Pre-Regional Coaches' Poll: Eight No. 1 Teams Head Into Regionals
Regionals are Saturday, Oct. 31, and the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC) Pre-Regional coaches' poll is out. Three teams are unanimous No. 1s: Springboro in Division I boys, Woodridge in Division III boys and Huron in Division III girls. Each took all 12 first-place votes.
The closest race at the top is Division II boys, where Bowling Green leads Toledo St Francis by three points, 272 to 269.
Boys
Division I. Springboro has all 12 first-place votes and 240 points. Mentor is second at 224, Mason third at 210, Beavercreek fourth at 194 and Gahanna Lincoln fifth at 186.
Division II. Bowling Green (272) edges Toledo St Francis (269), but St Francis holds more first-place votes, 5 to 4. Big Walnut (242), Hoover (228) and Loveland (227) round out the top five. Granville made the biggest jump, from No. 19 to No. 11. Turpin (15 to 9) and Kenston (12 to 6) each climbed six spots, and University School joins the poll at No. 21.
Division III. Woodridge is unanimous at 288 points. Versailles is second at 274, followed by Fairless (247), Chagrin Falls (241) and West Liberty-Salem (240). Elmwood climbed five spots to No. 13 and Wyoming four to No. 15. Ashtabula Edgewood joins the poll at No. 23.
Division IV. Mount Gilead holds No. 1 with 286 points and 10 first-place votes. Russia has the other two and gained 14 points to sit second at 277. Convoy Crestview is third at 256, Tinora fourth at 247 and Botkins fifth at 245. Seneca East jumped eight spots to No. 14, and McDonald (19), Pettisville (22) and Badger (24) all move into the top 24.
Girls
Division I. Milford leads with 237 points and 10 first-place votes. Upper Arlington has the other two and trails by six points at 231. Springboro is third at 202, Centerville fourth at 199 and Gahanna Lincoln fifth at 192.
Division II. Watterson has 11 of the 12 first-place votes and 286 points. Aurora is second at 273, up 42 points from the Pre-District poll, and took the other first-place vote. Granville (252), Avon (246) and Big Walnut (240) follow. Turpin climbed from No. 16 to No. 8, and Cincinnati St Ursula moved from 20 to 13. Westlake (14 to 21) and Hudson (12 to 18) slid.
Division III. Huron is unanimous at 288 points. Oakwood is second at 276, then Minerva (252), Ottawa Glandorf (249) and Crestwood (237). Coldwater climbed six spots to No. 14, and Fenwick moves into the top 24 at No. 22.
Division IV. Ottawa Hills has 285 points and 10 first-place votes. Grandview Heights has the other two and sits second at 274. Minster is third at 260, and Liberty Center moved from sixth to fourth at 249. Kirtland is fifth at 240. Marion Local enters the poll at No. 23, and Milan Edison (16 to 22) and Lincolnview (17 to 21) dropped.
What's next
Regionals are Saturday, Oct. 31, and the state meet is Nov. 7 at Fortress Obetz. More info at podiumwatch.org.
