will open the doubleheader at noon, four county runners — all seniors — will participate.
Greenfield-Central will be represented by Liam Brinkruff, Carter Crouch and Chris Ross. Mt. Vernon’s Colin Strachman qualified for the Marauders.
“We ran it at the beginning of the season and at the Nike Twilight, so I’ve had a lot of experience on that course,” Ross said. “I know how it’s going to play out so I feel confident going in.”
Liam Brinkruff, Audrey’s younger brother, is the county’s lone two-time state qualifier running in Terre Haute.
He went to the state meet last year along with teammate Griffen Wheeler and Mt. Vernon’s Tristan Trevino, who are both running collegiately this fall.
“I’m glad we had the Nike Twilight (a couple weeks ago) to prepare for this course again,” Liam Brinkruff said after Saturday’s regional race. “It is really unlike any other course with a huge downhill at the start and having to work your way back up. I think we’re prepared for the course, now it’s a matter of getting the rest and recovery stuff in with school starting back up (after fall break). We’ll need to be prepared mostly physically because I know we’re all tired from the season.”
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2023 IHSAA Cross Country State Finals
Site: LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, Wabash Valley Sports Center, 599 S. Tabortown Road, Terre Haute, IN 47803
Times: Boys race at 12 p.m., followed by awards ceremony; Girls race at 2:30 p.m., followed by their awards ceremony.
Gates Open: 9:30 a.m.
Admission: All ticket sales will be digital only via Eventlink (additional fees may apply). No cash. Please purchase tickets online in advance and present your purchase verification on your phone at the gate for admission. $15 per person. Children age 5 or younger admitted free. Note: Wifi and cell service around the facility can be spotty and delay the process in having your ticket available to redeem. To assist with entering the facility faster, please have your ticket pulled up and ready as you are approaching the gate to enter. A purchased ticket can only be validated one time. If you choose to leave the facility, you will be required to purchase another ticket.
Streaming: Both state championship races will stream exclusively at IHSAAtv.org via pay-per-view for $15.
Local participants: Boys race – Greenfield-Central (senior Liam Brinkruff, senior Carter Crouch, senior Chris Ross), Mt. Vernon (senior Colin Strachman). Girls race – Greenfield-Central (junior Lexie Copeland, freshman Josie Kinnaman), Mt. Vernon (sophomore Hannah Hauser).
