Well, the time has come. It's my last official day as Webmaster for Ohio MileSplit. Stating tomorrow, Mark Dwyer will be at the reigns. Back in October I announced my retirement and I'm not sure I can add much more to what I have said. In case you missed it, here it is with a few embellishments. THANK YOU!
Ohio is a great XC and T&F State and is one of the top State sites for MileSplit. It has been an honor, a privilege and a blessing to be able to run the site the past three years and give it an identity, as well as having been an integral part of OH Runners, working for Jim Findlay, as a writer and photographer. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to interact with some of the best athletes in Ohio, as well as their coaches and parents. As an Ohio native and runner, I can't begin to tell you how much that has meant to me. First, a huge thank you to Mr. Lee Johns, my HS XC and Track coach at Mayfield. A very big influence in my life and running career. My first interview was with Olentangy Liberty's Chris and Joey Uhle, May 30, 2010. My last live interview was with Hilliard Davidson's India Johnson. In between, some of the best male and female athletes in Ohio and the nation, including Olympians Bridget Franek, Clayton Murphy, Grace Norman and AJ Digby. A few of my most memorable experiences - not in any order:
The relationship developed with Andrew Jordan, who in my opinion is one of the greatest Ohio distance runners in Ohio historyand having someone take a photo of me video interviewing Andrew at the State XC Meet, the relationship developed with Brian Bell, who was never at a loss for words and introduced me to his father at the State Meet, a video bomb in an interview with Lainey Studebaker by her teammate, Kelli Walsh, a wonderful relationship with Jacob Blankenship and the Banhagles, who helped with my own daughter's pole vault, a few great looks and intentional finishing smiles from Micaela DeGenero, just a " thank you Mr. Stonecipher" from Gavin Gaynor and Joe Bistritz, watching Dustin Horter grow into one of Ohio's best distance runners and looking forward to his Blog each week, interviewing Ryan Adams as he sat with a cold, wet towel on his head as his coaches sat next to him holding him up after his 4:07 1,600 at State, discussing how to run an 800m with Brittany Aveni and watching her set a new 800m State record, getting a photo of Nick Gray and Karrington Winters together at Regionals, a great picture of Megan Vogel, a great athlete, State Champion and person, my conversations with Destinee Gause, who always had a smile and an interesting hair color change from meet to meet, watching Chad Zallow win the 110m hurdles, walk down the track, watch the girls 100m and then win the boys 100m and one of my favorite memories - watching for four years the careers, the rivalry and the friendship of Brittany Atkinson and Sarah Kanney. A thank you from Brittany, "for all that you have done," at State, after an interview meant a lot to me. And this Fall, watching India Johnson's grwoth as a young lady and into one of the best girl's XC runners in Ohio history. I could go on, but a big THANK YOU to all of the athletes, coaches and parents whom I have had the opportunity to talk with over the years and who have supported my effort at Ohio MileSplit.
As I move on, I hope that I have had some positive impact here in Ohio and contributed to the growth of the sports that I love. We all have times where we must move on in our lives. This is one for my wife and I. Ohio is in my heart, especially Ohio Cross Country and T&F. I hope that I have helped to provide some positive memories for the athletes whose lives I have been blessed to touch. A BIG Thank You to all. God Bless.
Mark Stonecipher