Girls Mid-East XC Championships

Every year since 1987, the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC) reviews a strong pool of applicants and selects the top 12 senior runners of each gender to compete at the Mid-East XC Championships. The competition takes place at the Indian Riffle Park XC course in Kettering, Ohio, and features the top senior runners from Ohio, along with those from Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana (and occasionally from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky as well). In this article, we’ll provide a brief introduction to the recent history of the meet for Ohio girls’ runners, along with a preview of this year’s race.

Over the past few years, several notable Ohio girls’ runners have competed in this event, including Reese Landis, Samantha Erbach, Megan Hipple, Jaylee Wingate, Caitlyn Jones, Grace Hartman, Samantha Coleman, and Regina Rose, with Landis winning in 2023 and Hipple winning in 2022. These past competitors now represent NCAA Division 1 programs such as Akron, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, NC State, and Tennessee. This year, Ohio boasts another outstanding class of runners eager to represent the state and challenge top talent from across the Midwest.

Our primary region of focus, Central Ohio, has three Division 1 representatives at the Mid-East XC Championships this year: Olentangy Berlin’s Grace Heitkamp, Dublin Jerome’s Helen Randolph, and Pickerington North’s Mia Eberhardt. Each of these athletes has had an exceptional senior season, earning them a spot on the Ohio roster. Eberhardt ended her season as a conference champion and earned first-team all-district, all-region, and All-Ohio honorable mention honors, with a personal best of 18:13. Heitkamp secured first-team all-conference, second-team all-district, and all-region honors, achieving a personal best of 18:00. Randolph finished the season with first-team all-conference, first-team all-district, and all-region honors and boasts a personal best of 17:39.

Other top Ohio contenders include Mercy McAuley’s Abby Sewell, Loudonville’s Tess Schultz, Eastwood’s Leah Emch, and Legacy Christian’s Caroline Hamilton. Sewell, with a personal best of 18:08, recently placed as the runner-up in the Division 2 state championships. Schultz holds a personal best of 18:17 and finished 5th at the Division 3 state championships, while Emch, with a personal best of 18:24, placed 5th in the Division 2 championships. Hamilton, the Division 3 state champion, has the fastest personal best among these contenders at 17:43. Each of these runners has the potential to place near the top with a strong performance.

Additional Ohio representatives include Covington’s Elysa Long, Shaker Heights’ Grace Kaelber, West Holmes’ Noelle Smith, Aurora’s Sydney Langell, and Oakwood’s Elizabeth Erwin. Each brings an impressive array of accolades and has the ability to compete at the front of the race with strong performances.

In conclusion, Ohio’s top senior girls’ runners are well-prepared to make a strong showing at the Mid-East XC Championships. With accomplished athletes from Central Ohio and beyond, this year’s team is poised to carry on the state’s tradition of excellence at the meet. Each runner brings a unique set of achievements and the talent to challenge the Midwest’s best, setting the stage for a memorable and competitive event. Ohio’s athletes are ready to showcase their skills and make their mark on this prestigious stage.