The First Regular Season OATCCC Cross Country Weekly Poll.

An American recordholder explains why steeplechase is so awesome. Two words: water pit. (via Playbook)

I just wanted to let everyone know that there will not be any updates over Labor Day weekend as I will be on vacation and without internet access.  I will be able to start updating the site starting on Tuesday September 4th.  Please be patient as it will take me a few days to catch up.

Ohio State women's track and field head coach Karen Dennis announced Wednesday the hiring of eight-time USA Champion Khadevis Robinson as an assistant coach. (via www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com)

The hammer throw, one of the most unusual events in the 2012 Summer Games, is a lot like a particle accelerator. For those who may not be familiar with the hammer throw, here’s a quick rundown: (via Playbook)

When the 2012 Miami University men's cross country team opens its season Saturday at the Dayton Flyer 5K Challenge, there will be several new faces in the field as head coach Warren Mandrell has added eight newcomers to the lineup. In addition to the distance runners, the RedHawks bring in seven other young men who have been recruited for the 2012-13 track and field team. (via Miami University)

KYTrackXC.com Webmaster Jonathan Grooms interviews Beavercreek's Sydney Leiher on her opening season win at the Louisville St. Xavier Tiger Run Invitational

The Centerville Stampede is shaping up to be a great meet yet again, especially on the girls side.   Three of the OATCCC Preseason Top 5 girls teams will be in this talented field.  Springboro (tied for 2nd) , Beavercreek (1st), and Centerville (5th) lead the girls field as well as Michigan's defending big school champ, Grosse Point South High School which returns all of thier runners from their State Championship team.     Grosse Point South had 4 girls sub 18:45 at their state meet last year.   And their #1 girl Hannah Meier went 17:24 last fall and was sub 4:45 in the mile this spring qualifying to run in Barcelona this past summer representing the US on the Junior World team.   In addition, Oakwood's standout freshman, Mary Kate Vaughn is planning on attending as well.  She went 5:03 as an 8th grader this past spring.   It should shape up to be a great meet.  

CHILLICOTHE -- Chillicothe cross country coach Steve Semancik isn't shying away from expectations in 2012. To put it mildly, he's setting them pretty high. "I told the crowd at Meet The Team Night that if this boys team can stay healthy, we'll break the current drought of 48 years without a league title," Semancik said. "For the girls, I see no reason why they can't finish in the top two either. Obviously, the expectations are high for this group, but the best thing is they believe they're capable of doing these things." (via www.chillicothegazette.com)

A quick look of the meets from the past week, including top times and links to any results, articles, videos, interviews and photos.

NORTH ROBINSON - Defending the Colonel Crawford Early Bird Invitational title meant more to the Northmor girls cross country team than just another victory. The Golden Knights have dedicated their season to Kristen Peters, a 16-year-old teammate who died in a car accident in July, just one day after receiving her drivers license. Each girl ran Saturday's race wearing the intials K.P. in black marker on their shoulder. (via www.marionstar.com)

GRANVILLE -- Newark junior Toby Hardwick had a good lead on teammate Kameron Carpenter, but he still sprinted to the finish like it was neck-and-neck. (via The Newark Advocate)

The Pre-Season OATCCC XC Coaches Poll

One of the greatest spectacles in sport—the Olympic Games—is quietly giving way to the burgeoning media blitz now being directed at Major League Baseball, college football and the NFL... (via Bleacher Report)

WKU track and field head coach Erik Jenkins announced the addition of Ashley Muffet Duncan to the program's coaching staff Friday morning. Muffet Duncan will serve as the Hilltoppers throws coach. (via www.wkusports.com)

Ohio State men's track and field head coach Ed Beathea announced Wednesday the hiring of Ross Richardson as an assistant coach for the Buckeyes. Richardson, who comes to Ohio State from the University of Virginia, also has previous ties to the Big Ten, spending five seasons as an assistant coach at Purdue from 2005-10. (via www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com)

When you have a child playing school sports, some costs are expected. You're going to have to buy some sort of athletic gear necessary to the sport. You might have to pay for a practice jersey or warmup suit. And you'll probably be nudged to kick in a few bucks [...] (via Forbes)

-Athlete Name: Bethany Norman -School: Xenia Christian High School -Year of Graduation: 2013

-Athlete name: Hannah Hartzell   -School: Olentangy Orange High School   -Year of Graduation: 2013

