The 2010 High School Cross-Country Season has arrived. It should be an exciting season in all 3 of our State’s Divisions on both the boys and the girl’s sides. OHRunners has complied as list of the top 10 underclassmen finishers in both the boys and girls 2009 State Championships for all 3 divisions. What does it reveal?
Of the 6 divisions, 5 State Champions are returning to defend their titles. 25 top ten finishers return out of 60.
Division 1 Boys
| '09 Place |
Name | Grade | School | Time |
|
1 |
Zach Wills | 12 | Mason | 15:45.11 |
| 8 | Jeff Hannaford | 12 | Westerville North | 16:06.75 |
| 9 | Curtis Hanle | 12 | Louisville | 16:10.36 |
| 13 | Micah Armburst | 12 | Big Walnut | 16:13.17 |
| 18 | Luis Carbajal | 12 | Dublin Scioto | 16:22.53 |
| 19 | Greg Turissini | 12 | St. John's Jesuit | 16:23.26 |
| 21 | Josh Sabo | 12 | Revere | 16:24.78 |
| 24 | Jack Butler | 12 | St. Xavier | 16:28.52 |
| 31 | John Sweeney | 12 | St. Ignatius | 16:33.42 |
| 42 | Cote Richard | 12 | Hudson | 16:40.00 |
The Division 1 Boys individual race has 2 time defending champion Zach Wills of Mason returning once again to defend his title. Zach was the only underclassman to go under the 16 minute mark at Scioto Downs. The other returning runners, all seniors, were 34 seconds apart. If Zach defends his title, the other spots will be are wide open.
Boys Division 1 Returning Individual Rankings by Season Best Time
Boys Division 1 Returning Invididual Rankings by Average Time
Boys Division 1 Returning Team Rankings
Division 2 Boys
| '09 Place |
Name | Grade | School | Time |
| 1 | Michael Bradjic | 12 | Bay | 15:49.81 |
| 12 |
Kyle Cochrun | 12 | Woodridge | 16:24.88 |
| 16 | Dan Kuhman | 12 | Elyria Catholic | 16:31.32 |
| 17 | Todd Hewitt | 12 | Eaton | 16:32.06 |
| 18 | Vibush Sivakumaran | 12 | Woodridge | 16:34.58 |
| 19 | Matt Peters | 12 | Canal Fulton-Northwest | 16:35.04 |
| 24 | Sam Wharton | 10 | Tippecanoe | 16:38.42 |
| 25 | Steven Weaver | 11 | Napoleon | 16:39.35 |
| 26 | Abel Flores | 10 | Defiance | 16:44.27 |
| 29 | Jimmy Charles | 12 | Woodridge | 16:53.41 |
Defending Champion Micahel Brajdic returns. Of the top ten returning underclassmen, he is the only under 16 minutes and will be the pick to return to the number one spot. The other returning 9 underclassmen were 19 seconds apart. As in Div. 1, the 2nd and 3rd place positions will be up for grab. The top ten from last year is also highlighted by two sophomores, Sam Wharton of Tipp City and Abel Flores of Defiance.
Boys Division 2 Returning Individual Rankings by Season Best Time
Boys Division 2 Returning Invididual Rankings by Average Time
Boys Division 2 Returning Team Rankings
Division 3 Boys
| '09 Place |
Name | Grade | School | Time |
| 1 | Ryan Polman | 11 | Independence | 16:01.56 |
| 3 | Nick Gliha | 12 | Trinity | 16:17.17 |
| 4 |
Kyle Polman |
10 | Independence | 16:18.99 |
| 5 | Colin Cotton | 12 | Summit Country Day | 16:20.78 |
| 7 | Nick Goebel | 12 | Elmwood | 16:23.44 |
| 11 | Patrick Kunkel |
10 | McDonald | 16:28.24 |
| 12 | Jerry Dugan | 12 | McDonald | 16:29.59 |
| 13 | Sam Prakel | 10 | Versailles | 16:30.60 |
| 15 | Mike Seas | 11 | Coldwater | 16:32.19 |
| 16 | Drew Trusty | 12 | Mohawk | 16:32.45 |
The Div. 3 boy’s race should be one of the most exciting. Defending Champion Ryan Polman of Independence returns. However, he will be challenged by a stellar field including his brother Kyle who finished 4th. This division returns 5 of the top 10 finishers from a year ago and 10 of the top 20 finishers. All are within 31 seconds of each other. One runner to watch is Kyle Polman of Independence who placed 4th last year as a freshman.
