Distance
The Big Names
After helping his Hudson squad to a team title in Division 1 cross country this fall, Evan Manley headlines a 1-2 punch that should make the Explorers very dangerous in the distance events.
Manley is the top returner in the 1600 both based on time and place at last season's state meet. With his 4:15.73 mark, he is a full five seconds ahead of the next closest returner (Nick Saul - St. Ignatius, 4:20.82) and ranks fifth among indoor returners in the entire country. That indoor 1600 would have been sub-4:15 if we took the split from his New Balance Nationals mile time - he ran 4:15.03 at the Armory last March. He ran 4:13.94 outdoor.
But watch out for Manley in the 3200, as well, as his 9:27.67 ranks fifth among indoor returners. While it didn't get any better outdoor, he did throw down in cross country this season, running a personal best 15:33.30 in October. Manley is ready to make some serious noise this indoor season not just in Ohio, but on the national level.
The second part of that Hudson 1-2 punch, Adam Beucler sits atop the field of returners in the 3200. Not only is he number one in Ohio, but his 9:10.48 from last year's speedy Spire Showcase 3200 is the fourth fastest 3200 among returners and at the very least top 10 if you include 2 Mile runners.
Beucler was a big part of the team title winners this fall, finishing one place ahead of his teammate Manley in 13th in Division 1. He finished second at last year's state meet behind then-Worthington senior Andy Young. There's a slew of returners from that state meet looking to track him down, but after a successful outdoor season which saw him drop to 9:08.63 and a top 15 finish in cross country, Beucler should be the one to beat in the 3200 this winter.
In the 1600, he hasn't thrown down a top 10 returning time on the indoor track just yet, but in the spring, he went 4:18.78 so he could be one to watch in the 1600 if he tries to help Hudson to an 18-spot in the 1600 at state.
Howland's Vincent Mauri burst onto the national scene this fall when he ran 14:54.80, the 26th fastest 5K in the country, and then went on to qualify for the Nike Cross Nationals meet out of the loaded Midwest region. Mauri's 4th place finish at the Midwest region came 24 hours after his 4th place at the Division 1 state meet. He would go on to finish 29th at Nike Cross Nationals, 8 spots off of an All-American honor.
Mauri will head inside after his stellar cross country campaign with the second fastest 3200 among Ohioan returners. He is one of many returners from that state finals 3200 where he finished fourth in 9:23.01. His indoor personal best of 9:18.64 came down quite a bit on the outdoor track when he put down a 9:04.59 at the outdoor state meet for second overall. His progression through the past few season has told a tale that he may be destined for national greatness in his final high school track seasons.
We could see Mauri take on the 5k again at the New Balance National meet, as well, as he ran 15:55.09 on the indoor track, but after his outdoor and cross country campaign, a sub-15:00 mark should not be out of the question.
Amherst Steele's Josh Hill returns as the third fastest 3200 runner in a fairly stacked field. After taking third at last year's state meet, Hill will bring a 9:19.65 personal best indoor.
Outdoor, Hill ran 9:14.35 and broke 9:20 three times en route to his sixth place finish at state. His 4:23.02 1600 personal best from this outdoor season would rank among sixth among indoor returners, but his indoor best sits at 4:26.86. But that should come down soon.
Hill will be a dark horse contender for the state title in the 3200 this winter, especially after his third place finish at the state cross country meet. He wasn't able to improve upon his 15:34.70 best. He did run 15:13.72 indoor, though, when he took 11th at last winter's New Balance Nationals meet.
Andrew Schroff - Olentangy Orange
After being a key member of a 7:43.38 10th place 4x800 team at New Balance Nationals, Schroff returns to the track for his senior indoor campaign as the top 800 runner. His 1:58.06 earned him sixth place at state behind five seniors.
Schroff hit the outdoor track after his indoor season and went 1:59.04 in the open 800, but he split 1:55.17 on the leadoff leg in that New Balance Nationals 4x800. Schroff clearly has the half mile speed to take off this indoor season and will be on everyone's 800 meter watchlist.
The Up-and-Comers
He may be eighth on the list of returners in the 800, but Kings sophomore Alex Justus may just be the favorite for the individual title in the half mile this winter.
In his debut track season, the then-freshman ran 2:00.09 at the state meet for 14th, but after an outdoor season that saw him drop nearly six seconds and hit a US No. 1 freshman mark of 1:54.86, Justus will be one to watch not just in the state, but also in the country as he begins his sophomore track campaign. He was also the 25th fastest freshman 1600 runner in the country with his 4:25.97 best and went on to run 4:25.44 in the mile at New Balance Nationals.
Talk about a major breakout.
Lake-Uniontown's Nathan Moore may just be the next big thing in Ohio after a freshman outdoor season for the books. Though he didn't qualify for the state meet in any events, Moore hit a US Freshman No. 3 4:18.72 and US Freshman No. 7 9:30.95 in the 3200. He went on to run 4:16.67 in the full mile at New Balance Nationals en route to a second place finish in the emerging elite race. Moore also ran 1:59.19 in the 800. He only raced three times on the indoor track as a freshman, topping out at 4:30.63 in the full mile at New Balance Nationals Indoor so Moore could be on the verge of a huge sophomore campaign where he competes for the state title in each of the three distance events. Moore finished ninth at the Division 1 state cross country meet and ran 15:34.10 in the fall.
Dublin Scioto's Trevor Page was the fourth fastest freshman last indoor season with his 4:41.89 personal best, but had his big breakthrough on the outdoor track, finishing out the spring with a 4:30.32 best. He also hit 2:02.67 in the 800. Page will be one to watch this indoor season and if he can continue to improve upon those middle distance marks, he could be very competitive in the years to come.
Event to Watch
3200 Meters
It was a stacked field in the 3200 heading into the indoor season, but this past cross country season showed us that it could be even stronger.
Five boys return with sub-9:30 bests and fourteen return under 9:40. Adam Beucler, Vincent Mauri, and Josh Hill lead the way with sub-9:20 indoor marks, but all three of them ran even faster on the outdoor track with Mauri's 9:04.59 ranks highest among them. His 14:54 5K during the cross country season shows that he could be ready to break 9:00 this winter. Pickerington North's Matt Duvall hit 9:14.62 on the outdoor track and is fourth among indoor returners with his 9:26.20 best. Canfield's Giovanni Copploe dropped a 9:09.95 mark outdoor after finishing out his 2018 indoor campaign with a 9:31.37 best. Even Defiance junior Mhalicki Bronson will be in the mix if he runs more this indoor season, too, after running 9:24.37.
Don't forget about the super-sophomore Nathan Moore and even Mason freshman Alex DeRoussel as they could be in the mix, too. DeRoussel was the top freshman this cross country season with a 15:58.70 clocking. It will be a hotly contested 3200 this March, but you already knew that. Ohio is overflowing with distance talent.
Related Articles/Videos
- Division 1 Boys 3200 Finals Section 1 (OATCCC State Meet 2018)