In lead-up to Sunday's 2024 OHSAA 7th & 8th Grade Cross Country Post Season Invitational, we had the opportunity to interview the state association's Sport Administrator for Cross Country and Track & Field BJ Duckworth.
Duckworth, who is also the OHSAA Director of Officiating Development, helped set the table for what is sure to go down as an outstanding day of sportsmanship and competition at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park.
Additionally, Duckworth highlighted the overarching progress of Ohio middle school cross country over the years, the evolution of the state meet, the community stakeholders who help make it all possible and much more.
Watch our feature interview above and review more content below.
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Race Day Links
| Meet Information | MileSplit Live-Results |
| Schedule and Awards | 2-Mile Course Map |
| Boys Race Assignments | Girls Race Assignments |
| Boys Box Assignments | Girls Box Assignments |
Interview Time-Stamps
- 0:00 -- Interview Intro
- 0:40 -- History of the OHSAA middle school state meet
- 3:25 -- Evolution and growth of the meet
- 5:40 -- Providing a championship level environment and atmosphere
- 7:50 -- Highlighting the competition and the course lay-out
- 11:00 -- Enhanced caliber of the middle school competition
- 13:40 -- Community stakeholders coming together to ensure success
- 16:45 -- Showcasing what the meet day experience resembles
- 19:30 -- The lettered events and make-up of race fields
- 22:30 -- Overarching goals of the OHSAA for meet day
- 24:15 -- Interview Close
(Middle School racing from earlier this season at the Cedarville Friendship Invitational)
Photo Credit: Shawn Conlon/MileSplit