Maumee Sr. Zak Kirk leads the State D2 rankings with a 15:05.00. He should get through Districts and Regional easily. he'll have Jr. Zach Kreft of Buckeye Valley to contend with at State. (photo Christian. Lisle)
D2 Boys
Sr. Zak Kirk of Mumee is undefeated this season. He leads the State D2 rankings with a 15:05.00. He;s got company however in Buckeye Valley Jr. Zach Kreft who has the #2 ranking with a 15:09.40. Kirk ran his time on a fast Bowling Green course. Kreft proved he can win as he ran down and held on to defeat some of the top D1 runners at the Midwest Meet of Champions. He lost last week however to Jr. Chad Johnson of Colonel Crawford, in a very close race - 15:09.30 to 15:09.40 at the Marion Harding Invitational. Neither Kirk or Kreft will have to face Johnson as he is D3. If all goes well, they will face each other at State coming through different Regions. Three other seniors; Heath's Taylor Hopkins, Perkin's Owen Krewson and Carrollton's Cole Lovett can run with Kirk and Kreft, but I am not sure they can finish with them.
Woodridge is the boy's #1 ranked D2 team in the Coaches Poll and in the Milesplit rankings. They are in the same District and Regional as #2 Bay we will see a State Preview each week. The difference just may be in the 105 split where the Woodridge boy's have run just a 31.40 split. Bay has a 59.10. Woodridge doesn't have a top 20 runner, but led by Noah Perrin they go 22, 33, 42, 62 and 78th. Watch for Lexington and Rocky River to be in the mix, but they do not have the depth of Woodridge and Bay.
D2 Girls
Beachwood Jr. Leah Roter was 7th last year at State. She has had an incredible run this season as she is undefeated and his the US #3 ranked Jr. in the country (17:09.70). She has a 49.10 time advantage over the #2 D2 ranked girl in the State Sydnee Mangette (17:58.80) and has dominated every race she has run this season. In my opinion, she should move easily through Districts and Regionals and this is her State title to win! Throw away the divisions and let her run with the D1 girls as arguably, she just may be the best girl in the State at this time.