Coach Julie Alano just completed her 20th year as head girls track coach at Hamilton Southeastern High School after seven years as an assistant. In those 20 years, the Lady Royals have won 13 sectional titles, ten regional titles, two state finals fifth places, two state finals third places, two state runners-up and one state championship. Coach Alano guided 70 total boys and girls hurdlers and girls 400 runners to the state finals and 31 became state finalists, including five individual state runners-up and two state champions. In the 1600 relay, she guided 21 teams to the state finals, 14 teams were state finalists including two state championships and four runners-up. Since 2006, the team has had 61 first team academic all-state, 76 academic all-state honorable mentions, 30 Indiana track all-stars, one Mental Attitude Award, one Miss Track and Field and one Miss Field Event.
In 2022, the 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay placed third at New Balance Outdoor Nationals with what is believed to be the best time in state history of 1:02.11. In 2024, the 4x400 relay won Nike Indoor Nationals with what was the Indiana indoor all-time best of 3:51.57 and the distance medley relay team placed fourth at New Balance Outdoor Nationals with an Indiana all-time best of 11:35.61. In 2025 at Nike Outdoor Nationals, the sprint medley relay (200-200-400-800) won in a time of 3:58.51. On the same day with the help of two members of the boys’ team, HSE won the mixed 4x400 relay in a time of 3:27.65, which set a new meet record. The 2025 state champ 4x400 team also earned national runner-up with a time of 3:44.65, the second fastest ever run by a team from Indiana.
Coach Alano was also the HSE High School head girls cross country coach from 1999-2005. During those seven years, the team won seven sectional titles and made six semistate appearances. Alano was named IATCCC Girls Track Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2018; 2018 ICGSA and USTFCCA Girls Track Coach of the Year and USA Today All-USA Girls Track Coach of the Year. Coach Alano has served voluntarily in the IATCCC since 2001, she was secretary for 15years before two years as vice president then two years as president. She developed and has maintained the organization’s website since 2001. She began directing the organization’s annual coaching clinic in 2018.
After graduating from Waldron High School, Julie (Harker) Alano attended Indiana State University. After walking on the track team, she broke the ISU school record in the 400 hurdles. In addition to her degree from Indiana State, she earned a master’s degree from IUPUI and an IT Certificate from Valparaiso University. Coach Alano will complete her 28th year at HSE High School as a computer science teacher. Mrs. Alano was named HSE High School and HSE School District Teacher of the Year in 2016. She resides in Fortville with her husband Dmitri.