MEET HIGHLIGHTS
Section A Div I
Emma Bower, India Johnson and Grace Kilroy at 2800m. Johnson would finish 1st followed by Kilroy and Bower. (photo M. Stonecipher)
Through the two-mile in the individual race, India Johnson, Emma Bower and Grace Kilroy were shoulder to shoulder. Johnson is the Preseason OH #2 ranked girl, Bower the #2 and Kilroy the #22, but Kilroy is the defending meet champion. Just after the two-mile and through the woods, Johnson asserted herself and went on to win by just over 5 seconds over Kilroy. Bower finished 3rd, 19 seconds back. Was it a preview of what we can expect to see in November. We'll see, but it was an impressive race in the heat and humidity to start the 2016 season.
On the team side, Centerville made a statement that they are ready to defend their D1 team title. Against a very good Olentangy Liberty team that scored 83 points going 3-5-20-24 and 31, they scored just 45 points going 2-6-8-12 and 17. It should solidify them as the #1 ranked D1 girl's team in the State. Equally impressive is the fact that their 1, 2 and 4 runners are sophomores and #3 and 5 are freshman.
Section B Div I
Jr. Arjun Jha of Thomas Worthington took the lead in the field just after the mile. Shown above pushing the pace at 2800m. Jha won the race by 13 seconds over Pickerington Central's Matt Scrape. (photo M. Stonecipher)
Louisville was 4th last year at State and made a statement that they just may be the number 1 ranked D1 team in the State. They went 5-6-9 and 38, scoring 69 points in beating a very good Preseason #4 ranked Thomas Worthington by 5 points. Louisville's top 4 ; Noah chaplik, Zach Fresenko, Nick Chaplik and Noah Murray were separated by just 10 seconds. Worthington, led by Jr. Arjun Jha who won took the win (15:42.1), went 1-4-12-24 and 29. Worthington's #2 runner was Andy Payne.
Highland Medina Jr. Anna Marie DiGiacobbe won the Girl's D2 race. (photo M. Stonecipher)
The Lexington girls are the defending State D2 Team Champions. They won on a tie breaker. Medina Highland and Lexington both scored 85. Lexington's #6 runner was 46th, Highland's 81st, showing just how important the #6 runner can be in the team race. (Note: Trying to verify, but Highland Medina, is D1)
In the boy's D2 race, Rocky River scored 85 points to win the team race. They were led by Jr. Eddie Zuercher who took 1st in 16:37.1. Defending D2 State Champion. Lexington was 5th with last year's 4th place runner, Ryan Johnston, placing 5th. New Philadeplphia So. Aidan Harr was 2nd in the race.
Section I DII/III
Beachwood Jr. Leah Roter dominated the Section I DII/III section winning by over one minute. (photo M. Stonecipher)
Beachwood Jr. Leah Roter came down from Cleveland and showed why she is one of the top ranked D2 girls in the State. She is ranked Preseason #8 and won by 1:13.6, leading the entire race (19:07.7). Her time would have placed her 4th in the D1 race.
Unioto won the Team race going 2-5-6-7-74. Alex Evans led the Unioto team with her 3rd place finish.
Section J DI/III
Blake Rigdon of Sardinia Eastern won the section J race (16:58.10). Tuslaw won the Team race with a 115 to Van Wert's 132.
Section K DII/III Scored and Open
Sr. Kyleigh Edwards of Fairfield Christian, shown at 2800m, won the Section K, D3 race, lead for most of the race. (photo M. Stonecipher)
Sr. Noah Cushman of Legacy Christian won the last race of the day in 17:08.50). (photo M. Stonecipher)
Maplewood, St. Thomas Aquinas and Smithville, the Preseason D3 #3, 4 and 9th ran in the heat with Maplewood, the defending D3 State champions winning with just 42 points. 3-4-5-12-18 (21) (23). Maplewood's Ethan Sparks, Jake Hall and Nick Cowger were separated by just 17 seconds. Aquinas was 2nd with 65 and Smithville 3rd with 67 points. Smithville's Joey Coudriet was 2nd in the race, 8 seconds back of the winner, Noah Cushman of Legacy Christian (17:08.50).