In 2011, OHRunners  had the opportunity to interview some of Ohio’s and the Nation’s best Cross Country and Track & Field athletes.  Several of the athletes that we interviewed were underclassman and subsequent to our interview went on to not only win State championships, but Regional and National Championships.  Many are ranked Nationally in their respective events.  Many improved their PR’s.  Some faltered.  Following is an update on each of these underclassmen since our interview with them, including links to our interviews.   Watch for them this Indoor and Outdoor season!

In the D1 boys State Cross Country race an individual lost their shoe just before the mile mark.  Here is the story of who that shoe belonged to, and what he had to overcome that day.

BRUNSWICK - The reigning state champ in 400-meter dash, Brunswick senior Brianna Neitzel selects the Buckeyes over UNC, Michigan and Cincy to continue her athletic career. (via The Post Newspapers)

CHILLICOTHE -- A Zane Trace distance runner and Unioto bowler will sign letters of intent Wednesday to continue their careers at Division I colleges. (via The Chillicothe Gazette)

A quick look at the happenings from around the state in Indoor Track and Field.  It was a small slate of meets this week due to the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches annual clinic this weekend.

Ever wonder how your old high school teamate is doing in college?  Or how about that stud sprinter from your rival high school?  Well, MileSplit and OHRunners is going to make following your favorite State of Ohio Alumni that much easier.  All you have do is check out the Alumni Report and you can see how former Ohio High School athletes are doing in college.

CHICAGO (January 23, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced Sam Prakel of Versailles HS as its 2011-12 Gatorade Ohio Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.  Prakel is the first Gatorade Ohio Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Versailles HS.

Cin. Princeton's Claudia Saunders is the 2011 D1 State Cross Country Champion and the 2010 State 100H Champion.  She is one of the most versatile runners in Ohio and as a Senior, she is one of the favorites in both the 100H and 300H, as well as the 1,600 and the 3,200.  OHRunners had the opportunity to talk with Claudia about her high school career and her goals for this years indoor and outdoor track seasons. One thing is for sure,  she is an agressive, talented runner and when she walks out on the track, her goal is to run the best race that she can to win.   

Ever wonder how your old high school teamate is doing in college?  Or how about that stud sprinter from your rival high school?  Well, MileSplit and OHRunners is going to make following your favorite State of Ohio Alumni that much easier.  All you have do is check out the Alumni Report and you can see how former Ohio High School athletes are doing in college.

A quick look at the top High School marks from the past week (or two) from the Indoor Season. 

Jake Blankenship set a new Ohio Record and Personal Best on his way to winning the High School portion of the 2012 National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada with a clearence of 17-4.5.  Jake's mark tops his previous best performance at New Balance Outdoor Nationals where he cleared 17-0.75 on his way to winning the National Championship.   It has been reported that Blankenship had solid attempts at 17-10, which would have been a National High School Indoor Record.

A trio of Sunshine State track stars returned home to train for 2012 season and gear up for the Olympics in London. Bershawn "Batman" Jackson, Jamaal Torrance, and Moses Washington spent a couple of days at the National Training Center in Clermont working on their speed and strength. 

Alyssa Gary, a senior at Liberty-Benton High School, has chosen to continue her education and throwing career at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.  Alyssa finished as the runner up last year in three different championship events, the Division 2/3 Indoor Shot Put (43-9.75), the Division 3 Outdoor Shot Put (45.11.25) and the Division 3 Discus Throw (148-9).

Princeton High School senior, Claudia Saunders, has decided to matriculate and continue her running career at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.  Claudia is one of the most versatile athletes in Ohio Track and Field history.  Claudia has won state titles in both the 100m Hurdles (2010) and in Cross Country (2011), as well as posting competitive personal best marks in the 55/60m Hurdles (8.59/8.92), 300m Hurdles (42.54), 400m Hurdles (1:00.32), 400m Dash (56.2h), 800m Run (2:22.26 i), and the Pole Vault (10-0).

NEW ORLEANS – The Bowerman, an award bestowed to collegiate track & field’s best athlete of the year, was awarded to Florida State’s Ngoni Makusha and Texas A&M’s Jessica Beard less than a month ago, but it’s time to look forward to 2012 with the award’s preseason watch list. The men’s list of ten, announced by The Bowerman Watch List Committee, has three semifinalists from the 2011 season. The three finalists from 2011 – Makusha, Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson, and Florida’s Christian Taylor – are no longer collegians. (via The Bowerman)

CHICAGO (January 12, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN HS, today announced Claudia Saunders of Princeton High School as its 2011-12 Gatorade Ohio Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.  Saunders is the first Gatorade Ohio Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Princeton High School. 

Jake Blankenship, a Senior at Gahanna Lincoln, is Ohio’s 2011 State D1 Pole Vault Champion and the all-time Ohio outdoor record holder with a vault of 17-0.75” (5.2) at the 2011 New Balance Outdoor Nationals.  He is not only the top vaulter in Ohio, but is the nation’s #2 indoor and outdoor ranked returning vaulter. He believes that anything is possible with hard work, dedication and support. His goals this year are ambitious.  He wants to capture the National HS Indoor and Outdoor Records.  Indoors -  5.48m (17'10").  Outdoors -   5.60m (18'4"). It’s going to just take a lot of dedication, support and hard work.  (Photo Coutresy of Photorun.net)

When Brian Olinger steps to the starting line of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon on January 14, he will be in for the run of his life. Of course the Olympic Trials are a big event for all who are racing, but for Olinger, it will also mark the first time he has ever raced more than seven miles on the roads. Olinger will make his debut at the marathon distance in a unique way. He gained entry to the trials through his 10,000m mark of 28:07.5 from the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in May. In fact, to date Olinger is the only man entered in the trials using only a 10,000m time.(via usatf.org)

Bryn Campbell, a senior at Canal Winchester High School, has chosen to continue his academic and throwing career at Ashland University.  Bryn qualified to the OHSAA State Track and Field Championship in the discus throw last season, but his speciality lies in the Hammer Throw, an event not contested in the OHSAA trounament.  Bryn placed 6th at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in the Hammer Throw with a toss of 195-2.  Bryn also throws the 25lbs. Weight and qualified for the OATCCC State Indoor Track and Field Championship during the 2011 indoor season.