The top 10 high school boys cross country runners in the Lafayette area.

LAFAYETTE – Trekking through rocky terrain and braving the elements at a fast pace makes cross country running one of the most exciting sports for high school students to play in the fall.

The first race is scheduled for August 16 at Tippecanoe Amphitheater. Below are the top 10 runners to watch in 2024.

The rankings are based on the times and placements from the 2023 IHSAA State, Regional and Sectional Championships.

1. Hayden Kemple

School: Clinton Prairie

Class: Senior

Best times: 15:54.9 at IHSAA State – personal best (45th), 16.11.2 at IHSAA Regional 3 (28th), 16.23.4 at IHSAA Sectional 11 (1st).

2. Christopher Engelen

School: Frankfurt

Class: Senior

Best times: 16:20.6 at IHSAA State (115th), 15:47.9 at IHSAA Regional 3 (13th), 16:37.1 at IHSAA Sectional 11 (2nd).

3. Ryan Miloudi

School: West Lafayette

Class: Senior

Best times: 15:55.2 at IHSAA State – personal best (46th), 15:55 at IHSAA Regional 3 (16th), 16:10.6 at IHSAA Sectional 12 (1st).

4. Ian Lah

School: Harrison

Class: Senior

Best times: 16:24.6 NCC Conference meet – personal best (2nd), 16:24.6 at IHSAA Regional 3 (38th), 16.33 at IHSAA Sectional 12 (4th).

5. Nathan Odle

School: Seeger

Class: Senior

Best times: 16:49.2 at IHSAA Sectional 12 – personal best (10th), 16:46.4 IHSAA Regional 3 (58th), 18.01 at North Vermillion Invitational (5th).

6. Jack Chandler

School: West Lafayette

Class: Senior

Best times: 16:50.3 at IHSAA Regional 3 (62nd), 16:56.4 at IHSAA Sectional 12 – personal best (13th), 17:18.7 at City County (10th).

More: New Faces, New Goals: 5 Lafayette High School Receivers to Watch

7. Darien Olivio-Hernandez

School: Jeff from Lafayette

Class: Senior

Best times: 16:52.4 at IHSAA Regional 3 (63rd), 16:51.4 at IHSAA Sectional 12 (11th), 16:25.7 at Harrison Invite – personal best (17th).

8. Elias Rodriguez

School: Jeff from Lafayette

Class: Senior

Best times: 16:55.1 at IHSAA Regional 3 (65th), 16:35.8 at IHSAA Sectional 12 (6th), 16:28.7 at Harrison Invite – personal best (19th).

9. Evan Lottes

School: West Lafayette

Class: Junior

Best times: 16:55.1 at IHSAA Regional 3 (66th), 16:46 at IHSAA Section 12 (9th).

10. Luca Reynolds

School: West Lafayette

Class: Sophomores

Best times: 16:56.5 at IHSAA Regional 3 (70th), 17:18.3 at IHSAA Sectional 12 (19th), 17:12.8 at 2023 Wildcat Invitational – personal best (88th).

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected]on Twitter on EthanA Hanson and Instagram on ethan_a_hanson.