The 2010 Midwest Meet of Champions is loaded with many of the top teams and individuals throughout Ohio and surrounding states! Each of the past 2 years the team champions at the MMOC have gone on to win big school state titles. Magnificat and St Ignatius won titles in 2009 and are back this year to challenge for the title. The MMOC course is flat and very spectator friendly and we could see some blazing times on October 2nd at Hilliard Darby High School!
Girls
Magnificat has won this meet the last 3 seasons and is currently ranked #2 in Ohio and will likely be challenged by #1 Mason, #5 Dublin Coffman, #7 Brunswick, #1 (D2) Akron St Vincent-St Mary, #8 Hudson, #9 New Albany and #13 Centerville. Also in the girls field of 25 teams is #20 Hilliard Davidson and #7 (D3) Russia, Hilliard Bradley, Hilliard Darby, Lakota West, Westerville Central, Cabell Midland (WV), Sacred Heart (KY), Dover, Anderson, Van Wert, Sycamore, Warren, Reynoldsburg, Revere, Medina and Culver Academy (IN).
At least 16 girls scheduled to run this week have posted times under the 19 minute barrier this fall! Among the top runners are Mirra Galbreath (New Albany), Devin Flood (Centerville), Samantha Siler (Sycamore), Anna Boyert (Medina), Marie Arnone (Akron SVSM), Katherine Stultz (Magnificat), Monica Lake (Mason), and Selena Pasadyn (Brunswick).
The winner is likely to come from a group of outstanding seniors from 3 different states: Emma Brink (Sacred Heart, KY), Waverly Neer (Culver, IN) and Jessica Hoover (Davidson, OH). Brink, a University of North Carolina signee, ran 18:01 in beating Hoover by 16 seconds at a meet a few weeks ago in Kentucky and should be considered the favorite. The course record of 17:57 could be in jeopardy.
Boys
Defending champion St Ignatius is led by John Sweeney. They are currently ranked #4 in Ohio but will likely encounter several squads at the MMOC that will make it very difficult to repeat. Medina has a great pack. They are ranked #2 and have been very impressive all season! Perennial powers #5 Toledo St John's Jesuit (led by Greg Turissini) and #6 Cincinnati LaSalle (led by Travis Hawes) are very strong this year. West Virginia's #1 team - Cabell Midland is led by Jacob Burnham. His 15:19 5K is among the top prep times in the nation for sophomores! #7 Mason is led by 2-time MMOC champion Zach Wills. He holds the course record of 15:02 and is one of the favorites to win on Saturday. #9 Dublin Coffman has raced very well this fall. #11 Reynoldsburg has the fastest front runners in Ohio with 3 guys at 15:45 or better! Add in teams from Hudson (#12), Akron St Vincent-St Mary (#1 in D2), Lakota West (#17), New Albany (#18), Unioto (#5 D2), Sylvania Northview (#23), Anderson, Brunswick, Westerville Central, Revere, Olentangy Liberty, Hilliard Bradley, Hilliard Darby, Russia, Dover, Van Wert, Warren and North Oldham (KY) you can see why this meet is so competitive.
At least 20 guys have run sub 16 this season and we could see some very quick times this week! Wills has been the heavy favorite each of the past 2 years and has to be considered the favorite having won 2 cross country titles and a pair of state track titles in his fabulous prep career. It will not be easy to win a 3rd MMOC title for Zach.
Seniors Josh Sabo (Revere) and Mike Wallace (Sylvania Northview) will be in the lead pack along with several young runners. Look for Adrian Ross (Unioto), Tsehaye Hiluf (Reynoldsburg) and Jacob Burnham (Cabel Midland) to be near the leaders as well. The biggest challenge to Wills will likely come from fast rising star Jordan Redd (Fairborn) who has posted some great times without losing a race this season.
The races begin at 9:30 am on Saturday at the north fields of Hilliard Darby HS.