-Athlete Name: Jack Miller   -School: St. Ignatius   -Year of Graduation: 2013

-Athlete Name: Kaele Lightfoot -School: Minerva High School -Year of Graduation: 2013  

The Mason girls have been the area’s dominant program in cross country for most of the past decade. The Comets have run in eight straight Division I state meets, including finishing third last season and missing the program’s first team title by just five points. (via masonbuzz.com)

-Athlete Name: Abel Flores -School: Defiance High School -Year of Graduation: 2013

-Athlete Name: Danielle (Dani) Blum -School: Northmor -Year of Graduation: 2013

-Athlete Name: Clayton Murphy -School: Tri-Village High School -Year of Graduation: 2013

Lights, camera, action! Those are the steps Cincinnati cross country runners are following this upcoming weekend. The 2nd annual Moeller Primetime Invitational will take place Friday, Aug. 24, 2012 at the Bruin Golf Course in Kings under the lights. “Not only are we anxious to showcase the talent of our team under the Friday night lights, that were once commonly held only for high school football, but that of all teams competing in this event, and to promote the sport of high school cross country running to the causal sports fan,” Moeller head coach Dave Prenger said.

-Athlete Name: Carissa Jenkins -School: Austintown-Fitch High School -Year of Graduation: 2014

-Athlete name: Josh Steible -School: Centerville High School -Year of Graduation: 2013

By now most high school track athletes are taking a break from track. Some are enjoying vacation time and others are getting ready for another sport. In any case a break is MANDATORY. After every peak performance or season there is a period of recovery and rest that the body needs, physically and emotionally. Top sport is all about minimizing the recovery time to have more work or peak performance time. (via ESPN.com)

When it comes to winning, Coach Beverly Kearney, University of Texas head women's track and field coach, knows how to get the job done. With a coaching career spanning nearly three decades, she has won seven NCAA championships and coached 12 Olympians. In 2007, she was inducted into the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame. (via CNN)

All eyes were on Usain Bolt when he burned up the track on Aug. 5, clocking a 100-meter final time of 9.63 seconds during the London Olympics’ most-watched event. All eyes, that is, except for Matt Head’s. His were on the world record holder’s shoes. (via www.txchnologist.com)

-Athlete Name: Cecelia Wallace -School: Zane Trace High School -Year of Graduation: 2014

-Athlete Name: Ryan Gallagher -School: Buckeye High School -Year of Graduation: 2013

-Athlete Name: Sarah Kanney -School: Coldwater High School -Year of Graduation: 2015

-Athlete Name: Kyle Polman -School: Independence -Year of Graduation: 2013

-Athlete Name: Leah Wallace -School: Reynoldsburg High School -Year of Graduation: 2015

A stain on the conscience of the international athletics community was wiped clean in London Friday. When Carmelita Jeter crossed the line in the anchor leg of the 4x100-meter relay ... (via Bleacher Report)

Here are the stories we printed this week on the area’s cross country action, thanks to sports writers Scott Springer, Tom Skeen and Mark Motz.   Western Hills Press/Delhi Press/Price Hill Press West-Side runners ready for season to start Hilltop Press Runners ready for season to start Northwest Press Rebuilding year a theme for local [...] (via High School Sports Blog at Cincinnati.com)

After one of the best seasons in program history, the Padua Lady Bruins Cross Country team believes they have the strength to do it all again. "Last season they won the first District Title in program history and placed 15th in the region," said Head Coach Justin Meeson. "This season they are looking to defend their title, and place in the Top Ten in the region." (via highschoolsports.cleveland.com)

-Athlete Name: Andrew Johnston -School: Olentangy Liberty High School -Year of Graduation: 2014

-Athlete Name: Halle Markel -School:  Gilmour Academy -Year of Graduation:  2014

David Rudisha exceeded even his own expectations Thursday by winning the 800 meters in style. (via online.wsj.com)

When the day was over, Americans Aries Merritt and Allyson Felix had swept a pair of epics and Americans had won seven medals—their richest night since 1992 at an Olympic track. (via online.wsj.com)

-Athlete Name: Jared Fleming @flimflam15 -School: Van Wert High School -Year of Graduation: 2013

NORTH ROYALTON: The North Royalton boys and girls cross country teams should be a contrast in experience this season.   While the girls return a core group that finished third in the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division and fifth at districts, the boys are hoping to overcome a couple defections. (via Sun News - cleveland.com)

