Prospect from Illinois repeats in USA Race of Champions, with Carmel of Indiana elevating from runner-up last year; Brebeuf Jesuit’s Todd runs 14:48.4 for No. 6 all-time prep boys mark on LaVern Gibson course, with William Floyd’s Macchia clocking 17:00.9 to achieve No. 9 high school girls effort

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Cameron Todd and Zariel Macchia remained unbeaten this season, both producing top 10 all-time performances at the LaVern Gibson Championship cross country course Saturday night to win USA Race of Champions titles at Nike XC Town Twilight in Terre Haute, Ind.

Todd, a Notre Dame-bound senior at Brebeuf Jesuit, achieved the second-fastest performance by an Indiana prep athlete on the 5-kilometer layout at LaVern Gibson and elevated to the No. 6 all-time high school performer on the course with his victory in 14 minutes, 48.4 seconds.

Macchia, the 2022 USATF Under-20 cross country champion and a junior at William Floyd High in New York, triumphed in 17:00.9 for the No. 9 all-time prep girls mark at LaVern Gibson.

RESULTS

Carmel High of Indiana captured the boys team title with a 192-239 victory against Plainfield South from Illinois.

Christian Brothers College of Missouri took third with 242 points, Jesuit from Louisiana finished fourth at 250 points, with another Missouri program Rock Bridge placing fifth with 274 points.

Prospect High in Illinois repeated as girls team winners by defeating Noblesville High of Indiana by a 94-134 margin.

Mason of Ohio took third for the second year in a row at 153 points, with Indiana programs Homestead (192) and Indianapolis North Central (198) also placing in the top five.

Prospect prevailed against Noblesville with a 34-111 victory last season, relying on four athletes finishing in the top 10.

The Knights had a trio of competitors Saturday in the top 15, with Veronica Znajda taking 13th in 18:02.4, Lily Ginsberg finishing 14th in 18:05.6 and Meg Peterson placing 15th in 18:09.8.

Ireland Wildhart was 40th in 19:01.4 and Sophie Fransen secured 46th in 19:03.9 for Prospect.

Nicki Southerland from Delta High in Indiana was runner-up to Macchia in 17:06.2, with freshman Isabella Keller of Effingham St. Anthony in Illinois taking third in 17:06.5.

Indiana competitors Libby Dowty of Indian Creek placed fourth in 17:09.5, Julia Score from Indianapolis Bishop Chatard finished fifth in 17:15.9 and Ava Jarrell of Pendleton Heights captured ninth in 17:43.5.

Natalie Barnard from Lafayette in Missouri, the leader midway through the race before Macchia took control in the second half, secured sixth in 17:19.2.

Jaynie Halterman of Independence High in Tennessee grabbed seventh in 17:22.7, with Illinois athletes Liv Phillips from Naperville Central earning eighth in 17:41.4 and Marshall’s Molly Farrell completing the top 10 in 17:53.2.

Todd pulled away from Sam Quagliaroli of Fishers High in Indiana in the final 50 meters to improve on a third-place finish at last year’s event in 14:57.3.

Quagliaroli was runner-up in 14:53.1, with Dylan Maloney leading Plainfield South by taking third in 14:58.0.

Evan Trapp from St. Xavier High in Ohio finished fourth in 15:00.0, with Jesuit’s Brady Mullen just behind in fifth in 15:00.1.

Riku Sugie of Thomas Nelson High in Kentucky secured sixth in 15:01.3, followed by Rock Bridge’s Andrew Hauser achieving seventh in 15:05.9. Hauser was last year’s runner-up in 14:56.4.

Anthony Provenzano led Carmel by earning eighth in 15:08.6, with Miles Ramer from Ravenwood in Tennessee placing ninth in 15:08.7 and Plainfield South’s Camryn Viger finishing 10th in 15:09.6.

Provenzano received support from Kyle Grove in 14th place in 15:18.1, with Thomas Biltimeier taking 42nd in 15:40.7, Carter Buhr capturing 69th in 15:59.3 and Jack Capes grabbing 76th in 16:02.0 for Carmel, which finished second behind Jesuit last season by a 97-106 margin.

Calvin Seitz from Jasper High in Indiana produced the fastest performance from the combined results of the two boys open sections, clocking 15:48.6.

Prospect prevailed in the boys open team competition with 78 points.

Hannah Moore of Northwestern High in Indiana achieved the top mark from the combined performances of both girls open races, running 18:27.7.

Carmel secured the girls open team victory with 62 points.