2016 Cross Country Preview! - Division 2

2016 Saucony Flo50 XC Rankings
Mark Stonecipher

West Holmes Sr. Michelle Hostettler finishing 3rd last year.  She just may be the one to beat this year.  (photo M. Stonecipher)

Girl's Individual

11 girls return from last year's Top 20

3 Michelle Hostettler JR  West Holmes - 18:19.5

5 Annie Zimmer SO  Chagrin Falls  - 18:30.3

7 Leah Roter SO  Beachwood - 18:36.2

8 Elizabeth Ordeman JR Oakwood - 18:36.9

9 Whitney Wendling JR  Lexington - 18:42.8

10 Ashley Rulison FR  Beaumont - 18:46.7

11 Mackenna Curtis-Collins JR Lexington - 18:53.3

14 Perri Bockrath SO  Alter - 18:56.4

17 Grace Steimle SO Grand Valley - 18:58.6

18 Sophie Smith JR  Spr. Shawnee - 18:58.8

19 Mackenzie Davis FR  Sheridan - 19:03.7

Unioto Sr. Haley Wright finishing her run last year. (#363)  Wright was 34th, but has the D2 girl's #1 Preseason ranking.

Unioto Sr. Haley Wright is the Preseason #1 D2 ranked girl with an 18:11.10.  She leads a strong Unioto team and her 34th place finish in last year's State meet (19:28.30) was not indicative of her talent.  She was 75th at the State meet as a freshman in 2013 with a 20:32.68.  She did not run in 2014 at the State meet.  She was 4th indoors in the D2/3 OATCCC3200 last year with a 11:20.87 and outdoors in 2015 in the D2 State Meet she was 11th in the 3200 with a 11:38.20 and 12th in 2016 with an 11:36.16.  Watch for her to be on the podium this year but getting there won't be easy as 6 of last year's Top 10 are back, as well as #11 and 14-19.


West Holmes Sr. Michelle Hostettler at the 2800m mark on her way to a 3rd place finish last year. (photo M. Stonecipher)

One girl to watch for and who might take the top spot on the podium is Sr. Michelle Hostettler of West Holmes. She is D3 #2 with an 18:12.24 that she ran in winning the Cambridge District last year.   Hostettler was 3rd in last year's meet, running 18:19.50.  Indoors she has placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the OATCCC State D2/3 3200m with an 11:33.38 and a 11:20.09.  Outdoors she was 5th in 2015 in the D2 3200 with an 11:07.45 and 5th again in 2016 with an 11:10.17.  She has gone 10:51.30.  


Lexington Sr. Mackenna Curtis-Collins at the Mile.  She finished in the #3 spot for Lexington last year with her 11th place run.  (photo Christian Lisle)

Battling Hostettler for the top spot and a definite top podium finisher should be Sr. Mackenna Curtis-Collins of Lexington.  She has been there #2/3 girl for the last three years, along with Sr. Whitney Wendling, behind Dominique Clairmonte and should step up in her role as one of the leaders of the Lexington team.  She was 11th last year in 18:53.30.  She has been to State three times running 23rd in 2013 (19:22.30) and 4th in 2014 (18:41.49).  She has also been a State finalist in the D2 3200 outdoors in 2015 and 2016, running 11:45.51 and 11:32.22.


Sr. Whitney Wendling of Lexington helped lead Lexington to the team title last year with her 9th place finish.  shown here at the Mile.  (photo Christian Lisle)

Joining Curtis-Collins as one of the Lexington leaders is last year' #2 finisher for Lexington, Sr. Whitney Wendling.  Wendling was 9th last year in 18:42.80.  She is ranked D2 #6 with a 18:24.80.  Like Curtis-Collins she has been to State all three of her HS years running 75th as a freshman (20:20.70) and 61st as a sophomore (20:08.55).  She will be in the mix up front for a top spot.


Jr. Annie Zimmer of Chagrin Falls finished 5th in the D2 race last year.  (photo M. Stonecipher)

Chagrin Falls Jr. Annie Zimmer is the #4 Preseason ranked D2 girl with an 18:15.50.  She is the 2nd highest returning finisher from last year with her 5th place finish in 18:30.30.  She was 7th in 2014 with an 18:46.10.  Last year she was 6th outdoors in the D2 3,200 with an 11:08.08.  

Last year's 7th place finisher, Jr. Leah Roter of Beechwood with Jr. Annie Zimmer (Chagrin Falls) and Hannah Markel of Gilmour with around 500m to go in last year's race.

Three other girl's were in the top 10 last year and should challenge in the D2 race:  7th place Jr. Leah Roter of Beachwood, 8th place Sr. Elizabeth Ordeman of Oakwood and So. Ashley Rulison of Beaumont.  Roter is ranked #8 but followed up her XC season with with a very strong performance on the track.  Indoors she was 8th in the D2/3 1,600 and outdoors she doubled at State placing 10th in the 1,600 with a 5:09.80 and 4th in the 3,200 with a 11:03.06.  She just may surprise everyone with her 1,600 speed and challenge the leaders for the top spot.  She should be in the top 5.

Oakwood Sr. Elizabeth Ordeman  just passed the Mile in last year's race.  (photo Christian Lisle)

Oakwood Sr. Elizabeth Ordeman has been one of the leaders of the Oakwood team since her freshman year.  She has steadily improved and holds a D2 Preseason ranking of #5 with an 18:18.47.  She ran #2 last year at State behind Mary Kate Vaughn (2nd) with an 8th place finish in 18:36.90.  In 2013, she was 21st in 19:20.00 and in 2014, she was 11th in 18:51.79. Outdoors, she was 3rd in the D2 3,200 with an 11:02.75. As she takes the lead on the Oakwood team, expect to see her battle for a top 5 spot.

Beaumont Sophomore Ashley Rulison.  (photo Chris Greene)

Beaumont So. Ashley Rulison was the highest finishing freshman last year at State with her 10th place, 18:46.70. She gained experience and expect her to be up front with the other returners.  Is she a top 5 runner, we'll have to see, but indoors at the OATCCC State meet she doubled placing 9th in the D2/3 1,600 with a 5:21.16 and 5th in the 3,200 with an 11:26.92.

Others to watch for:  Jr. Alex Evans - Unioto, So. Peyton Remy - Alexander, Sr. Allie Zofkie - Wapokoneta, Jr. Perri Bockrath - Alter, Jr. Grace Steimle - Grand Valley, Sr. Sophie Smith - Springfield Shawnee and So. McKenzie Davis - Sheridan.


D2 GIRL'S PRESEASON RANKINGS