Division 1

Boys Division 1 Race - Virtual Team Meet

Individual Runners Not on Qualifying Teams

Chadd Kiggins, Carroll; Aaron Dinzeo, Sidney; Nick Fry, Sycamore; Izak Velazquez, Oak Hills; Nicholas El-Khoury, Turpin; Aaron Gehring and JJ Webber, Lakota West; Doug Norris, Vandalia Butler; Jordan Redd, Fairborn; Jeff Hannaford, Westerville North; Luis Carbajal, Dublin Scioto; Micah Armbrust, Big Walnut; Jay McKenna, Hilliard Darby, Kenta Shimizu and Nathan Moore, Hilliard Davidson; Brendan Long, Upper Arlington; Evan Schwartz, Whetstone; Nick Schneider, Dublin Jerome; Tyler Ross, Olentangy Liberty; Taylor Conn, Teays Valley; Greg Turissini and Preston Benjamin, St. Johns Jesuit; Matt Link and Jimmy Adams, Avon Lake; Stephen Wernecke, Lexington; Colby Alexander, Strongsville; David Ryland and Dave Jacobson, Brecksville-Broadview Heights; Kyle Wheeler and Dylan Papp, Green; Conner Paez, Solon; Joshua Sabo, Revere; Zack McBride and Dan Shafer, Riverside-Painesville; Justin Eddy, Massillon-Perry; Joivally Turner, Maple Heights; Nick Pupino, Copley; and Justin Groubert, Lake-Uniontown.

OHRunners Team Predictions

This is likely a three team race with Sylvania Northview, St. Xavier and St. Ignatius as the likely top dogs this weekend.  Let's look at the two teams from the Tiffin Regional first, Sylvania Northveiw and St. Ignatius.  On paper these two teams are very similar, only being separated by 10 points at the regional, both teams usually run with small spreads, Northview's 1-5 regional spread was just 36 seconds while St. Ignatius' regional spread was a mere 29 seconds.  Neither team really has a true front runner as well.  St. Xavier is also very similar to the two aforementioned teams, as they don't have a true front runner, but they do run in a pack, with a 1-4 regional spread of 27 seconds and 1-5 spread of 45 seconds. Of interest is that every D1 Boys team since 1988 from the Troy Regional that has scored under 50 points at that regional meet has won the State Meet.  St. Xavier scored 48 this past weekend and will look to join the ranks of the '88 Elder, '95 Northmont, '00 St. Xavier, and '06 LaSalle teams by bringing home a state championship.  In theend though, look for Sylvania Northview to take home the big trophy on the backs of their tight pack and better 1-2 runners than the other major contenders for the team trophy.  St. Xavier should finish second, just ahead of St. Ignatuis.

The fourth spot could go to another gourp of three teams, but all three of these teams could also play the role of spoiler for the teams are predicted to finish in the top three.  Medina, Mason, and Pickerington North all have legitimate shots at finishing in the top four.  Starting with Medina, they have a true senior leader in Hunter Heaton, who will make his fourth appearance at the State Meet this year, who will have a shot at making the podium by finishing in the top 16, and then a 37 second spread on the rest of their scorers.  Mason, the defending state champions haver geared their season around this meet, and they also have Zach Wills.  Mason will need to have good to great races from their 2-5 or even 6 runners to have a shot at repeating as state champs.  Pickerington North is the only team out of the 16 that qualified to have two runners (Dan Garleb #3 and Nick Hissrich #20) to be in the top 20 of the D1 individual rankings.  Pickerington North has ran strong all year, but would need a great showing from their 3-5+ runners to have a shot to crack the top 4 teams.  Look for the fourth spot to really come down between Mason and Medina, with Medina taking the fourth spot on the strength of their 3-5 runners.

Ten Individuals to Watch

Girls Division 1 Race - Virtual Team Meet

Individual Runners Not on Qualifying Teams

Michelle Thomas, Glen Este; Megan Wright, Miamisburg; Claudia Saunders, Princeton; Amanda Shelby, Lakota West; Smantha Siler, Sycamore; Grace VanDeGrift, Lebanon; Alaina Norman, Lakota East; Sarah Fisher, Loveland; Jasmine Redman, Tecumseh; Allison Stillwell, Tri-Valley; Jessica Hoover, Hilliard Davidson; Sarah Baker, Mt. Vernon; Allison Magee, Upper Arlington; Megan Collins, Dublin Coffman; Hannah Neczypor and Dana Tomasello, North Royalton; Paige Szabat and Nicole Cargill, Wadsworth; Katy Link , Avon Lake; Andrea Alt, Perrysburg; Lexi Lopez and Kendra Kezur, Sylvania Southview; Alyssa Moran, Strongsville; Katie Betts, Stow-Munroe Falls; Mattie Rankin, Louisville; Deanna Godby, Mayfield; Rachel Slingluff, Beaumont; Katelyn Walker, Shaker Heights; Kayleigh Scourfield and Allison Hainer, Cuyahoga Falls; and Jackie Genetin, Massillon-Perry.

