Let's talk Ohio HS XC

Agree with everything you said. I wasn't belittling a team's accomplishments suggesting smaller schools can't compete. But there's a reason we have divisions in high school sports. Otherwise, hell... throw Mt. Gilead in with Mason.

Question for the regulars on here; former college runner and went down to watch Alma Mater as well as some friends teams on this course (first time seeing this course as I ran at Scioto)

Has anyone ever said anything to management about the turn into the stadium at 350 meters ? Personally watching the start of boys D1 boys and girls I was surprised as it seemed like the turn puts runners in a risky spot (especially inside boxes). Either get out crazy or get trampled- I was paying particular a Steele girl who looked to get slammed into the turn on that side and Tol. St francis kid who got trampled and had to run the race with only 1 shoe.

Maybe I am use to the old course of having the course dwindle in the first 800 before going through a gait.

That turn is a known issue that nobody seems too interested in doing anything about.
As for the other discussion about school size, I agree it’s enrollment, getting kids into the program and coaching. Mason and St. X are like Alabama and Ohio State football, they won’t win every year but should always be competitive. Lancaster is going to have to rebuild, Mason and St. X will just reload.

That was immediate thought the 1st time I saw the course a few years ago. How the hell? It's a dramatic, narrow turn in less than 400m.

Luckily the state meets aren't that large relative to some invitationals - typcially less than 200. But "luckily" isn't the best word here considering I feel the meet should be expanded to included more runners (and more divisions) by adding a set # of individuals after team qualifiers, expanding the fields to 25 teams, etc.

I'd hate for the course layout to be the reason the meet can't expand. "Well see... we cant do much about that turn, so we can't have more than 180 runners."

Checking out how the division one teams did relative to the initial pre-seaso poll and final pre-state poll:

1. Mason--1st pre-season, 1st pre-state (pollsters got this one)

2. St. X--2nd pre-season, 4th pre-state

3. Lancaster--7th pre-season, 2nd pre-state

4. Dublin Coffman--6th pre-season, 7th pre-state

5. Hilliard Davidson--4th pre-season, 5th pre-state

6. Miamisburg--unranked pre-season, 8th pre-state

7. Massillon Jackson--5th pre-season, 3rd pre-state

8. Massillon Perry--18th pre-season, 10th pre-state

9. Toledo St. Francis--24th pre-season, 6th pre-state

10. Medina--8th pre-season, 9th pre-state

11. GlenOak--14th pre-season, 18th pre-state

12. Medina Highland--unranked pre-season, 20th pre-state (most over-achieved?)

13. Springboro--9th pre-season, 14th pre-state

14. Green--unranked pre-season, 16th pre-state

15. Centerville--22nd pre-season, 15th pre-state

16. Anthony Wayne--32nd pre-season, 19th pre-state

17. Olentangy Orange--13th pre-season, 11th pre-state

18. Loveland--10th pre-season, 12th pre-state

19. Chardon--28th pre-season, 17th pre-state

20. Pickerington North--15th pre-season, 13th pre-state

Overall it seems like the pre-season rankings did a pretty good job. The pre-state rankings weren't bad either, especially considering the variability that the weather probably caused. Other interesting things are there were several teams that featured near the top in the rankings in the early weeks of the season and were discussed in this thread as contenders, that did not end up being at the state meet or did not place well at the state meet, showing that the end of the season is all that matters.

Medina Highland was the biggest overachiever for sure, Mass. Perry not far behind them though.

Ackley with the 191 speed rating

Also based on this list, they have Marlington as the #3 team in OH overall. The reason why Marlington’s average is faster is because of that 15:26 guy

This is also the first time Schorr beat Thress.

Mason boys and girls won

Can mason 3-peat next year? Their boys team returns their 1,3, 4 guys and 4 sub-17 guys on JV.

Mas Jackson looks to be a threat

"This is also the first time Schorr beat Thress."

It was the 5th time...

marlington returns a 15:39 guy who’s intriguing and also colin

there average is cause they had 3 in top 5

He'll contend for titles.... both this spring in the 1600 and next fall in XC.

Along those lines... let's look ahead, shall we! What's next year look like??

Teams

1. Mason - theirs until someone takes it

2. St X - theirs until someone takes it

3. Massilon Jackson - loaded, returning everyone

4. Kilbourne - returning studs out front, need 4-5 to step up

5. Chardon - idk, but Milesplit has them up there in the team rankings

Individuals:

1. Richuitti (the fav, easily)

2. Gabelman

3. Trapp

4. Bork

5. Smith (dropped out at state?)

6-7. Reed or Zuckett (we'll let the Stark Co. boys fight over these spots)

8-10. Daltorio/Dennison/Kimell - young bucks showing up

11. Rudraraju - seems like something was off at state for this guy. 16th last year

12 & Up. Day-Miller-Baker-Long-Williams-Wood (Something like that. These guys are all good & capable of top 10)

Ohio is on fire right now! I believe most of the podium will run very fast on the track this spring. I’m extremely impressed with Richiutti this season. He’s a great finisher, yet has still taken the initiative to go out and lead some fast races. Right now, it looks like it could be a battle between him and gabelman for the title next year. But Smith did beat gabelman at regionals, and he could be in the mix too. And who knows what else will transpire between now and then that changes things. I like Weston Day’s progression so far. He was a bit slower as a freshman than most who end up being a top-Ohioan. With his 3200 last spring of 9:36, he was hugely better this season, making a lot of progress in a very short time. I could see him finishing very high next year. Saketh is also a great talent and could be close to the very front with better circumstances (I don’t know what his were, but something was clearly not right).

