Tiffin Cross Country Carnival
The Tiffin Cross Country Carnival is one of the largest and most competitive XC meets in the State. Year-in and Year-out it has been an early September premier event. The course records were both set in 2011. Michael Brajdic of Bay holds the boy's record with a time of 14:54.89. The girl's record is held by Hanna Neczypor of North Royalton in 17:22.73. Brajdic went on to win the Boy's D2 race at Scioto Downs and Neczypor would finish 3rd in the D1 Girl's race. What can we expect this year? Here is a quick look at the Divisional races and what you can expect this year.
D1 Boys
Should be a great race with C.J. Ambosio OH #6, coming off a tough race at Asics Hot summer Bash last weekend, Andre Bollam-Godbott OH #, who is undefeated thus far and Hunter Moore who is OH #15, but was ranked Preseason #3.
Top Returners
5 C.j. Ambosio 12 St. Ignatius 15:39.00
8 Hunter Moore 12 Olentangy Orange 15:43.94
12 Nick Chaplik 12 Louisville 15:52.33
13 Andre Bollam-godbott 12 Brunswick 15:53.81
16 Noah Chaplik 12 Louisville 16:03.29
In the team race, Ignatius, Xavier and Louisville were 1, 2 and 3 last year but Ignatius won with 60 points to Xavier's 203 and Louisville's 213. In the Saucony Flo50 Rankings, Louisville is currently ranked D1 #3, Xavier #4 and Ignatius #5. This just may be a preview of the D1 State Meet. We will see how good Louisville is.
D1 Girls
This will be a very competitive run. Felicia Pasadyn has won twice this year at GlenOak and Mentor. Sydney Seymour won at Ashland last weekend. They went 2, 4 last year. They are ranked OH #13 and 14 with a .30 separation in their times this year.
Top Returners
2 Felicia Pasadyn 10 Brunswick 18:23.00
4 Sydney Seymour 11 Saint Joseph Academy 18:35.40
8 Rebecca Craddock 12 Brunswick 18:57.30
10 Annamarie DiGiacobbe 11 Highland-Medina 18:59.50
11 Allison Guagenti 10 Olentangy Orange 19:02.90
12 Mimi Reimers 12 Shaker Heights 19:03.00
13 Lauren Shuman 12 Beavercreek 19:06.40
15 Anna Brandt 12 Rocky River 19:11.50
16 Maggie Wagner 12 Saint Joseph Academy 19:15.60
17 Mikaylie Park 12 Chardon 19:18.30
19 Katie Gerber 12 Perrysburg High School 19:21.50
20 Denali Selent 10 Chardon 19:24.90
Shaker Heights is D1 #9 in the Saucony Flo50 Rankings. They were 3rd last year and should dominate the team race this year.
D2 Boys
Zak Kirk is undefeated this season and last weekend ran a US #3. 15:05. Expect hims to take the race out from the beginning and possibly challenge Brajdic's course record if the weather cooperates. Ryan Johnson and Zach Kreft will go with him the first mile and both are capable of challenging him, but Kirk is running very confident this year.
Top Returners
2 Zak Kirk 12 Maumee 15:52.11
3 Ryan Johnston 11 Lexington 15:58.46
5 Zach Kreft 11 Buckeye Valley 16:09.26
8 Luke Brown 11 Sheridan 16:29.87
9 Owen Krewson 12 Perkins 16:33.48
10 Forest Volz 11 Lexington 16:37.53
12 Vinny Defelice 12 West Holmes 16:41.16
13 Seth Gard 12 Eaton 16:43.08
14 Alex Phillips 10 St. Vincent-St. Mary 16:47.39
16 Colton Bogucki 11 Loudoun Valley 16:50.01
18 Jesse Sidhu 12 Wickliffe 16:56.29
19 Justin Prack 12 Northwestern-Springfield 16:57.69
20 Jacob Hunter 10 Loudoun Valley 16:59.61
Lexington was 3rd last year and Bay 4th. They are ranked #2 & 3 in the D2 Saucony Flo 50 Rankings. Lexington however may be the better team. CVCA was 10th last year and have a # 8 ranking this year.
D2 Girls
Michelle Hostettler won at Ashland last weekend and is starting to get back into shape for the season. McKenna Curtis-Collins won at The Tiger Classic the first week of the season and she and her teammate, Whitney Wendling can run together. Hostettler and Curtis-Collins are ranked OH #11 and 12.
