By David Zheng
<[email protected]>

As the postseason is progressing, both the men’s and women’s cross-country teams are having success. The Sectional was scheduled for last Tuesday, and if this team finishes in the top five, it will progress in the tournament to the Regional competition, scheduled for tomorrow at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School at 11 a.m.

Also, even if the team did not move on, should any Carmel runners finish in the top 15, those individuals would move on.

“We’re rated number one in the state for both our (men’s and women’s) teams, so you would think that we want to win these competitions,” Head Coach Chuck Koeppen said. “But I’ve learned over the years that the bottom line is all you really want to do is win the one at the end. If we don’t win the (Regional), that’s okay, but talent-wise, we should be the best team in the competition.”

The men’s team has been ranked number-one for the whole season, but for a week or so at the start of the season, the women’s team was ranked behind Lake Central. Koeppen said, “(Our women’s team) just started looking so good and we ran against Lake Central last weekend at the Culver (Invitational) and we beat them, so our girls are pretty much a bona fide number-one.”

According to Koeppen, the top five teams advance in the tournament up until the State meet; so as long as Carmel is in the top five, they will be fine. Dan Kinn, men’s varsity team captain and senior, said, “Also in the Regional, the top 15 individual runners qualify for the next round as well.”

Koeppen said that he has just been taking it easy and being careful with both teams. “We’re not completely healthy on both sides,” Koeppen said. “Even if we have to rest somebody or just be a little careful, as long as we’re in the top five we keep advancing. It doesn’t affect the outcome of the state meet. Our girls aren’t completely healthy and our boys aren’t quite there, but hopefully we’ll be wise enough and get these kids mended up and be at full strength when it’s necessary.”

Even if it is unfortunate enough for an injury to occur to a varsity runner, both the men’s and women’s teams have enough depth to recover from it, according to Alex Chitwood, varsity runner and sophomore. Chitwood said, “As of now, most of the varsity runners are healthy. A few have minor injuries, but they are taking precautions so they can recover and return to their prime condition, but if we stepped up to the challenge, we could still do very well.”

“The team has great depth,” Kinn said. “Every runner one through 12 could be a number-one runner easily, so although we’d like everyone healthy we have so much depth one injured runner could easily be replaced.”

Both Kinn and Chitwood are front runners for the men’s and women’s teams, respectively. “Being a front-runner is like setting the comfort level for the rest of the team,” Kinn said. “Everyone on varsity works together to build off each other in meets. If I have a good race, everyone wants to have a good race because they see me up front working hard. If I have a bad race, the team doesn’t have as much motivation to work hard themselves.”

“We’ve got a really good one-two-three punch for the girls team, and the boys could have a decent one-two punch before it’s over,” Koeppen said. “Kinn has run up front most of the year and Logan Rosenberg, (varsity team captain and senior), has potential to do that and may do that before it’s all over with. I also think the boys do have the possibility of running in a pack in meets.”

According to Koeppen, running in a pack is when you have two or three guys that are running together helping each other by talking to each other and pulling each other along.

“The pack is huge because at least for me it’s a lot easier to run if you’re next to someone running and working together,” Kinn said. “It keeps your head up. If you get lost you might just give up, but if you have a teammate to push you on it makes you want to work harder for them.”

If the men’s and women’s teams advance in the Regional meet, then they will move on to the Semi-State meet, which will take place on Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. at Northview Christian Church.

“If we want to win the Regional, we have to stay focused,” Kinn said. “One of the main things we’re trying to do is win Koeppen a State championship this year because it’s his last season and we all love him.”

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Men’s Cross-Country State Meet Results
2004: Second
2005: Fourth
2006: Third
2007: Third

IHSAA.ORG / SOURCE