Calvin Watson (Worthingway MS 2029) - 1st - 4000m - 12:52.80 - Middle School XC Nationals
Brooke Derringer (Lancaster 2028) - Highest finishing underclassman girl from Ohio at NXR Midwest, 7th place team finish with Lancaster.
Starting with Calvin Watson, he has been setting himself up quite nicely for these next few months of the track and field season, throwing down an undefeated season along with putting up consistently improving marks as the fall went on, which concluded with a new personal best of 10:07.75 for the 3200m distance at his home meet earlier this season - Les Eisenhart Invitational - Thomas Worthington; followed up by a victory at the OHSAA 7th & 8th Grade Cross Country Post Season Invitational.
Not to end it there however, as he also claimed a national title for middle school in Louisville last week, just holding off Luke Jordan of Great Strides by under half a second.
Quite a way to conclude his middle school cross-country campaign.
For Derringer, the freshman from Lancaster has had quite the start to her high school campaign, putting up consistently solid times on the grass throughout the fall, opening up with a 12th place finish at the OHSAA Early Season Invitational back in August (19:29.63), and then following that up with constant progress, dipping under the 19-minute barrier at the start of September.
Fast forward to the championship season, she ended her first OHSAA campaign with a 30th place finish and a personal best of 18:30.75. At Nike Cross Regionals - Midwest, the freshman had the opportunity for a taste of competition from some of the best in the Midwest with hopes of punching a ticket to Nike Cross Nationals. She was a part of the Lancaster team that finished 7th overall as a team in the Championship section; Ohio's highest finishing team.