OHRunners Team Predictions

US #8 Magnificat has a great shot at repeating as the Ohio High School State Cross Country Champions.  In fact, Magnificat may be able to put their top three runners in the top 10 of team finishers, which would make almost secure the title for this team.  The real race in the Division 1 Girls race is for second place, which will come down to a battle between Sylvania Northview and Hoover.  Hoover takes the edge here as they usually run with a tight pack as evidenced by their 1-5 spread at the Boardman regional of just 30 seconds.  The Sylvania Northview girls, just like the guys team, have progressively been running better each week, look for this to continue and help them to a top three finish at the horse track.  

The fourth spot is up for grabs, similar to the guys Division 1 race.  There a three main contenders for the spot,  but any of the teams could move up into the top three if they have an outstanding race, or if one of the top three teams is sick or falters.  Hudson, Dublin Scioto and Springboro all have legitimate shots at finishing in the top four but it will come down to how well their 4th and 5th runners perform.  Springboro, even though they finished second to a solid Mason team at the Troy Regional, if they get a good race out of their 3-5 runners, are a top four team for sure, maybe even top two or three, especially if everyone is healthy.  Hudson will need for their third through fifth runners to get back to form to be able to challenge for a top four finish.  Dublin Scioto had just a 40 second 1-5 spread at the Pickerington Regional, if they can close the spread a little and show that the regional race wasn't their best race they could definitely challange for a top four spot.  Out of these three teams, the team with the lowest finishing fourth and fifth runners will be the one that finishes in the top four team wise.

Ten Individuals to Watch

Division 2

Boys Division 2 Race - Virtual Team Meet

Individual Runners Not on Qualifying Teams

Greg Jantzen, University School; Brandan McGee, Crestwood; Chase Robinson, Fairless; Kyle Masterson, Marlington; Travis LeVan, Tallmadge; James Nichols, Ravenna; Matt Peters, Northwest-Canal Fulton; Joey Schlueter, West Branch; Ethan Whittaker, Waterloo; Andrew Goodwin, Celina; Steven Weaver, Napoleon; Tyler Kvach, Avon; Zack Powell, Lake-Millbury; Adam Schroeder, Shelby; Garrett Diltz, Lima Shawnee; Jared Fleming, Van Wert; Ryan Gallagher, Buckeye; Cory Dotts, Claymont; Sean Jones, Indian Valley; Zak Geiger, John Glenn; Zach Arace, Bexley; Chris Yanichko, Johnathan Alder; Zach Howard, Amanda-Clearcreek; Jacob Stevens, River View; Kevin Swartz, London; Joe Stewart, Fairland; Todd Hewitt, Eaton; Jake Kasperski, Valley View; Matt Wurtzler, Roger Bacon; Logan Leis, Benjamin Logan; Myles Corcoran, Clinton-Massie; Brad Besserman, Finneytown; Sam Bench, Brookville; Bryson Lewis, Blanchester; and Matt Johnson, Archbishop McNicholas.

OHRunners Team Predictions

Woodridge is the pick for the top spot this year as they look to make it four in a row for state championships.  Woodridge had a good team early in the year, but with the return of Jimmy Charles, and with Charles running well, Woodride is almost as close to a lock for the team title as you can get, they are the boys Division 2 equivalent of Magnificat.  

This might be the only race at this year's state meet, where the winner of each regional could finish in the top four in the state.  Second and third place will likely be a battle between Elyria Catholic and St. Clairsville.  In the MileSplit Virtual Meet, these two teams are almost identical with both teams having a runner in the top 5, two runners in the top 20, three runners in the top 30, four runners in the top 35, and their fifth runners are separated by just six points.  Looking solely at the regional meets ths past weekend, Elyria Catholic had the more impressive meet, and if they continue that type of running they should finish as the runner up team at the old horse track.  St. Clairsville should finish in the third spot.  Tippecanoe, Defiance, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Bay all have a shot at being a top four team.  The team that can place all five runners under 18 minutes will be the team that will come out on top at Scioto Downs.  Look for Tippecanoe to pull of that feat, all five scorers under 18 minutes, and two runners in the top 15, to help themselves to a top four finish.  Tippecanoe has also ran very well and is experienced on the state meet course by steadily improving their finish (8th in 2006, 5th in 2007, and 2nd in 2008).

