In 19 years as Upper Arlington girls cross country coach, Dale Hartney has paid his way into the state championships at Scioto Downs only once.
The Golden Bears qualified as a team 16 times during that span, including big-school state championships in 1985, 1986 and 1990, and twice they were represented by individual runners.
With a state-ranked team that has yet to lose in 2004, Hartney is a safe bet to gain another free pass to Scioto Downs on Nov. 6.
"I think we’re certainly capable of finishing in the top 10 again and hopefully the top five," Hartney said. "I think we can run with most of the top-10 teams in Ohio. I know most of the girls have the same expectations I do."
Despite losing to graduation four of the top six runners from a team that placed seventh in the state, UA has won invitational titles at Newark, Lancaster, Watkins Memorial and Ashland this season.
Senior Katie Williams, with a season best of 19 minutes, 29 seconds, is the Golden Bears’ clear front-runner. Sophomores Kaitlyn Peale, Elizabeth Quinn and Molly Everett, junior Jodi Stewart and seniors Laura Armstrong and Alana Algothani usually are packed tightly between 20:00 and 20:30.
"Peale quit soccer to run for us and she’s been our No. 2 or 3 runner all season, and Armstrong — who was never in our top seven last year — has made unbelievable strides," Hartney said.
"I preach the pack approach and our Nos. 2 through 6 runners are really pushing one another hard, and we’ve got five more girls chasing our No. 7. That said, our varsity seven may not be set in stone yet. From that perspective, we can only get better."
Six of the top 10-ranked teams in the state coaches poll are from the Cincinnati area. Upper Arlington is ninth.
"I think we’re a little ahead of where we were last year at this time," Hartney said, "but only time will tell. We’ll learn a lot more in the next week or two."
The Golden Bears will compete against several stateranked teams in the Father Rudy Invitational on Saturday at Cincinnati Elder.
Bright skies ahead
Canal Winchester, the area’s top-ranked boys team in Division II, has placed first or second in five of its six invitationals this fall.
Junior front-runner Scott Wildermuth has consistently finished in less than 17 minutes. Sophomore Adam Wheeler and freshmen Cory Irwin, Tim Willard, Tyler Griffin and Nick Meidl hold down the next five spots.
"Those guys just keep beating each other and that’s a very good thing because they can only get better competing that hard," coach John Bender said.
"These guys went 135-0 in middle school and they give us a lot to look forward to in the upcoming years. Our first priority is to give them a taste of success this year to build on."