All-Decade: Top Programs, Top 7 And Top Overall Individuals

Dec 17, 2019

Women's Team of 7 (in no particular order) -

Taylor Ewert / Beavercreek

Graduation Year: 2020

Highlight Races: 2016 3rd place finisher at district meet, 2017 3rd place finisher at region meet, 2017 3rd place finisher at state meet, 2017 4th place finisher at NXRMW, 2017 18th place finisher at NXN, 2018 District Champion, 2018 Region Champion, 2018 State Champion, 2018 3rd place finisher at NXRMW, 2018 2nd place finisher at FLMW, 2018 3rd place finisher at NXN, 2018 4th place finisher at Foot Locker Nationals, 2019 District Champion, 2019 Region Champion, 2019 State Champion, 2019 3rd place finisher at NXRMW, 2019 3rd place finisher at FLMW, 2019 2nd place finisher at NXN, 2019 6th place finish at Foot Locker Nationals.

Rationale: Sprinkle in the fact that Ewert has the top 5k finishing time of the decade (16:57.90), along with all of the aforementioned accomplishments, you'll notice why she's an absolute lock to be on this listing. And before we move on, since we're talking times, the future Razorback owns 3 of the top 5, 7 of the top 10 and 15 of the top 25 clockings over the range of years from 2010 to 2019.

India Johnson / Hilliard Davidson

Graduation Year: 2017

Highlight Races: 2015 District Champion, 2015 Region Champion, 2015 2nd place finisher at state meet, 2016 District Champion, 2016 Region Champion, 2016 State Champion, 2016 2nd place finisher at NXRMW, 2016 2nd place finisher at FLMW, 2016 9th place finisher at NXN, 2016 4th place finisher at Foot Locker Nationals. In 2017, Johnson represented Team USA at the Great Edinburgh X-Country International Challenge.

Rationale: Not only was Johnson a state champion, but she also excelled against national level competition. A top 5 finish at Foot Locker and a top 10 placing at NXN complement her ultra fast 5k clockings. The Hilliard Davidson grad is the owner of a stellar pr of 17:07.50, which is the 5th fastest finishing time of the decade.

Morgan Gigandet / Troy

Graduation Year: 2018

Highlight Races: 2014 runner-up at district meet, 2015 District Champion, 2015 Region Champion, 2015 4th place finisher at state meet, 2015 8th place finisher at NXRMW, 2016 Region Champion, 2016 6th place finisher at state meet, 2016 10th place finisher at NXRMW, 2016 15th place finisher at FLMW, 2017 District Champion, 2017 Region Champion, 2017 State Champion, 2017 6th place finisher at NXRMW, 2017 20th place finisher at NXN.

Rationale: The 2018 state champion is also the owner of 3rd fastest time of the decade (17:06.70 at SNL). Gigandet, a 2-time district champion and a 3-time region champion, went sub 17:30 four times during her decorated high school career at Troy.

Leah Roter / Beachwood

Graduation Year: 2018

Highlight Races: 2015 7th place finisher at state meet, 2016 District Champion, 2016 Region Champion, 2016 State Champion, 2017 District Champion, 2017 Region Champion, 2017 2nd place finisher at state meet.

Rationale: Roter earned the 2016 state meet win and took runner-up honors the following year. The Beachwood grad authored her pr time of 17:09.70 at the 2016 Legends Meet. Her 17:09 and change effort in Trumbull County is the 8th fastest mark over 5k in the last 10 years.

Lainey Studebaker / Centerville

Graduation Year: 2016

Highlight Races: 2013 District Champion, 2013 2nd place finisher at region meet, 2013 3rd place finisher at state meet, 2014 2nd place finisher at district meet, 2014 State Champion, 2015 2nd place finisher at region meet, 2015 State Champion, 2015 Nike Cross Nationals participant.

Rationale: Back-to-back state meet victories at the Division 1 level really speaks for itself in Studebaker's case. The former Centerville Elk could win the tactical races, but she could also run fast when it was called for, evidenced by her 5k personal best time of 17:33.36 at her home invitational, Saturday Night Lights in 2015.

Olivia Howell / Solon

Graduation Year: 2019

Highlight Races: 2015 District Champion, 2015 Region Champion, 2015 5th place finisher at state meet, 2016 District Champion, 2016 Region Champion, 2016 3rd place finisher at state meet, 2017 District Champion, 2017 Region Champion, 2017 runner-up at state meet, 2018 District Champion.

Rationale: The 4-time District Champion was a model of consistency during Ohio's postseason action. A threat to win any race that she entered, Howell also boasted an excellent personal best 5k clocking of 17:32.50.

Annie Heffernan / St. Ursula Academy Cincinnati

Graduation Year: 2015

Highlight Races: 2012 District Champion, 2012 Region Champion, 2012 3rd place finisher at state meet, 2013 District Champion, 2013 Region Champion, 2013 State Champion, Top 15 finishes at both NXRMW and FLMW in 2013, 2014 Trinity/Valkyrie Champion, 2014 Region Champion.

Rationale: In addition to a state meet victory and another top 3 finish, Heffernan ran the table during her senior season by taking 7 wins in 7 outings.