By Eric Eaton Staff WriterTERRE HAUTE – Carmel’s long-time boys and girls cross country coach, Chuck Koeppen, ended his 37-year coaching career at the school in historic fashion Nov. 1 as the Greyhounds captured both the boys and girls state championships on an absolutely gorgeous afternoon for running at the Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute.
Koeppen, who announced his retirement before the start of the season, guided Carmel to 22 state titles in cross country. In fact, both the boys and girls programs each won a total of 11 state championships during Koeppen’s tenure at the school. (Be sure to click on the video tab in the top left corner of this article to watch my interview with the legendary Carmel coach!)
The contest to determine the 2008 girls team state champion wasn’t much of a contest as top-ranked Carmel crushed the competition, outdistancing runner-up No. 6 Lake Central by 105 points, 55-160. No. 4 Franklin Central took home the third-place medallions with 167 points. (Make sure to check out the top video player in this article to watch highlights from the girls race!)
The girls individual state championship went to Center Grove senior Sarah Higgens, who completed the 3.1-mile layout in a time of 18:14 to defeat runner-up senior Emily Mossler of North Central (Indianapolis) by 10 seconds. Warsaw senior Erica Ridderman was named the winner of the prestigious mental attitude award in girls cross country. Ridderman finished 18th at the state meet competing as an individual.
The race to determine the 2008 boys team state champion was much more competitive, with No. 1 Carmel edging No. 2 Carroll (Ft. Wayne) by 10 points, 100-110.
Much of the Greyhounds' 10-point margin was accumulated with their fourth and fifth runners, where Chris Walden and Dan Porter finished 26th and 27th, respectively, among runners finishing on a competing team compared with the 36th- and 40th-place finishes by Carroll’s Nos. 4 and 5, Nickolas Card and Bradley Hess. Fourth-ranked McCutcheon took home third place with 153 points. (Make sure you check out the bottom video player in this article to watch highlights from the boys race!)
The 2008 individual boys state championship was claimed by Fishers senior Drew Shields in a winning time of 15:20. Shields, who won state championships in the 800- and 1600-meter runs at the 2008 track & field state finals, defeated runner-up Futsum Zeinasellassie of North Central (Indianapolis) by five seconds. It was the first time Shields had beaten Zeinasellassie in the state tournament as he had previously finished second to the talented Panther freshman at both the Brebeuf Regional and the Franklin Central Semistate.
Incidentally, Drew’s twin brother, Alex, also had a strong state meet, finishing in seventh place in the final individual standings. (Make sure to click on the video tabs link in the upper left corner of this article to watch my interview with champion Drew Shields!)
Zionsville senior Dylan Sorensen, who finished fourth in the final individual standings, was named recipient of the mental attitude award in boys cross country.
Note: You can view pictures from the 2008 state finals by checking out the photo gallery section at the bottom of this page!
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