GIRLS INDIVIDUAL PREVIEW
Beachwood Jr. Leah Roter is the #3 ranked Junior girl in the US. The girls D2 race is hers to win. (photo Christian Lisle)
Michelle Hostettler of West Holmes is the only senior girl in the top 10 in the D2 State Rankings. She is the leading returner from last year when she was 3rd. She won the tough Pickerington Regional, taking down D2 #2 Jr. Sydnee Mangette of Liberty Union who was 3rd and #12, Sr. Maddie Dunlap of Carrollton who was 2nd. However, she will be pressed to get on the podium with a very talented group of underclassman.
Beachwood Jr. Leah Roter is the #3 ranked junior girl in the country. She has the fastest time in the State by 49 seconds. She is undefeated this season. She won at Youngstown over D2 #4 Jr. Annie Zimmer of Chagrin Falls who was 5th last year at State. This is her race to win. I expect her to take it out as she did in the Early Season Invitational at National Trails and challenge anyone to go with her.
Who will get on the podium with her, in addition to Hostettler, Mangette and Dunlap? Expect to see Sr. Mackenna Curtis-Collins of Lexington up front. She has struggled some this year, but won at Tiffin and leads a strong Lexington girls team. Also watch for : Oakwood Sr. Elizabeth Ordeman was 1st at Troy ahead of the #6 ranked Jr. Rachel Ploeger of Monroe, D2 #3 Maddy Garrison of Washington-Court House was 12th at Pickerington, #8 Jr. Kylee McFarland was 4th at Pickerington and #9 So. Rachel Anderson was 7th at Pickerington.
GIRLS TEAM PREVIEW
Twin sisters, Natalie (726) and Nicole (727) Fleming lead the Woodridge girls. They have the D2 #1 State ranking just ahead of Granville and defending State champion, Lexington. Can they lead the Woodridge girls to the team title? (photo Christian Lisle)
Ohio XC Team Rankings Week 10
OATCCC Team Rankings Week 10 Pre-State Poll
Woodridge has the #1 D2 team ranking. They won the Youngstown Region with a score of 46. The team is led by Sr. twins, Natalie and Nicole Fleming. Joing the Flemings are: Fr. Libby Howard, Sr. Clare Willett, Jr. Molly Howard, So. Jenna Kaiser and So. Sarah Frederick.
#2 Granville won the tough Pickerington Region. #3 Lexington won at Tiffin with just 36 points. They are the defending D2 Team champions. Chagrin Falls is #4, but they were easily handled by Woodridge at Youngstown. Bellbrook is ranked #5 and won at Troy.
My pick is the Woodridge girls to get the top spot on the podium. They run together well and have a split 1-5 of under 20 seconds. The 2nd spot will be a battle between Granville and Lexington, but the Lexington girls are the defending champions and will work hard to defend. They just may get the #2 spot. Bellbrook should be in the top 5, probably 5th, as the Chagrin girls get 4th. Watch for Bellvue and Tippecanoe to be in the hunt for the 5th spot on the podium.