• Carmel earned 54 points Saturday, edging Hamilton Southeastern by 8 points to capture its first team state title in 26 years.

INDIANAPOLIS – Sadie Foley twisted her ankle and fell less than five seconds after the starter’s gun went off in the 1600-meter race Saturday. The Carmel junior still finished fifth.

To coach Aaron McRill, Foley’s perseverance reflects not only her nature but the entire team’s.

“She was disappointed because she wanted to finish higher, but to get back up and come back after getting that wrapped and finishing fifth speaks volumes about her character and the team’s character because they’re all pushing each other,” McRill said.

“She knew she had to score to help the team. They are all tough that way.”

Carmel scored 54 points to win the IHSAA girls track and field team state title.

The top-ranked team in the state finished second in the 4×800 (8:53:45) and 4×400 (3:48:27) relays and third in the 4×100 (46.83).

Sophomore Annabel Pollert finished third in the 3200 run with a personal best of 10:28:89.

Larkin Taylor placed fourth in the 800, and senior Emily Norris finished sixth in the 200 and fifth in the long jump.

“We did this as a team. We didn’t win a single event today, but across the board, up and down the meet, the girls fought and scored points,” McRill said.

“We were able to rally enough points to win this thing, but these track meets are not easy to win. We haven’t won since ’99 so that tells you how hard it is.”

Carmel isn’t bothered by not winning an individual event.

For the group of girls, team success matters most.

“If the coaches were to ask us, ‘Do you want to win an individual or a relay?’ it would be relay any day. We truly want what’s best for the team,” Foley said.

Pollert said the team focused on team building from the beginning of the season to create the chemistry needed to win.

At meets and during practices, sprinters, distance runners and field athletes spend quality time together.

“We are one team,” Foley said. “It’s not like distance and sprint are over there. We are all friends.”

Carmel credited their balance skill-wise across the track for allowing them to win state.

Norris said the entire team is eager to do well for each other, and Larkin added seeing one teammate succeed no matter the event “pushes us to do better.”

As Carmel celebrated its state title by making a TikTok after receiving medals, McRill told IndyStar the Carmel coaching staff knew their team’s potential after last year’s fifth-place finish at state.

”After the state meet, coaches got together and we said, ‘Next year is the year we are really going to make a push for this thing,’” McRill said.

“So, it was the focus from the end of last year to go after the title this year.”

Carmel proved its coaches right and now the state champions are certain no challenge ahead is too much to bear.

“Our team has that mental toughness that we can bounce back from anything like Sadie did,” Pollert said.

“In any kind of racing scenario that comes our way, we can handle it.”

Bloomington South’s selflessness propels them to 4×800 state title and top-3 national time

Relinquishing personal ambition propelled the Bloomington South girls track team to the 3200-meter relay state championship Saturday. Despite finishing first in their regionals at 9:14:80, the Panthers knew they had more to give in the state final.

“Going into sectionals and regionals, we were focused on having a good time but also really focused on our individual events, so we never put our all into the 4×8,” said team anchor Ellie Barada.

“So, we knew that coming into the state we weren’t going to have the top seed.

But we also knew what we were capable of and were going to give our all today, and that’s what we were confident in: ourselves and one another.”

The Panthers finished the race in 8:51:35 to earn the Indiana state meet record and the third-best girls’ 4×800 relay time in the country. Carmel, who finished second in the 4×800 finals, came into the event with the best relay time at 9:10.68.

Their 8:53:45 running time on Saturday gives them the fifth-best time in the nation and second in Indiana history.

Throughout the season, Bloomington trains in small groups.

Barada and fellow junior Jasmie Martoglio usually practice together, while other relay teammates, sophomores Mary Asplund and Lexi Kollbaum, are in the same workout group. In the postseason, the four come together for the 4×800 and 4×400.

The girls credited “always being together” as the primary source behind their chemistry.

“We are able to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses because of our time together,” Martoglio said.

“We can help fill in during the event if we know there’s a section where one of us is stronger and work together to push the next. It just works together really well.”

With one more year together, a newly established state record and an unshakeable camaraderie, the Panthers won’t settle for dominance in Indiana alone.

“We can definitely make some waves in the nationals,” Kollbaum said as her teammates smiled and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

South Bend Washington’s Adriana Swanson credits faith and family for 100 hurdles state victory

Before Adriana Swanson took her blocks in the 100-meter hurdles state final, she said a prayer.

”God give me strength. Allow me to praise you and give you the glory once I’m finished,” she prayed.

God provided more than strength to the South Bend Washington junior. He provided victory.

Swanson finished first in the hurdles event with a time of 13.83, South Bend’s only win Saturday at the IHSAA girls track and field state meet at North Central.

After the race, Swanson sat on the bench behind the podium waiting to be acknowledged.

Emotions overcame Swanson as she processed missing last year’s 100 hurdles state finals to becoming champion.

“My mentality wasn’t as strong as it was coming into this season.

I wasn’t as confident as I should be because of my sophomore season,” Swanson said. “I’ve built an immense amount of strength and am beyond grateful.

I give all the glory to God. I’m really emotional because I worked so hard to get here. Last year, I fell really short at state.

This year, I feel confident and I look forward to next year.”

Through adversity and achievement, Swanson’s family’s support never wavered.

Before and after the race, draped in South Bend Washington green, Swanson’s family shouted and clapped profusely for their track star.

With her sights set on more accomplishments next school year, Swanson recognizes she needs to perform well at summer events.

However, success, whether during summer or high school season, is a testament to her parents’ sacrifice.

“My parents give me multiple opportunities to compete in the summer and pay those fees that allow me to compete in those meets, but a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to because of funds,” Swanson said.

“Every day in and outside of school, on and off the track, the actions they do for me as their child and as an athlete push me and help my mind to be where it should be.”

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