Fendel gets Indiana title, looks ahead to big finish

By Bryan Sweitzer for DyeStat

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Hamilton Southeastern senior Gabe Fendel, the consensus individual favorite, won his first Indiana state cross country title Saturday and Carmel won its second boys team title in three years and 15th overall.

Those outcomes were expected.

The girls race, however, took a few unexpected turns.

Defending state champion Tyler Schwartz of Dekalb was dethroned, finishing third behind Emma Wilson of Greencastle and Phoebe Bates of Carmel. And the six-time defending girls state champions from Carmel finished third behind first-time winner Zionsville, which scored 118 points, and Fort Wayne Carroll, second with 129 points.

“It’s amazing. I’m just real happy,” Fendel said. “(It’s) my last race repping HSE, so it’s just a good way to finish my cross country career.”

Fendel, ranked seventh by DyeStat, got out fast and took the lead after running 4:41 for the first mile. The chase pack, consisting of Mississinewa junior Brennan Butche, Cathedral junior Cole Hocker, Christian Academy senior Skyler Stidam and Evansville Memorial senior Matthew Schadler, caught up to him just before halfway and stuck with him for about a kilometer more.

At 4 kilometers, Fendel began to break away, however, with the same four chasing. In the final 400-meter stretch, Fendel held off a vicious charge from the surging Hocker to get the win in 15:17.2. Hocker finished second in 15:19.5 and Stidam third in 15:23.8.

“(I tried to) just stick with him as long as I (could),” Hocker said. “I had a little bit of a gap develop, which in hindsight, I shouldn’t have (let) happen at all.”

Hocker, ranked No. 28, has been mere seconds behind Fendel each time they’ve raced this year, save their Noblesville Regional meet, where Hocker bested Fendel. In that one, Fendel fell toward the end of the race.

Despite not having an athlete place in the top 10, Carmel had four individuals among the first 35 finishers and prevailed with 94 points. Fishers was second with 152 points and Westview was third with 171.

For the girls race, Wilson and Schwartz set the pace with authority and had a sizeable lead at the 3-kilometer mark, ahead of Bates, senior Sophia Rigg of Zionsville, Edgewood freshman Annalyssa Crain and the rest of the chase pack.

Wilson began to separate herself soon after, however, in the hills that followed, coming through 4 kilometers at 14:14 and ahead of Schwartz. She held on to get a convincing win in a time of 17:45.9, ahead of Bates in 18:00, with Schwartz finishing third in 18:07.9. Rigg and sophomore Katelyn Wasson finished seventh and 10th to Zionsville’s state-title push.

“It’s kind of nice having people around you to keep pace so toward the end you know when to kick it in,” Wilson said.

Bates, a sophomore, was satisfied with her run.

“I feel pretty happy. I’m excited about my performance,” Bates said. “I was hoping the team would do a little better, but we’ll take it.”

The Carmel girls placed third with 169 points, ending a title run of six years. Next year, however, the Greyhounds could return seven of their top 10 and should again compete for a state title along with Carroll. On Saturday, Carroll ran without junior Abby Green, the team’s top runner from last year, who was out for much of the season due to injury. Carroll also returns seven of 10 next year and with a healthy Green could be looking to become one of the top teams in the nation.

After weeks of ideal fall weather, conditions turned cold and windy, with temperatures hanging just below 40 degrees for most of the meet.

“The weather affected me, especially toward the end. I think I started getting a little tight,” said Fendel, a Colorado recruit. “I think it’s just different. It’s just been perfect weather every (other) meet.”

Hocker also pointed out the weather, but said it didn’t faze him coming in.

“It seems like I have most of my good races in bad weather,” he said.

Fendel and Wilson, among many other athletes in both races, plan to compete on the same course in two weeks at Nike Cross Regionals. Fendel also plans on advancing to the Foot Locker Nationals, where he placed 12th last year.

“NXR’s going to be an insane race,” Fendel said. “I’m super excited. It’s what I’ve been waiting for, honestly, all season.”

With Fendel graduating, Hocker, will be the huge favorite to win state next year. His fifth-place Cathedral team could also be in the running for a team title, as the Irish return nine of its top 10 for next year.