SPIRE Academy is playing host to the HOKA Night Showcase this season. The sports academy in Geneva, Ohio, will run what may now be the biggest race in the state.
The start and finish lines are set east of the facility and feature a half loop start that directly leads into a full loop to the finish line. The schedule contains four different divisions of high school races and will continue well into the evening hours. Over one hundred schools will be competing, including those from Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
The Divisional Races
Chagrin Falls took eighth as a team at the DIII state championship meet last season on the boys side. This season they return four of their top five and will be competing in the Black Division tonight. The top returning boy in DII, Ian Res of West Geauga will be the boy to watch in the Black Division race. He took 6th at the state meet last year.
Defending DIII State Champion Irelyn Johnson is entering her senior season for Marlington. She will be the one to watch in the Gold Division girls race. Marlington finished ninth at the state meet last year and return their entire top five. Gabi Twedt is just a sophomore and took 20th at the DII state meet a year ago. Lexington returns four of their top seven after taking third at the DII state meet last season. Also in this race is Rocky River, who took 10th at the DII state meet a year ago and return six of their top seven. The top returning class of 2027 runner in DIV is Marlee Beacom of Ashtabula St. John, she took 8th at the state meet last season. Just behind her was fellow senior Ida Estadt of Shenandoah who took 12th. Maplewood took 8th at the DIV state meet last season and return six of their top seven.
Maplewood took sixth at the DIV state meet last season on the boys side and will be the team to watch in the Gold Division race. They return six of their top seven.
In the Showcase
The final races of the night will be the boys and girls showcase events. The top teams and athletes and all DI schools will be in the main event.
Mentor was sixth last season on the boys side at the DI state meet. The Cardinals bring back five of their top seven. Stow-Munroe was 15th last season and also return five of their top seven. The top returning class of 2027 boy in DII is Donevan Noah of Tallmadge. He took 8th last season at the state meet and will be in starting box #48. Porter Gilliland of Lakewood took 16th at the state meet last season and is the second top returning senior in DII. Lexington boys took the state title in DII last season but return just three of their top five, they are in box #27. Hudson took fifth last year in DII and return four of their top seven. In starting box #21 will be North Canton Hoover who took 6th at the DII state meet last year and return five of their top seven. The second fastest returner in DIV, Landen Perdue of Bellaire took 4th at the state meet last season. Just behind him was Sam Steimle of Grand Valley who took 10th at the DIV state meet last season.
Kassadi Thompson was the highest finishing sophomore at the D1 state meet last season. She took 20th last year for Cleveland Heights and will be in starting box #12. Avon took third last season in the girls D1 state meet, but return just three of their top seven. They will be in starting box #5. Makayla Martuccio of Tallmadge is the top returning girl in DII as she finished 7th a season ago. Just behind her was Maggie Gerschutz of Wadsworth who was 10th and will start just a few boxes outside of her. Wadsworth was 4th at the DII state meet last season and return five of their top seven. The top returning class of 2028 athlete in DII is Claire Jenkins of Aurora who will be starting in box #6. Aurora has six sophomores that were all state qualifiers a year ago. Medina Highland girls were 12th at the DII state meet last year and return their entire starting five, they will be in box #32. Hathaway Brown were DII runners-up last season but only return two of their top seven. Boardman took 9th at the DII state meet a year ago and return six of their top seven.