As we head into the Post Season run to State, here is short a look at the 2016 season and what we might expect the next three weeks. Ohio has reloaded this season with a group of very talented runners. We have some obvious team favorites and individual favorites, but every year we have some surprises. Ohio's boys and girls divisional rankings are close and the races should be very competitive.
Jr. Arjun Jha of Thomas Worthington getting the win at the Les Eisenhart Invitational. Jha is ranked OH #1 with a 14:56.00. (photo M. Stonecipher)
D1 Boys
Thomas Worthington Jr. Arjun Jha has had breakout year thus far. He is atop the D1 rankings in the State with a 14:56.00 and Is US #2 Juniors. He hasn't lost since very early December, having won his last six races. Right behind him however is Olentangy Orange Sr. Hunter Moore. Moore went 14:58.00 in a 2nd place finish with Jha at the Les Eisenhart Invitational. They were the only two boys to both gun under 15:00 in an Ohio race. Another talented Jr. is Dustin Horter of Lakota East. Horter just missed being the 3rd boy under 15:00 in winning his conference championship in 15:01.20 and with the exception of the Early Season Invitational, is undefeated.
Jha and Moore will face each other in the Watkins District and again in Pickerington Regional. Should be an interesting battle between these two. Pickerington Central's Jr. Matt Scrape has the #4 ranking in the State with a 15:07.00. He'll run in districts and Regionals with Jha and Moore.
Brunswick Sr. Andre Bollam-gobott is the only other boy at 15:10.
On the Team side, all of the top 5 Coaches Poll teams should not have any problems getting through districts.
St. Xavier, Louisville and St. Ignatius should all moved on to Regional, but they'll all be chasing #1 Solon and #2 Thomas Worthington. Solon is ranked US #15 and Thomas Worthington is US #17. A quick look however shows TW with a faster average time, but a slower group. Their average time is 15:40.68 to Solons 15:45.68. Solon has a 1-5 split os just 51.10 seconds. TW's is 1:24.00. State should be very interesting.
D1 Girls
Sr. India Johnson of Hilliard Davidson has developed over the last two years into the #1 girl in the State. She is undefeated this season. She should cruise through Districts and Regionals and appears to be on her way to win her first XC title. At State, she'll come up against OH #2 Jr. Morgan Gigandet of Troy. The two have battled this year several times with Johnson having the edge. Two other girl's have had outstanding years and are the only two other girl's to go under 18:00 in the D1 Division. Turpin's Samantha Bush and Olentangy Orange's Allison Gaugenti are both Sophomores. Bush will face off against Gigandet at Regionals and Gaugenti will face Johnson at both Districts and Regionals.
The Final Coaches Poll are Troy ahead of Centerville by one point. Based on Time, MileSplit still has Centerville as #1. Last weekend in the GWOC Championships Troy got the upper hand of Centerville 49-62.. Centerville however may have an edge as a healthy Grace Kilroy regains her strength from a mid-season injury that had her out for several weeks. We will be able to watch it unfold as the two will face each other in District's and Regionals. Other top teams to watch through Districts are: Gahanna Lincoln, Medina.and Olentangy Liberty. All have had great seasons, but just don't have the depth of the young Troy and Centerville team.