Girls Action From Around the State

Data as of: 10/16/2024

After a hectic regular season and a thrilling round of conference championships, the girls from all corners of Ohio have showcased their talent. With two runners ranked among the top 25 in the nation and a deep roster of regional standouts, Ohio once again proves itself as a powerhouse in high school cross country. This article takes a deep dive into the star individuals leading the charge and the teams battling for postseason spots at Nike Cross Regionals and Nationals. As the season progresses, we'll continue to spotlight not only Central Ohio athletes but all those representing the Buckeye State at these major races.

The biggest meet on the girls' side outside of Central Ohio this season was the Wooster Invitational in early September. Of the 13 sub-18-minute performances recorded in Ohio this year, five came from runners outside of D1 Pickerington North—four of those at the Wooster Invitational. In the Girls D2/D3 race, Kaitlyn Carr of Smithville and Rebecca Geiss of Heartland Christian dominated, taking a 1-2 finish and beating the third-place runner by nearly a minute. Carr edged out Geiss in a thrilling race, with times of 17:51 and 17:56, respectively. Geiss, coming off a stellar sophomore season in which she won the D3 state title and finished 31st in the NXR championship race, is once again proving her dominance. Carr, who placed third at last year's D3 state meet and 39th at NXR, continues to impress. We’ll be keeping a close eye on both of these D3 standouts as the season unfolds.

The D1 race at Wooster was even faster, with Daniella Scheffler of Uniontown Lake blazing through the course in 17:09. Scheffler, who has since surpassed this impressive performance, has had a phenomenal season—more on her later in the article. Avon’s Kaitlyn Reese also had a standout day, finishing runner-up with a time of 17:33. Reese, who hasn’t placed lower than second in any race this season, is coming off a sophomore year that cemented her as a Midwest powerhouse. After finishing fifth at last year's D1 state meet and 28th at the NXR championship race, she’s well-positioned for a run at Nike Nationals this year.

Turning back to Daniella Scheffler, she has been nothing short of extraordinary this season. While her 17:09 at Wooster was impressive, her 16:41 win at the conference championships stunned everyone, placing her among the top 10 runners in the nation. Undefeated this year, Scheffler is on a mission to redeem herself after last year's disappointing finish, where she placed 15th at state and 52nd at NXR. With a head-to-head battle brewing against Teays Valley’s Katy Zang for the D1 state title, this looks to be a thrilling two-horse race. Scheffler isn’t just in contention for a spot at Nike Nationals; she’s one of the favorites to qualify. We’ll continue to follow her incredible journey.

The only other sub-18 performance in the state outside of the previously mentioned runners comes from Lakota West’s Ava Shepard, who has achieved this feat four times this season, including at the Celtic Clash Invite in Central Ohio. Shepard, fresh off a conference title win, is having a breakout junior season and looks poised to continue her success in the postseason.

On the team side, there’s a notable drop-off after Ohio’s two state title favorites and Nike National hopefuls, Hilliard Davidson and Lancaster. However, several other teams could still contend for a spot at Nike Regionals, including Minerva, Mason, Perrysburg, Hathaway Brown, Milford, and Glen Oak. These teams, while lacking a true "low stick" runner, are packed with depth in their top five. While it’s unlikely that any of them will upset Central Ohio’s top duo or make a serious push for Nike Nationals, they remain among the Midwest's strongest programs.

With nonstop racing around the Buckeye State in the coming weeks, we couldn’t be more excited! We’ll continue to monitor Ohio’s standout individuals and competitive teams, delivering top-notch coverage as Nike Regionals, Footlocker Regionals, and RunningLane Nationals approach. Stay tuned for more content featuring Ohio’s rising stars!