While some Ohio schools are headed to Louisville this weekend for the Trinity / Valkyrie Invitational (HS), there are a full slate of meets scheduled in State as well. Hopefully the weather cooperates, but it's looking like rain may be in the forecast for the State. But, as the temperatures cool in mid-September, we start to move into the meat of the Ohio XC season. We will be at two high-powered Ohio meets: the Galion Cross Country Festival and the Boardman Spartan Invitational. We'll preview the Boardman meet in a separate article. Here is a look at Galion.
The Galion Cross Country Festival
Sr. Hunter Moore of Olentangy Orange comes to Galion with a win last week at Tiffin. (photo Christian Lisle)
The Galion meet features OH #3 and US #13 Sr. Hunter Moore of Olentangy Orange. Moore leads his team comes into the meet with an OH #5 Team ranking. Last weekend, Moore ran a 15:13. I don't think he can challenge Andrew Jordan's 14:44.70 record run from last year, but weather permitting, he may go under 15:00 on the Amanns Park course. He'll have to do it alone and should go wire to wire in this one.
In the team race, the Olentangy Orange boys should, OH #5, will have some competition from another OCC team, Hilliard Bradley. Bradley is ranked OH #8
Jr. Morgan Gigandet of Troy brings her OH #1 rankings to Galion after a week off. (photo M. Stonecipher)
On the girls side, OH #1 Jr. Morgan Gigandet of Troy, who was off last weekend, should go wire to wire like Moore. she likes to go out hard and push the pace. She was 3rd last year in 17:56.90, behind Lexington's Dominique Clairmonte, who won in 17:39 and Hilliard Davidson's India Johnson, who was 2nd in 17:44.70. Johnson is running at the Trinity meet in Louisville. Jr. Leah Roter of Beechwood leads the State with a 17:36. Gigandet will have to do it alone, but just may get into the mid-17's.
The Olentangy Liberty girls should win the team race. They are OH #6.