To win State is difficult. To repeat is even more difficult. All of our State champions are great athletes and well deserving of their wins. I know that there were performances by many other outstanding runners that just may be deserving of the best performance at the State meet. It is not always the winner that has the best performance. So there is no intention to slight any great performances. In fact, send me an e-mail and maybe we can put together a "Great Performance List." For this poll however, lets stay with our Divisional State Champions. Each had an outstanding performance. Who do you think had the best?
.jpg)
Athena Welsh of St. Thomas Aquinas 17:58.60 (photo Christian Lisle)
Sr. Athena Welsh won the girls D3 race and led her St. Thomas Aquinas team to the D3 Girls State Championship. She joined the lead group of girls at the start and through the first 800. She was 3rd at the mile in 5:37.7. She took the lead in the field after the mile and coming off the hill near the 2800m mark. She led the remainder of the race, continuing to press. She went through the 2-mile in 11:37.0 with a 2 second lead. She finished strong with just over an 11 second lead over her teammate Jr. Kalee Soehnlen, averaging 5:46.8 mile.
.jpg)
Abby Nichols of Archbishop Alter 18:05.40 (photo Christian Lisle)
Sr. Abby Nichols won the girls D2 race in the closets finish of the day holding off a diving Mary Kate Vaugh of Oakwood. Nichols went out with the lead group of girls at the 800 and through the mile. Defending D2 champion Dominique Clairmonte led at the milein 5:32. Nichols was 3rd in 5:32.1. Coming off the hill just before the 2800m mark, Mary Kate Vaughn of Oakwood took the lead with Nichols and Clairmonte just behind. At the 2-mile, Vaughn continued to press the lead, but was jus.2 ahead of Nichols. Clairmonte had started to fall of the pace. The girls raced and continued to ush each other through the woods. Nichols took the lead and had about a 5-6m lead with around 300 to go and just held off a fast finishing Vaughn winning by .2 seconds. She averaged 5:49.mile.
.jpg)
Lainey Studebaker of Centerville 17:39.00 (photo Christian Lisle)
Sr. Lainey Studebaker repated as the girls D1 Champion leading the Centerville girls to back-to-back Team championships. So. Morgan Gigandet of Troy went out fast, taking the lead and pushing hard through the mile and the 2-mile. She went through the mile in 5:22.2 and Studebaker was in a group of girls that let Gigandet go and were patient that they would be able to catch her or she would come back to them. Studebaker was 2nd at the mile in 5:29.6. Gigandet's lead had shortened at the 2-mile. She went through in 11:22.2. Hilliard Davidson Jr. India Johnson was 2nd at the 2-mile in 11:24.8. Studabaker was 3rd in 11:24.9. Studebaker and Johnson both passed Gigandet out of the woods and with around 300 to go, Studebaker had a 5m lead over Johnson. The two finished strong as Studebaker won by a two second margin. Studebaker averaged 5:40.5 per mile.
.jpg)
Tristan Dahmen of Maplewood 15:18.80 (photo Christian Lisle)
St. Tristan Dahmen repeated as the D3 boys champion leading his Maplewood team to a repeat championship. Dahmen went to the lead group by 500m. He was 4th at the mile in 4:55.7. Tanner Haley of Black River was lhe leader at the mile in 4:55.4 and Sam Williamson of Antwerp was across in 4:55.4 as well. Just after the mile through the field, Dahmen started to push. Coming off the hill out of the field, he had about a 10m lead. He continued to press through the 2-mile. He led at the 2-mile in 9:50.2 . Williams was second in 9:55.8. Dahmen ran determed, continung to press his lead. He finished 17.9 seconds ahead of #2 Antwerp. He averaged 4:55.14 per mile.
Joe Bistritz of Chagrin Falls 15:16.90 (photo Christian Lisle)
Sr. Joe Bistritz repeated as D2 boys champion. He got out with the lead group of runners at the 800 and led through the mile in 4:54.7. Mitchell Poynter of Tippecanoe and Nick Stricklen of Lexington were with Bistritz through the mile. They ran 4:55.1 and 4:54.9. The group ran through the field and down the hill to the 2800 with Bistritz still leading. At the 2-mile Bistritz led in 9:59.1. Poynter was on his shoulder in 9:59.3 and Stricklen at 9:59.7. Bistritz took the lead with around 800m to go. Stricklen fell off and Ponynter continued to shadow Bistritz. With around 400 to go Bistritz had taken the lead by about 6m. He increased his lead the last 200 finishing seven seconds ahead of Poynter. He averaged 4:54.8 per mile.
.jpg)
Andrew Jordan of Watkins Memorial 14:54.00 (photo Christian Lisle)
Sr. Andrew Jordan set a new National Trails course record and State Meet record in winning the boys D1 race. Jordan went out cautiously and patiently. So. Dustin Horter of Lakota East took the lead around the 500m mark and led through the mile in 4:48.1. Hudson's Gavin Gaynor was with Horter in 4:48.6. Jordan was 8th in 4:49.2. Jordan pressed through the field and as they came out of the field and down the hill to the 2800, Jordan had taken the lead by several steps. At the 2-mile Jordan led in 9:40.3. Both Gaynor and Horter had dropped back a couple of seconds and came through in 9:44.0 and 9:44.3. Jordan decided to see if anyone would go with him and he pressed hard through the woods and the 3rd mile opening up a commanding lead. He finished with a new course and all-time Ohio 5K Xc record time of 14:54.00. 19.80 seconds ahead of the 2nd place Gaynor, who ran 15:13.80 and Horter's 15:14.54. Jordan averaged 4:47.5 per mile.