Ten Individuals to Watch

Girls Division 2 Race - Virtual Team Meet

Individual Runners Not on Qualifying Teams

Taylor Hatfield, Zane Trace; Elizabeth Heinbach, Indian Hill; Lizzie Gleason, Chaminade Julienne; Peyton Adkins and McKenna Warner, Gallia Academy; Katie Landwehr, Tippecanoe; Emily Richmond, Roger Bacon; Samm Stroker, Miami Trace; Courtney Swink, Brookville; Natalie Geiger, Norwood; Julie Richards, Circleville; Sarah Reichman, Dover; Maggie McIvain, East Liverpool; Kelsey Cogan, Carrollton; Melissa Thompson, St. Francis De Sales-Columbus; Brianna Stevens, River View; Michelle Kaiser, Bishop Ready; Kierstin Lathrop, River Valley-Caledonia; Matti Moncayo and Ellen Isaac, Lexington; Megan Vogelsong and Anna Meyer, Defiance; Hanna Sterle, Bay; Rachel Huddle, Napoleon; Ashley Figel, Celina; Marin Beird, Wauseon; Chelsea Johnson, Ontario; Adrienne Pohl and Molly Scott, Lima Shawnee; Erin Vanek and Liz Weiler, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin; Caitlin Clapacs, Hathaway Brown; Mallory Kreider, Edgewood-Ashtabula; Jaclyn Koza, Tallmadge; Sammi Vaughan, Crestwood; Kirsten Stevenson, Chagrin Falls; and Megan Gonzalez, Marlington.

OHRunners Team Predictions

The last month or so, all the talk of Division 2 girls has focused on three teams, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (CVCA), St. Vincent-St. Mary (SVSM) and St. Clairsville.  Any way these teams are compared, it will come out that they are close to each other, and in all likely hood will come down to how well each teams 4 and 5 runners perform.  All three teams could have a two people in the top 15 of the team race, and three runners in the top 20-25 of the team race. If SVSM runs the way they did at the regional meet, the title is their's for the taking.  SVSM had a 1-5 spread of just over a minute, the smallest spread of the three major contenders, and they still have one or two athletes that will likely finish in single digits in team scoring.  Second and thrid place is another toss up, but look for CVCA and their tradition and experience of performing well at the state meet, lead them to a top two finish, with St. Clairesville finishing in third, a vast improvement from 16th place last year at Scioto Downs.

As for the fourth place team, look for a either Alter, who is running great as of late, or Shelby, who had just a 9 second 1-5 spread at the Tiffin Regional, to be in the mix.  If Shelby can move their pack up by about 10-15 seconds, then they will have a great shot at finishing in the top four, if not, look for the charging Knights of Alter to take a top four spot.

Ten Individuals to Watch

Division 3

Boys Division 3 Race - Virtual Team Meet

Individual Runners Not on Qualifying Teams

Colin Cotton, Summit Country Day; Samuel Prakel, Versailles; Isaiah Bragg, Emmanuel Christian Academy; Jonathan Rex, Spencerville; Kyle Kistinger, Cincinnati Country Day; Evan North and Brent Fritz, Badin; Josh Hemmelgarn, Twin Valley South; Kevin Stewart, Mechanicsburg; Adam Loewer, Bethel; Brad Olinger, Ridgewood; Jeremy Anderson, Fort Frye; Jon Michael Hilsheimer, Columbus Academy; Brennan Delaney and Wesley Lewis, Barnesville; Breydon Gates, Belpre; Logan Kettlewell, Garaway; Mike Seas, Coldwater; Brian Ferber and Michael Gallagher, St. Mary Central Catholic; Seth Butler, Liberty-Benton; Tyler Wise, Hopewell-Loudon; Darrell Randall, Gorham Fayette; Jim Kesner, Lima Central Catholic; Mark Berton, St. Wendelin; Elias Dandar, Gibsonburg; Jamison Brickner, Calvert; Kyle Babcock, Lakota; Nick Gliha, Trinity; Bart Merkel, Gilmour Academy; Drew Trusty, Mohawk; Josh Schleappi, East Canton; Carson Britton; Colonel Crawford; Ryan Roush, South Range; Johnny Honkala and Matt Pelletier, Berkshire.

OHRunners Team Predictions

This race looks to be a two team race between the defending Division 3 state Champions, St. John Central, and an up-and-coming program in Independence. And these two teams are close in whatever way you compare them.  Comparing Virtual Meet results, they are within a few points of each other, comparing regional times, they would be within a few points of each other, this is basically a coin flip as to who will emerge victorious from the horse track.  St. John Central returns five runners from last years team, and that experience will likely be the deciding factor in this race, so look for St. John Central to repeat as state champs with Independence taking the silver trophy.

