Hilliard Davidson Sr. India Johnson was 2nd last year in the D1 girl's race. (photo M. Stonecipher)
Girl's Individual
14 Girls Return from last year's Top 20
2 India Johnson JR Hil. Davidson - 17:43.0
3 Emma Bower SO Olen.
Liberty - 17:54.3
4 Morgan Gigandet SO Troy - 18:04.0
5 Olivia Howell FR Solon - 18:05.8
7 Allison Guagenti FR Olen. Orange - 18:13.9
8 Rebecca Craddock JR Brunswick - 18:14.5
10 Kayla Chapman JR Mas. Jackson - 18:19.6
11 Gracie Sprankle SO Olen. Liberty - 18:22.4
12 Maddie Walker FR Amelia - 18:22.8
16 Sydney Seymour SO Cle. St. Joseph - 18:28.9
17 Samantha Bush FR Turpin - 18:36.0
18 Felicia Pasadyn FR Brunswick (2) 10 18:36.6
19 Mimi Reimers JR Shaker Hts. (1) 11 18:38.9
20 AnnaMarie DiGiaccobe SO Med Highland - 18:40.9
India Johnson with around 500m to go in last year's D1 race. (photo Chris Greene)
Sr.
India Johnson of Hilliard Davidson is the highest returning D1 girl from last year's State meet where she was 2nd in 17:43. She is the Preseason #2 ranked girl in the State with a 17:31.35. she had a breakout year last year.
Indoors, she won the OATCCC D1 3,200m with a
time of 10:55.90 and outdoors, she won the D1 State 3200m with a
10:29.80. She followed those two wins up
with a 4th at the NBNO 5K, running a 16:53.78. She's an experienced runner and expect her to in the top three this year. She may just win it all. To win, she will have to contend with OH Preseason #1, Jr. Morgan Gigandet of Troy (17:26.59).
Troy Jr. Morgan Gigandet at the 2800m mark in last year's race. Just before the Mile. She led through the 2-mile. (photo Christian Lisle)
Gigandet was 4th last year in 18:04.00 after taking the race out hard and leading through the two-mile. She should be stronger and more experienced this year and have learned some patience. As a freshman she was 37th in the D1 race in 19:04.06. On the track, she has been to State twice in the D1 3200m. As a freshman she was 7th in 10:59.79 and last spring, she was 3rd in 10:46.11. She is one of the girls' that can challenge and battle Johnson for the top spot. Definitely a top 3 runner.
Jr. Emma Bower of Olentangy Liberty with around 500m to go last year. She would finish 3rd. (photo Chris Greene)
Jr.
Emma Bower of Olentangy Liberty is the Preseason #3 ranked girl in the State. She was 3rd last year in 17:54.30 and 16th as a freshman in 2014 with an 18:38.78. Along with Johnson, she is the only State returner who went under 18:00.00. she was absent on the track in 2016, but in 2015, as a freshman, she was 7th in the OATCCC Indoor D1 1600m with a 5:14.15 and outdoors she was 2nd in the D1 3200m with a 10:56.02. If she is healthy, watch for her to challenge for a top spot on the podium.
So. Olivia Howell of Solon was the leading freshman D1 girls running 5th. (photo M. Stonecipher)
Four other girls return that were in the top 10, including two sophomores and two juniors.
Olivia Howell of Solon was 5th as a freshman in 18:05.80,
Allison Gaugenti of Olentangy Orange was the #2 freshman girl last year finishing 7th just ahead of Jr. Rebecca Craddock of Brunswick. (photo M. Stonecipher)
Kayla Chapman of Massillon Jackson finishing 10th last year as a sophomore. (photo Christian Lisle)
and Massillon Jackson's
Kayla Chapman was 10th as a sophomore in 18:19.60.
