Indian Creek freshman Libby Dowty is the Daily Journal’s Runner of the Year in girls cross country.
Daily Journal file photo
It might be difficult finding an athlete in Johnson County whose initial appearance deceives more than that of Libby Dowty.
The unassuming Indian Creek freshman, standing all of 5-foot-3, speaks softly and has no problem slipping into the background of most social settings.
Unless, of course, it’s a race.
Dowty’s varsity cross country debut proved memorable as she flourished during the regular season and then resembled a postseason veteran, an October’s worth of competition capped by a 15th-place finish at the state meet.
Not surprisingly, Dowty is the Daily Journal’s Runner of the Year.
“I just want to keep going, keep getting better, get faster times and PRs and doing my best,” said Dowty, who began running as a fifth-grader and is presently part of her father’s (Pat) wrestling team at Indian Creek. “Really, I run all year round, and wrestling is just kind of the other sport.”
The 2022 season proved a breakthrough few months for Indian Creek girls cross country.
Dowty and senior teammate Abby Fleetwood were the first Indian Creek girls ever to qualify for state. The freshman’s season-best time of 18 minutes, 18.3 seconds a week earlier at the semistate in Shelbyville is the current school standard.
And not for long, if Dowty has a say in the matter.
“Libby is super headstrong. As tough as it gets, and just wants to be great,” Braves girls cross country coach Brady Devine said. “I think the sky is the limit for her.
“She definitely has the pedigree to be a state champion, and that’s certainly the goal.”
Dowty, whose wire-to-wire dominance this season included Johnson County, Western Indiana Conference, sectional and regional titles, ran a time of 18:24.3 at state. The only ninth- or 10th-grader to fare better was Bishop Chatard freshman Julia Score, who secured a 10th-place medal.
“At state, I just tried to stay focused,” Dowty said. “I prayed a lot during that run.”
A week later, at a non-IHSAA-sanctioned event on the same LaVern Gibson course in Terre Haute, Dowty blazed a 17:56.1 competing against premier runners from Indiana and other Midwestern states.
That same time would’ve been good for fifth at state.
Joining Dowty on the 2022 All-County team is Fleetwood, who helped Dowty lead a team that broke into the state’s top 25 late in the regular season (another program first).
“It’s just Libby’s work ethic. She works so hard every day, and she’s just naturally gifted also,” Devine said. “She’s just so aggressive on the course, but otherwise … ”
The accomplishments speak for themselves.
ALL-COUNTY TEAM
The 2022 All-County team for girls cross country:
Lilly Brunsman, Center Grove junior: Took 11th at sectional, 17th at regional and 88th at the Shelbyville semistate.
Libby Dowty, Indian Creek freshman: Won Johnson County, sectional, regional and Western Indiana Conference meets … Sixth at semistate in school-record time of 18:18.3 and 15th at state meet.
Chloe Farmer, Center Grove freshman: Another impressive ninth-grader who placed sixth at sectional, 16th at regional and 64th at semistate.
Abby Fleetwood, Indian Creek senior: Advanced to state meet … County, WIC and sectional runner-up behind Dowty … Fifth at regional and 15th at semistate.
Isabella Fuentes, Whiteland sophomore: Finished 10th at Johnson County meet, ninth at sectional and 15th at regional … Crossed the line in 74th-place at semistate.
Tori Jackson, Whiteland junior: Third at Johnson County meet, sectional and regional and 18th at semistate … Warriors’ first-ever state qualifier, taking 53rd in 19:24.4.
Lauren Klem, Franklin junior: Placed fourth at county, sectional and regional and 24th at semistate … Was Daily Journal Runner of the Year as a freshman and sophomore.
Ava Ott, Franklin freshman: Placed eighth at county, 15th at sectional, 20th at regional and 67th at the Shelbyville Semistate.
Lilly Rollings, Greenwood freshman: Fifth at sectional and eighth at regional … 31st Shelbyville Semistate with a time of 19:14.0.
Honorable mention
Ainsley Botkin, Franklin; Allison Cohen, Center Grove; Phoebe Dowty, Indian Creek; Addyson Griffis, Whiteland; Paige Iaria, Indian Creek; Hannah Lindsay, Franklin; Ryann Marker, Greenwood; Amelia Tisdale, Franklin; Andra Veleta, Center Grove; Hannah Winn, Greenwood Christian
