Fairfield cross-country ranked in preseason poll
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Fairfield boys cross-country team is ranked in the Division III Ohio Association of Track and Cross-Country Coaches (OATCCC) Cross-Country Poll for Aug. 14.
The Lions are ranked No. 21 in the state for Division III cross-country, as they reached the State Cross-Country Championships as a team in the fall of '13.
At the State Championships last year, the Lions placed 15th, as they were the first FHS cross-country team to run at the state championships.
The leader of that team, Michael Mangus, has since graduated and signed to run at Division I Northern Kentucky University. He placed fourth at the state championships last year.
[[In-content Ad]]To reach the state championships last season, the Lions were third in the Region 11 Championships held at Pickerington North High School. FHS has raced as a team at regionals the past four seasons, as they've also won three consecutive district championships.
Also running at state last year were Wyatt Evans, Dustin Willey, Trent Swisher, Matthew Leach and Mason Cain.
Seniors this year are Willey and Leach. The team has no juniors and the sophomores are Evans, Swisher, Dillon Burley, Lane Frost and Mason Cain.
Freshmen this season are: Matthew Mangus, Noah Richmond, Nick Price, Tucker Ayres and Andrew Davis.
The top team in the first Division III poll of the season is McDonald, who tallied 170 votes. The rest of the Top 10 are: Maplewood, Summit Country Day, Garaway, Liberty Center, Columbus Grove, Russia, Seneca East, St. Thomas Aquinas and Lincolnview.
Fairfield received eight votes to make the rankings list. Last season, the Lions finished 19th in the final Division III state poll.
In the Division II boys rankings, area school Unioto (Ross County) was ranked 19th.
For the complete list, click here.
FHS opens their '14 varsity cross-country season on Saturday, Aug. 23 in a meet held at Wilmington College at 9 a.m. They will follow that with a race on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Hillsboro's Liberty Park in the Ohio Classic, also at 9 a.m.
The Lions will also host the annual Highland County Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. The Southern Hills Athletic Conference Championships will be held on Oct. 11 at Ripley High School at 10 a.m.
Currently, the Lions are scheduled to race in seven regular-season events.
Follow sports editor Stephen Forsha on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
The Lions are ranked No. 21 in the state for Division III cross-country, as they reached the State Cross-Country Championships as a team in the fall of '13.
At the State Championships last year, the Lions placed 15th, as they were the first FHS cross-country team to run at the state championships.
The leader of that team, Michael Mangus, has since graduated and signed to run at Division I Northern Kentucky University. He placed fourth at the state championships last year.
[[In-content Ad]]To reach the state championships last season, the Lions were third in the Region 11 Championships held at Pickerington North High School. FHS has raced as a team at regionals the past four seasons, as they've also won three consecutive district championships.
Also running at state last year were Wyatt Evans, Dustin Willey, Trent Swisher, Matthew Leach and Mason Cain.
Seniors this year are Willey and Leach. The team has no juniors and the sophomores are Evans, Swisher, Dillon Burley, Lane Frost and Mason Cain.
Freshmen this season are: Matthew Mangus, Noah Richmond, Nick Price, Tucker Ayres and Andrew Davis.
The top team in the first Division III poll of the season is McDonald, who tallied 170 votes. The rest of the Top 10 are: Maplewood, Summit Country Day, Garaway, Liberty Center, Columbus Grove, Russia, Seneca East, St. Thomas Aquinas and Lincolnview.
Fairfield received eight votes to make the rankings list. Last season, the Lions finished 19th in the final Division III state poll.
In the Division II boys rankings, area school Unioto (Ross County) was ranked 19th.
For the complete list, click here.
FHS opens their '14 varsity cross-country season on Saturday, Aug. 23 in a meet held at Wilmington College at 9 a.m. They will follow that with a race on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Hillsboro's Liberty Park in the Ohio Classic, also at 9 a.m.
The Lions will also host the annual Highland County Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. The Southern Hills Athletic Conference Championships will be held on Oct. 11 at Ripley High School at 10 a.m.
Currently, the Lions are scheduled to race in seven regular-season events.
Follow sports editor Stephen Forsha on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.