Top Returners
2 Michelle Hostettler 12 West Holmes 18:42.40
3 Natalie Morris 11 Loudoun Valley 19:12.80
4 Whitney Wendling 12 Lexington 19:19.20
7 Amanda Cusimano 12 Bay 19:29.80
10 Mackenna Curtis-Collins 12 Lexington 19:42.10
11 Meghan Bartel 12 Liberty-Benton 19:51.50
13 Anna Kovacs 11 Toledo Central Catholic 19:55.10
14 Nina Zraik 10 St. Vincent-St. Mary 19:55.50
15 Leah Lisle 11 St. Vincent-St. Mary 20:00.70
16 Kylie Scott 12 Berkshire 20:01.90
17 Bryanna Barr 11 Port Clinton 20:02.60
18 Rachel Campbell 12 Loudoun Valley 20:11.70
19 Alyssa Viscounte 11 Marlington 20:12.80
20 Mia Brady 12 St. Vincent-St. Mary 20:17.90
Lexington won last year and returns an experienced team They are currently ranked D2 #3 in the D2 Saucony Flo50 Rankings and should win the team title. St. Vincent-St. Mary was 2nd last year and are ranked #8. They should be 2nd as they do not have the depth that Lexington has.
D3 Boys
Chad Johnson is OH #11. He was 2nd last week to Buckeye Valley's Zack Kreft who won at the Bucyrus Elks Invitational by .53 seconds. Kreft is OH #10 and the #2 ranked D2 boys in the State. Tyler Pollman and Trevor Cook are D3 #2 and 3 and Joey Coudriet is #6. Johnson should win, but expect a good race from Pollman, Cook and Coudriet who may challenge him.
Top Returners
5 Chad Johnson 11 Colonel Crawford 16:10.08
6 Tyler Polman 12 Independence 16:16.63
9 Trevor Cook 12 Carey 16:31.78
10 Joey Coudriet 12 Smithville 16:32.47
11 Edward Walsh 12 St. Thomas Aquinas 16:32.96
12 Jake Hall 12 Maplewood 16:33.34
15 Nick Dehaven 12 St. Wendelin 16:45.82
16 Danny Mylott 12 Western Reserve Academy-Hudson 16:46.48
17 Ethan Sparks 11 Maplewood 16:49.45
18 Brad Bauer 11 Colonel Crawford 16:51.77
19 Korry Hamlin 11 Bethel 16:52.18
This may be the best team race of the day. Maplewood is the defending champion and State title holder. They won over Aquinas 113 to 118 last year. This year in the D3 Saucony Flo50 Rankings, Quinas is #1 and Maplewood #2. It should be another close race this year. Smithville, last year's #5 team is stronger this year and has a #5 ranking along with Fort Loramie at #6. Colonel Crawford was 4th last year and have a #7 ranking. Perhaps a D3 State preview.
D3 Girls
Kalee Soehnlen is the #2 D3 ranked girl in the State. She was 2nd last year. I don't expect anyone to challenge her after the mile. She is exerienced and has the speed to win. Emma Willet is D3 #6 and may go with her through the mile. Morgan Pohl is #13.
Top Returners
2 Kalee Soehnlen 12 St. Thomas Aquinas 18:50.30
5 Morgan Pohl 12 Minster 19:38.90
6 Emma Willett 12 Holgate 19:42.60
7 Ashlynn Almasy 12 East Canton 19:43.20
8 Kaitlyn Albers 10 Minster 19:43.20
10 Kacee Soehnlen 12 St. Thomas Aquinas 19:52.80
13 Claire Reynolds 12 Mansfield Christian 20:05.00
14 Keely Wentz 10 Carey 20:08.40
15 Alexa Leppelmeier 12 Pettisville 20:09.90
16 Jenna Hinds St. Mary Central Catholic 20:10.50
17 Rachel Sweeney 12 Legacy Christian Academy 20:12.90
18 Nichole Foor 11 Pettisville 20:15.30
20 Morgan Dembowski 12 Toledo Christian 20:28.50
Expect Minster and Aquinas to go after it again this year. They were 1 & 2 last year with Minster winning with 58 points to Aquinas' 93. In the D3 Saucony Flo50 Rankings, Minster is #1, Aquinas #2. Russia, 3rd last year is #10.