2002outprevnwd3

    This is easily the most talented and exciting regional for div.III across the state.
      In the 4x800 look for Bluffton to capture the title, but they will be pushed hard by Columbus Grove. Both teams return all their runners. Last season the team of Carrie Fett, Allison Reddick, Lydia Bingham, and Keri Hilty led Bluffton to a 6th place state finish. While Tricia May, Megan Schroeder, Lauren Slusser, Brittany Begg led Grove to 7th. After them look for Hopewell-Loudon to imporve on their 12th place finish of a year ago behind Amy Jacobs, Leah Miller, Carime Reinhart, and Nikki Jones. I would be surprised if the last spot is not filled by Seneca East, Spencerville or Liberty Benton.
      In the 800, state champion, Lauren Slusser, from Grove has a clear path to the title as the next 5 top runner from last year have graduated on the state level. Slusser returns with a 2:13 PR and little competition. Jessica Ordway went 2:21 last year, but struggled through something this XC season and never got things together.
       In the 1600 it will be a shootout between Jessica Ordway (if healthy), Angela Homan of Spencerville, and Reinhart of Hopewell-Loudon. Ordway has the best PR in 5:04.53, but Homan is only a second behind and Reinhart's 5:08.51 is not indicative of how much she has closed the gap on Olding, Ordway, and Homan from last year.
     In the 3200, you have to look at Homan as the favorite. State Champion last year in 10:59, State XC Champ by 6 seconds over Reinhart in 17:53, she clearly has the will and experience to win. Reinhart will be right there as well. Seneca East's Stephanie Phillips along with Kristen Elmlinger should both contend for the last two spots. Spencerville's Emily Reindel cannot be overlooked after a solid XC season and a year of training with Homan. Same goes for Amy Jacobs of Hopewell-Loudon.
      A lot of the matchups in this regional depend on the ability of Jessica Ordway to return to her form of last year and shake off a disappointing XC season where she simply didn't seem herself. If she does it sets up a tougher region for Homan and Reinhart, giving Olding, who is south in Troy the easier path to the State meet.