Boys Division 3 Returning Individual Rankings by Season Best Time
Boys Division 3 Returning Invididual Rankings by Average Time
Boys Division 3 Returning Team Rankings
Division 1 Girls
| '09 Place |
Name | Grade | School | Time |
| 3 | Hannah Neczypor | 12 | North Royalton | 18:15.30 |
| 4 | Michelle Thomas | 12 | Glen Este | 18:19.82 |
| 6 | Claudia Saunders | 11 | Princeton | 18:42.96 |
| 9 | Madison Hearline | 10 | Hudson | 18:45.71 |
| 10 | Katie Betts | 12 | Stow-Munroe Falls | 18:47.44 |
| 11 | Rachel Mahle | 10 | Springboro | 18:48.31 |
| 13 | Mattie Rankin | 12 | Louisville | 18:56.36 |
| 17 | Deann Godby | 11 | Mayfield | 19:07.82 |
| 18 | Carly Hamilton | 12 | Springboro | 19:09.20 |
| 20 | Abigail Marquard | 11 | Magnificat | 19:11.58 |
The Div. 1 girl’s race features 5 of last year’s top 11 finishers. The group is led by Hannah Neczypor, a Senior at North Royalton, and Michelle Thomas, a senior at Cincinnati Glen Este. In the 2009 Championship they finished 3rd and 4th, just 4 seconds apart.
Girls Division 1 Returning Individual Rankings by Season Best Time
Girls Division 1 Returning Invididual Rankings by Average Time
Girls Division 1 Returning Team Rankings
Division 2 Girls
| '09 Place |
Name | Grade | School | Time |
| 1 | Christina Blair | 12 | Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy | 18:39.71 |
| 2 | Taylor Hatfield | 11 | Zane Trace | 18:49.28 |
| 3 | Katie Landwehr | 12 | Tippecanoe | 18:55.35 |
| 4 | Elizabeth Heinbach | 11 | Indian Hill | 19:00.04 |
| 5 | Abbie Clifford | 12 | Perry | 19:04.15 |
| 7 | Maria Arnone | 12 | St. Vincent-St. Mary | 19:19.64 |
| 11 | Maria Moore | 12 | Woodridge | 19:24.49 |
| 12 | Mattie Moncayo | 12 | Lexington | 19:24.94 |
| 13 | Ellen Isaac | 10 | Lexington | 19:25.72 |
| 15 | Emily Mapes | 12 | Minerva | 19:29.99 |
The Div. 2 race returns the top five finishers from 09, as well as the 7th finisher. Christina Blair of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy returns as a senior to defend her championship and is followed by the 2nd through 5th place returnees who were all less than 25 seconds behind her.
Girls Division 2 Returning Individual Rankings by Season Best Time
Girls Division 2 Returning Invididual Rankings by Average Time
Girls Division 2 Returning Team Rankings
Division 3 Girls
| '09 Place |
Name | Grade | School | Time |
| 1 | Tammy Berger | 11 | Versailles | 18:47.94 |
| 2 | Brittany Stockmaster | 12 | Seneca East | 18:55.67 |
| 3 | Katie Borchers | 12 | Russia | 19:10.05 |
| 5 | Hannah Stefanoff | 12 | Grandview Heights | 19:21.84 |
| 9 | Mikaela Bush | 11 | Mount Gilead | 19:34.48 |
| 11 | Shayla Siefker | 12 | Ottovilee | 19:37.11 |
| 12 | Alexandra Markovic | 10 | Hawken | 19:37.33 |
| 13 | Allison Roeth | 11 | Houston | 19:37.83 |
| 15 | Natalie Fausey | 10 | Minster | 19:54.60 |
| 16 | Annie Wise | 12 | Waterloo | 19:54.94 |
The first 3 finishers from last year return led by Junior Tammy Berger of Versailles, who returns to defend her 1st place finish. Only the 4th place finisher from last year is not returning. Just 8 seconds behind Tammy is Brittany Stockmaster, a senior from Attica Seneca East.
Girls Division 3 Returning Individual Rankings by Season Best Time
Girls Division 3 Returning Invididual Rankings by Average Time
Girls Division 3 Returning Team Rankings