PATASKALA -- The months of June and July primarily are hands off for cross country coaches. When official practice began Monday, however, Watkins Memorial coach John Jarvis was eager to take the training wheels off his Warriors. The boys team, in particular, will have a new look in 2012, but that is nothing new. (via The Newark Advocate)

LONDON — Toledoan Erik Kynard enjoyed a silver lining in his quest for an Olympic gold medal in the men's high jump on Tuesday. With plenty of moral support being channeled in from his home in Toledo, Kynard cleared a height of 2.33 meters (7.64 feet) in the men's high jump event to take second place in his first trip to the Olympics. Russia's Ivan Ukhov captured the gold medal after clearing 2.38 meters (7.81 feet) on his first attempt. Related Article: Russian Ukhov edges Toledoan to take gold Photo gallery: Toledo high jumper Kynard wins silver medal Kynard becomes the first Toledoan to win an individual Olympic medal since Edmund Coffin won gold in equestrian competition at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Wilbert "Skeeter" McClure won a gold medal in boxing at the 1960 (via Toledo Blade)

If you like sprinting, you are going to love the track and field events on slate for Wednesday at the 2012 London Olympics... (via Bleacher Report)

-Athlete Name: Emily Roberts -School: Fredericktown High School -Year of Graduation: 2014

Toledo Rogers' alum Erik Kynard ('09) cleared 2.33m (7-7.5) to capture the Olympic Silver Medal at the 2012 London Games. The clearance of 2.33m is just one centimeter off of Kynard's personal record of 2.34m.  Some images courtesy of Photorun.net and Mike Fernandez.

-Athlete Name: Patrick Kunkel -School: McDonald High School -Year of Graduation: 2013

Keep up to date with all of the US Olympic Track and Field athletes with ties to Ohio.

Oscar Pistorius has already inspired a generation with his 400m performance, despite being a double amputee. See? This is an older photo, but it surfaced Sunday on Twitter and was passed around the Web after Pistorius raced. It reminds viewers …(via Yahoo! Sports)

LONDON — Disappointment, tears and that oh-so-unsatisfying color — bronze — are all in the past for Sanya Richards-Ross. (via The Columbus Dispatch)

-Athlete Name: Jacquelyn Crow -School: Lebanon High School -Year of Graduation: 2014

The track and field events are underway and with many of the qualifying heats out of the way, the action should really start to heat up in today's events. Day 9 features some of the biggest names in track and field in the sport's biggest events... (via Bleacher Report)

Three miniature Mini Coopers are being used at Olympic Park to help tote javelins, discuses, shots and hammers from the field back to their throwers, cutting down on time and volunteer exhaustion. (via London 2012)

-Athlete Name: Jake Dumford -School: Westerville North High School -Year of Graduation: 2013

Bridget Franek is from Hiram, Ohio.  She graduated from Crestwood High School, in Mantua, Ohio in 2006.   Bridget qualified for the Olympic finals of the Women's Steeplechase, which will be contested on Monday, August 6th at 4:05pm EST.  

No matter how you spin the reasons, Poland’s Tomasz Majewski and David Storl of Germany, two of the few throwers still employing the glide technique, won gold and silver in the men’s shot put. (via nbcolympics.com)

-Athlete Name: Elena Horton -School: Indian Hill High School -Year of Graduation: 2014

-Athlete Name: Raine Wireman -School: Fairland High School -Year of Graduation: 2013

The Non-Track Fan’s Guide is back with the sole purpose of getting the most casual of fans up to speed so they can enjoy the ten days of track and field from London.  With each event we included names to know, chance of an American medal, possibility of a world record (thanks swimming), why you should watch and some smart things you can say.  All times listed are PST for event finals. (via www.houseofrun.com)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Wright State’s Cassandra Loyd (Springfield, Ohio) and Milwaukee’s Durell Busby (Canaan, Tobago) have been named the 2012 Outdoor Track and Field Athlet (via www.horizonleague.org)

Sydney Leiher was sick from running. Then her condition worsened. Ever since she finished her early season cross country race the then-freshman runner for Beavercreek High School was feeling the effects of competing in heat. (via www.daytondailynews.com)

-Athletes Name: Brittany Atkinson -School: Liberty Center High School -Year of Graduation: 2015

-Athlete Name: Kody Wolfe -School: Southern High School -Year of Graduation: 2013