The Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC) released their third XC poll of the season earlier this week. The poll identifies the top teams in the state for DI, DII and DIII.
In Division II, Shelby (boys) and Lexington (girls) each secured all twelve first place votes. Shelby has taken a trio of wins in as many meets. Led by junior, Caleb Brown they've earned team titles at the Seneca East Tiger Classic, the Ashland Invitational and the Tiffin Cross County Carnival.
Individually, Brown has collected a pair of wins and a runner-up finish; his season's best time is 15:52.60, which ranks him in a tie for eleventh in the state.
Caleb Brown placed third at the 2017 DII State Championship meet.
Lexington has won the team championship at three meets and they've claimed second place honors once during the early stages of the 2018 campaign. Their triumphs were at the Seneca East Tiger Classic, the Granville Invitational and the Tiffin Cross Country Carnival. In their debut, they gave Division I Turpin all they could handle at the OHSAA Early Season Invitational. Lexington finished only fifteen points back of the Cincinnati-based squad.
Lexington sophomore, Joanna Halfhill has demonstrated impressive consistency in each of her races; she's broken 19 minutes twice and has crossed the line first on two occasions. Her 18:56.90 effort at the Granville Invite ranks her in a tie for thirty-sixth in the state and ninth among 2021 grads.
Joanna Halfhill has finished in the top 4 in all four of her races this season.
Watch Joanna Halfhill take a third place finish at the OHSAA Early Season Invite.
MileSplit reached out to Thomas Worthington coach and OATCCC District 10 representative, Andy Cox for insight relating to the process that the committee employs and what they look for in teams prior to casting their votes.
The OATCCC is proud to help promote the sport of cross country in the fall with its weekly coaches poll. Prior to the start of the season, the OATCCC asks twelve coaches from each division to become weekly pollsters. Representation in the poll is based on the established OHSAA Cross Country Districts with the goal of having informed pollsters from all geographical areas of the state.
Every week, the coaches from each division vote for the top 20 teams from their division. Coaches consider the following factors when voting:
Head to Head competition
Common opponents from previous weeks
Team Strength, i.e. - ACT testing days, injury and the resting of individuals