Watch for Jr. Arjun Jha and Sr. Hunter Moore of Olentangy Orange to battle along with Jr. Dustin Horter of Lakota Eat for the boys D1 individual title. (photo M. Stonecipher)
D1 BOYS STATE RANKINGS
The D1 boy's race just may come down to who feels the best on tomorrow. Thomas Worthington Jr. Arjun Jha holds the #1 state ranking and is US Junior #3. Sr. Hunter Moore of Olentangy Orange has the #2 spot. Jha and Moore are the only two Ohio boys under 15:00 and they ran their times against each other as Jha went 14:56 and Moore 14:58 at the Les Eisenhart Invitational. Moore led most of the way, but was caught by Jha in the last 50m and went on to win in the first race in Ohio where two runners were both under 15:00. Last weekend, the two went head to head again at the Pickerington Regional with Moore getting the win over Jha. The third individual who will challenge, and who just may be atop the podium, is Jr. Dustin Horter of Lakota East. Horter is ranked #3, US Junior #7 and cruised through his District and Regional. Other than the OHSAA Early Season Invitational, which Jha won, Horter is undefeated and has run 15:01.20. This a tough one to call, but expect it to be fast and strategic through the 2-mile and for one of the three to make a move before the woods or just out of the woods. If the other two react, it just may come down to the last 100m. All three are capable of winning. My pick however, is Horter to win his first State title.
The other Jr. who will challenge the Jha, Moore, Horter trio, is Pickerington Centrals Matt Scrape. Like Jha and Horter he is a top 10 ranked US junior. Scrape is US #9, OH #4. He was third in the :Pickerington Regional and has challenged in every race this season. Watch for him to be there through the 2-mile as well.
Other boy's to watch: So. Ryan Adkins won at Youngstown in a close race over Mentor Sr. Matt Bull, who has an OH #10 ranking and St. Ignatius leader C.j. Ambosio, Sr. Jacob Keating of Lake Catholic (#6), So. Conant Smith of Middletown (#7), Solon Sr. Joe Riordan (#8) Dublin Coffman Jr. Lucas Bons (#9) and Tiffin Regional winner, Whitmer Jr. Nathan Cousino.
BOYS TEAM PREVIEW
Sr. Danny Cohen will lead his Solon Team at State. They are ranked #1 and will be challenged by a Thomas Worthington team that won handily at Pickerington. (photo Christian Lisle)
The defending Team Champion is St. Ignatius. They are the #5 ranked team in the State and ran in the tough Youngstown Regional where they were 4th. The #1 ranked team in the State is Solon. They won at Youngstown and are favored to win tomorrow. The Solon boys are: Sr. Danny Cohen, So. Logan Esper, Jr. Chance Visse, Sr. Joe Riordan, Sr. Max Gross, Jr. Mark Shannon and Sr. Patrick Hackett.
Solon may be the team to beat with their #1 ranking and after winning the Youngstown Regional, but they will be challenged. Watch for Louisville, who was 2nd at Youngstown to step up and get even closer. St. Xavier is ranked #3 and dominated the Troy Regional. AND, and its a big and, #2 Thomas Worthington will be marking every Solon runner. They won easily at Pickerington and have their sites on Solon. Don't count them out as they just may get the top spot on the podium. It just may come down to if their #2 runner, Jr. Andy Payne, can get ahead of the #1 Solon runner. Should be a very competitive race.
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