Girls Matchup of the Week: 3200 at the Wayne Invitational

I must say, I’m really excited to see how this one plays out. The top four seed times are all from Central Ohio: Olentangy Orange’s Brooke Chapman (last year’s 1600 state champion), Olentangy Liberty’s Elena Aldrink (last year’s 3200 state champion), Dublin Jerome’s Natalie Fouts (this year’s 3200 indoor state champion), and Hilliard Davidson’s Erica Kaulen. I expect each of these runners to be in the mix for a state title later this season, so it’s hard to pick just one winner. My best bet is Brooke Chapman, given her impressive racing this season and her top seed time in this field.

Boys Matchup of the Week: 3200 at the Wayne Invitational

I think this one’s even more wide open than the girls’ race. It features a strong mix of Central and Southeast Ohio runners, including Matthew Schroff, Charlie Guerrera, and Tate Ruthers from Central Ohio, and Sam Darmanie, Landen Eyre, Alex Bruns, and Kasem Kaheal from Southeast Ohio. Last year’s meet was historic for the number of top performances it produced, and I don’t think this year will be any different. If I had to guess, one runner will break 9:00, and a few others will finish under 9:05. Darmanie and Eyre will both be doubling back from the 1600, and while Ruthers hasn’t run faster than 9:10 yet this season, he likely has the fitness for it. I think it’ll come down to Schroff, Guerrera, Bruns, and Kaheal. I haven’t fared the best with predictions so far, but I’m going with Charlie Guerrera to win and flirt with breaking 9:00. Behind him, I expect Schroff, Kaheal, and Bruns to all finish under 9:05.