Team Spotlight - Carmel High School, Carmel, Indiana
This interview features the Carmel High School, (Carmel, Indiana) girls’ team; interview with head coach Mark Ellington. In 2010 & 2011, Carmel dominated the Indiana State Championships, and finished 7th and 5th in Nike Cross Nationals. They return 4 of the top 7 in 2012; Kelcy Welch (11, 5K XC PR – 18:07.60, 3200m – 10:47.34), Gina Genco (11, 5k XC PR – 18:12.90), Kelsey Harris (10, 5k XC PR – 18:39.50), & Haley Harris (10, 5k XC PR – 18:28.00); and reload with Ellen Schmitz (12, 5k XC PR – 18:44.00), Anna Schmitz (10, 19:46.60), and others among their young, large and deep squad. Carmel, ranked 11th nationally in MileSplit’s preseason poll, started the 2012 campaign with big wins at the Purdue Invitational (8/25) and Hamilton County Invitational (8/28).
==============================================================
School, location (city, state) -
Carmel HS (Greyhounds; Carmel, IN)
Team (boys, girls, both) –
Girls
Head Coach -
Mark Ellington
Assistant Coach(es) –
Matt Wire, Kelly Wire, Katie Gray
Top (national level) athletes; name, grade, PR’s –
Kelcy Welch (11) 5k PR 18:05, 5th Place at both Indiana State Cross Country Finals and Indiana State Track Finals (3200 - 10:46)
Gina Genco (11) 5k PR 18:09, All-State first two years at State Cross Country Finals
No others at this time, but we are working on it.
Key(s) to the success of your team –
We are all about depth. It is very hard to ask the same crew of athletes to show up and race at their best week after week throughout the fall. We ask 15-20 athletes to be ready to compete in a varsity race throughout the season. We don't change our expectations just because #16 is running instead of #5 one week. All girls are given an opportunity to contribute; and we train them as if they will be on our tournament team late in the season. This has also contributed to our ability to "reload" each year, as several girls gain experience from their previous seasons.
Your favorite meet(s) –
The girls really love both Mason (OH, because of the unique course) and Trinity/Sacred Heart (Louisville, another great course and a fun atmosphere). I love the State Meet at Lavern Gibson. It's just a great day of racing on a fair, but challenging, course.
What do you most love about cross country -
Anybody can do it. It doesn't matter who you are; you can train to be better. I love being a part of the process, and witnessing someone else realize their own potential.
Teams you most enjoy competing against –
Columbus North (state power), Westfield, Noblesville, & Fishers; all from our own backyard - Hamilton County, IN. We've also started a bit of a rivalry with Assumption (KY). They have made some noise in their region the last two years; and we like to give them our best when we see them at Sacred Heart.
Team goals for the season -
We are looking to three-peat as Indiana State Champions...not an easy proposition. Everyone is gunning for us; and we have some big shoes to fill due to graduation. Our girls are working to prove they are deserving of the attention from the rest of the state. We'd also like to qualify for our third straight NXN championship race.
=====================================================
Visit the Carmel MileSplit webpage at https://in.milesplit.com/teams/CARHS .
See an Indiana state scouting report on Carmel at https://in.milesplit.com/articles/90958-scouting-reports-carmel-girls .
