Mid-East XC Championships Review

Since 1987, some of the top seniors from Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan have come together to compete at the Indian Riffle Park XC course in Kettering, Ohio. Handpicked by the OATCCC, Team Ohio continued its tradition of excellence in this prestigious event. In this article, we review the results of last weekend’s Mid-East XC Championships.

Boys: Team Ohio’s boys ran exceptionally well, adding to the state’s legacy of success. Ottawa-Glendorf’s Ty Rosengarten claimed the individual title with a time of 15:39, while Piqua’s Noah Burgh finished third in 15:43. Completing the scoring for Team Ohio were Springboro’s Sam Darmanie, Sheridan’s Tate Ruthers, and Boardman’s David D’Altorio. Despite having four of the top eight finishers, Ohio’s fifth runner placed 15th, allowing Team Indiana to narrowly win the tri-meet.

The remaining Team Ohio finishers were: Little Miami’s Michael Zegarski (16th), Lexington’s Chance Basilone (18th), Dublin Coffman’s Jacob Bolton (19th), Mineral Ridge’s Dominic Pappagallo (22nd), Westlake’s Jeremy Snyder (25th), West Liberty-Salem’s Asher Knox (33rd), and South Range’s Emmitt Slabach (35th).

Girls: The girls’ team from Ohio had a tougher outing. Team Michigan completed a dominant sweep, with Legacy Christian’s Caroline Hamilton being Ohio’s top finisher in eighth place. The scorers for Team Ohio included Mercy McAuley’s Abby Sewell, Loudonville’s Tess Schultz, Dublin Jerome’s Helen Randolph, and Shaker Heights’ Grace Kaelber. Despite Michigan’s commanding performance, Team Ohio managed to finish ahead of Team Indiana.

Other Team Ohio finishers were: Olentangy Berlin’s Grace Heitkamp (20th), Covington’s Elyza Long (27th), Pickerington North’s Mia Eberhardt (31st), Oakwood’s Elizabeth Erwin (34th in 20:13), Aurora’s Sydney Langell (34th), Eastwood’s Leah Emch (35th), and West Holmes’ Noelle Smith (36th).

The 2024 Mid-East XC Championships showcased the depth of talent from Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. While the boys' team delivered a strong performance led by Ty Rosengarten's individual title, narrowly missing the top team spot, the girls faced stiff competition, holding their own against a dominant Michigan squad. These athletes not only represented their state with pride but also added another chapter to the storied tradition of this prestigious event.