Well if school size was so important, why haven't the St. Xavier girls ever won anything? Seems like their girls programs is virtually nonexistant.

Where’d you get these from? I’m interested in reading over it. Or did you make them yourself

Was some good competition this weekend. Sad the conversations on here surrounding the meeting aren't ones of celebration or tip of the cap but more of sour grapes. Every year there are surprises both good and bad. All you can control is what you can control which is putting your team in the best position to run well. However it turns out is what it is. This is where the kids get it from, they here the sour grape and the they only won because of xyz. This in my opinion doesn't promote the sport just a spirit of animosity and lack of respect for their competitors and the work they put in to get there. The kids from Mason, St. X, Marlinton, Lancaster and all the schools there worked really hard to get to that meet and they all deserve a congrats. Promote the sport not your own agendas or any perceived bias.

I somewhat agree. I think more the angle that some are taking is defending against the "Well, Mason just has better coaches and a better culture than other teams" and completely discounting the fact that they have the largest pool of kids in the state.

THAT SAID... we can certainly turn the focus back to the race. I mainly focus on D1 boys, so here are my props to individuals who raced out of their mind that day.

Ackley - well duh. Dude finally gets his title. Would love to see him make NXN.

T. Rice - glad he went for it, going with Ackley at 1.2 when he broke away. Rice tried to win, but paid for it at the end, getting outkicked by Sam. Would love to see him make NXN.

Richuitti - helluva kick/finish. The favorite next year. Good call dropping soccer.

Gabelman - I didn't think he'd be fourth, but this guy shows up when it counts. He might be the only one who could give Sam a run next fall.

G. Allwein - Another guy who really showed up. 8th in the Troy region ---> 7th in the state. Nice upgrade there. Watch out for him in the 1600 in May.

L. Bork - is there anyone more steady & smart than this guy? 35th at the mile, 20th at 2 miles, 12th at the end.

E. Zuckett - I had him 30th in my prediction, and I thought it was a stretch. 15th is much better than I expected considering his regional race (26th!). You're officially better than your brother, Elliott.

W. Day - 17th is much better than I thought he'd do, considering he's almost always 2nd fiddle to other guys in his conference - Smith, Gabelman, Miller, Bracken, etc. He's gotta be the favorite for "Most Improved".

A. Bracken - Speaking of... nice run for 24th.

J. Razor - moves up 22 spots in last mile to make All-Ohio (19th). Well done! For reference purposes, Razor was 58th at the preview meet (!).

BUT... the award for the "holy hell where did that come from" goes to...

Trevor Lanoy - 6th overall !?! For a guy who was only 7th at Regionals, and who ran 4:18 & got (famously?) outleaned by two guys at track districts last year, failing to advance... to this? Awesome. Just awesome. I can only imagine being up on that podium with your brothers too. Getting 3rd as a team isn't too shabby either. Memorable day for the Lanoys, especially Trevor.

FOR the "Well, it was not your day but we still remember you" spotlight...

Saketh R - 16th a year ago and a 9:09 guy, but lost a shoe and never recovered (44th). He'll be back.

R Smith - 3rd in his region, beating Gabelman and one of Milesplit's potential favorites to win it all. Not sure what happened when he dropped out (DNF). He'll be back.

E Cope - leader on that TSF team who seemed to fade later in the season (52nd). He'll be back.

S Miller - not a horrible race (35th), but maybe could've/should've been top 20. He's beaten Day, all of the Lanoys, Bracken, Tesfaye Young, others, and won NXR 9/10 a year ago (over Zuckett, others). He'll be back.

D Wood - had top ten potential (9:16 3200). Faded late and really struggled on the final stretch (31st). He'll be back.

FUTURE STARS...

Landon Kimmell - All-Ohio in his 1st state meet. It was perhaps immature to predict a top ten this year for him, but he's a future state champ imo. Ballsy as hell going out with those guys up front.

Mick Temple - He'll give Kimmell a run in '24 & '25. He's got a lot of growing to do, but that stride is already silky smooth.

St Xavier can reload too.
They return their 1,3,4 guys from state…
And also 2 more sub-16:40 guys and 2 more sub-16:50 guys
Wor. Kilborne sounds like an interesting team…
They return 3 sub-16 guys but after that it is looking to be a big gap. Let’s see if that closes

What noteworthy squads are running NXR?