Whiteland freshman Lena Shipp (767) looks forward to competing at the state finals.
Daily Journal file photo
To be a first-time state finalist is to take in the scenery with wide-eyed amazement.
The drive to the LaVern Gibson championship course seems longer than advertised. The hills are hillier, the acreage seems to go on forever, and the number of spectators shouting encouragement greatly surpasses what had been visualized.
Greenwood sophomore Lilly Rollings and Whiteland freshman Lena Shipp can’t wait to be wowed.
Rollings, who placed 16th at last week’s Shelbyville Regional at Blue River Memorial Park in a time of 19 minutes, 10.8 seconds, makes her finals debut on Saturday. The same holds true for Shipp, who was two spots behind Rollings at regional in 19:25.0.
Somewhat amazingly, Shipp was clocked with the identical time on the same course a week earlier at sectional, allowing her to take fourth to Rollings’ third-place performance (18:58.6).
The two don’t necessarily attempt to run together. It just kind of works out that way.
Rollings, who capped her 2022 season by qualifying for semistate, ran a then-personal-best 19:14. Her fastest clocking this season was an 18:50 in the Mid-State Conference meet at Decatur Central.
“I was a spectator last year at state, and it was cool to see how big it was,” Rollings said. “Last season motivated me a lot just knowing I was so close to making state. I wanted to work a little harder in the offseason to get to where I want to be.”
Meanwhile, Shipp got to test the LaVern Gibson course at the Valley Kickoff in August, the Warriors’ first meet of the season.
More than two months later, she’s back.
“Going to state was definitely a goal of mine, but I really didn’t expect to go,” Shipp said. “I just want to go knowing that I have nothing to lose. I’ll just do my best and see what happens.”
Sectional and regional champion Libby Dowty of Indian Creek is among the favorites in the girls race. She placed 15th at state as a freshman last fall with a time of 18:24.3, while Whiteland junior Tori Jackson was 53rd in 19:29.4.
Jackson, too, is qualified for a second consecutive season.
On the boys side, Greenwood senior Sam Grimes is another first-timer at state. The same is true of Indian Creek runners Noah Greenwood and Jackson Neibert.
Center Grove’s boys squad, led by seniors Gavin Rockwell and Kyle Montgomery, is back at state for a fifth conecutive season.
IF YOU GO
IHSAA state finals
When: Saturday, noon (boys) and 2:30 p.m. (girls)
Where: LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, Terre Haute
Admission: $15 per person (no cash); children 5 and under free
Local qualifiers: Center Grove boys, Sam Grimes (Greenwood), Noah Greenwood (Indian Creek), Jackson Neibert (Indian Creek); Libby Dowty (Indian Creek), Tori Jackson (Whiteland), Lillian Rollings (Greenwood), Lena Shipp (Whiteland)
