Ohio State Meet Predictions - Girls

Division I Ohio Girls Cross Country

By far the easiest pick of the day is that the Kansas colored pink and
blue of Cincinnati Colerain will be on the top rung for the large school
award ceremony. This nationally ranked power is the class of the
field. The battle for the runner up spot should be a great one. 
Leading candidates would be Dublin Coffman and Jackson with Kent,
Findlay, Ashland and Hilliard Davidson all making a case for that honor.

Cline’s Top Ten Picks:

1. Cincinnati Colerain              6. Ashland
2. Dublin Coffman                     7. Hilliard Davidson
3. Jackson                                 8. Strongsville
4. Findlay                                     9. Olentangy
5. Kent Roosevelt                       10. Beavercreek

Individuals: Top returnee Jinney Hanifan of Anthony Wayne who placed
second in ‘98 in 17:42 is in the field but recovering from a stress
fracture and appears not near peak form. This opens the door for ‘98
number three finisher Lindsay Zinn of Lakota East who recorded the
fastest time of any regional. Emily Hahn of Jackson has had a great
season and is a definite threat to win. Other at the front will be
Colerain’s Allison Zenner Cincinnati Anderson’s, Chelsea Homan and
Lancaster's Brook Patterson.


Division II Ohio Girls Cross Country

Traditional powers Beaumont and defending state champs Field, sit atop
the Ohio rankings. Neither have dominating teams and will need to
withstand a challenge from surprising Napoleon, who scored only 57
points in winning the well balanced Tiffin Regional. Looking into a
hazy crystal ball, I will give the defending champs the nod in a race
that promises to be very close.

Cline’s Top Ten Picks:

1. Field 6. Greenon
2. Beaumont 7. Eastwood
3. Napoleon 8. Olmstead Falls
4. Bellevue 9. Kettering Alter
5. Carrolton 10. Eaton

Individuals: Defending champion Jessica Oakes of Springfield
Northwestern, returns as well as ‘98 third place finisher Emily Mars of
Field, highly regarded Lindsay Nemastil of Beaumont (7), and Abbey
Resser of Circleville (8). Abbey had the fastest time of the regionals,
cruising the hilly Lancaster course in 19:13, despite 80 degree heat.



Division III Ohio Girls Cross Country 

Minster has been the unanimous number one pick in the coaches poll for
entire season, but that doesn’t mean the orange and black will have a
walk to the State Title. Liberty Benton, the consensus number two pick,
was given a strong challenge in the regional by upstart Hopewell Louden
and perennial power Woodmore. These three plus Nemergut Sister’s led
Youngstown Boardman Regional champ South Range, could challenge to win
it all. Defending champ Seneca East is qualified but does not appear
to be a factor. Youthful Minster is about to be a dominating force in
Ohio Small School Girls CC but we will give a timid vote for experienced
tournament tested Liberty Benton to pull a major upset.

Cline’s Top Ten Picks:

1. Liberty Benton 6. Fort Loramie
2. Minster 7. McDonald
3. Woodmore 8. Seneca East
4. South Range 9. Pymatuning Valley
5. Hopewell Louden 10. Ft. Recovery

Individuals: Leading candidate to win it all would be Spencervilles
Angie Homan, based on her easy 18:52 win at Troy. Others who should be
at the front with regional times are Allison Grace, Ridgewood, 19:35;
Julie Pitney, Liberty Benton, 19:18; Kristen Proach, St. Thomas
Aquinas, 19:19; Kim Nemergut. South Range, 19:21 and Amy Arnold CVCA
19:24.