As for third and fourth place, that looks like another battle of the teams from the Boardman Regional, Maplewood, McDonald, and St. Thomas Aquinas as well as Liberty Union, which would need to have a perfect race to crack the top four, from the Pickerington Region.  Between Maplewood, McDonald, and St. Thomas Aquinas theBoardman Region will likely have 3 of the top 4 teams, but at the least, 2 of the top 4 teams.  These three teams are are a toss up, as St. Thomas Aquinas, always seems to run well at the end of the season, but so does McDonald, and even Maplewood.   McDonald and Maplewood flipped flopped spots the last two weeks, so look for a close race between these two teams.  Look for Maplewood to run well with good footing at the horse track and finish third, with McDonald finishing fourth.

Ten Individuals to Watch

Girls Division 3 Race - Virtual Team Meet

Individual Runners Not on Qualifying Teams

Bekka Simko, Gilmour Academy; Annie Wise, Waterloo; Jamie Lombardo, Trinity; Monica Ciarniello, Lowellville; Mackenzie Harris and Alexandra Markovich, Hawken; Leighann Kelvington, East Palestine; Erin Moomaw, Smithville; Brooke Benner, Orrville; Lacy Nagy and Bailey Ulinski, Woodmore; Delainey Phelps, Toledo Christian; Julia Windom, Lakota; Leah Wagoner, Otsego; Samantha Hoffman, Gibsonburg; Lindsay Kaatz, St. Mary Central Catholic; Tanner Hostetler, Pettisville; Halle Frey, Liberty-Benton; Sarah Flickeinger, Pandora-Gilboa; Elizabeth Buchman, Calvert; Hannah Stefanoff, Grandview Heights; Krista Mathews, Liberty Union; Natalie Field, Pleasant; Kayla Cook, South Webster; Summer Gaib, Fisher Catholic; Connie Collins, Sandy Valley; Sarah Biehl; Fort Frye; Sydney Zierdon, Cardington-Lincoln; Kylie Stewart, Martins Ferry; Taylor Hacker, Ironton; Brittany Stockmaster, Jessica Phillips and Brooke Szabo, Seneca East; Tammy Berger, Versailles; Katie Borchers, Russia; Juli Accurso, Miami East; Allison Roeth, Houston; Bethany Norman, Xenia Christian; Janel Olberding, Fort Loramie; Alanah Hall, and Cincinnati Country Day.

OHRunners Team Predictions

This looks to be a rematch of the Troy Regional with Minster and Spencerville fighting it our for who will get to take home the big trophy.  Minster is the favorite as they just beat Spencerville 86 to 102 this past weekend, but in a big race like the state meet, anything can happen.  Minster will rely on the strngth of their pack to help them in their quest to repeat as State Champions.  Minster's 1-6 spread at the Troy Regional was just over a minute, while their 1-5 spread at the same meet clocked in at 45 seconds.  Anytime you can get your scorers across the finish line in that little amount of time, you will have a great chance at posting the lowest score of the day.  Spencerville will rely on a 1-2 punch from Lyndie Brown and Ashley Gilroy to help offset the effects of Minster's tight pack.  In order for Spencerville to unthrown Minster, Spencerville's 3-5 runners will need to have a good race.

The third and fourth place teams are really difficult to predict in this race.  From the Boardman Regional both Maplewood and Berkshire have legitimate shots at finishing in the top four, although Maplewood will need a great performance out of their #5 runner to beat Berkshire again.  Berkshire, likewise, will need to have good races from their 4 and 5 runners to turn in a top 4 team performance.  From the Pickerington Regional  Johnstown-Monroe has a shot at cracking the top four, and the other two qualifiying teams from the Troy Regional, West Liberty-Salem and Crestview-Ashland could all be in the mix.  Berkshire, West Liberty-Salem, Johnstown-Monroe and Crestview-Ashland are all pretty similar through their top three finishers, with West Liberty-Salem having the best top three among this group.  And using the MileSplit Vurtual Meet feature, all four teams fourth runners are within 15 seconds of each other, so this will really come down to these teams fifth runners.  Based off of this rationale, look for Berkshire to finish third, with West Liberty-Salem taking the fourth spot.

Ten Individuals to Watch

Good luck to all teams and individuals that qualified to the State Championship.  Congratulations, you are a small percentage of runners in the state that will ever get a chance to experience what it is like to run at Scioto Downs.  Take in the experience from the infield, enjoy yourself and compete to the best of your abilities.