Marysville High School freshman Brynn Hothem practices prior to the 2019 state cross-country meet. The state meet will switch locations beginning next fall. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
There will be a new venue late next fall when the top high school cross-country runners from around Ohio will gather to compete for state honors.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced this week the state championships will move to Fortress Obetz.
A five-year deal between the OHSAA and the facility was announced.
The state meet had been held at National Trail Raceway from 2011-2019.
“We knew the change was coming,” said Marysville High School coach Luke Sundermeier. “There were some logistical issues at National Trail.”
National Trail is located 20 miles east of Columbus in Hebron and presented some challenges in holding state championship meets for both boys and girls in three separate divisions.
“It was difficult to get into the facility from the highway (U.S. 40) and it was tough to find enough parking spaces,” said Sundermeier. “Last year, they had also already put up a display of Christmas lights and you had to drive or run through those.”
The Monarch coach also said the layout at National Trail wasn’t the best for coaches to keep track of their runners.
“We coaches had to do a lot of running ourselves in order to watch our athletes compete,” he said. “Runners also went through the woods only once, so it really wasn’t a true type of cross-country atmosphere.”
Fortress Obetz opened in 2017 on the former site of the Columbus Motor Speedway.
It is a 50–acre multi-purpose sports complex with a 6,500-seat grandstand located on the southeast side of Columbus.
The grandstand includes 1,100 flip-down seats, 2,000 bench-back seats and 3,400 bleacher seats.
The racing that will now take place there in early November will represent one of the largest high school cross-country events in the country, with more than 11,000 fans in attendance.
Much of the course will be visible from the grandstands, which Sundermeier said will lead to a greater experience for fans and participants.
“I like the idea of changing things,” said Sundermeier. “We all miss Scioto Downs, but National Trail served a purpose.”
The OHSAA held its state cross-country meet at Scioto Downs from 1985 through 2010, before the facility added a casino.
The organization did not want to associate school sports with any gambling facility.
That prompted the OHSAA to make the move to National Trail.
Sundermeier said he doesn’t know much about the layout of Fortress, Obetz.
“I’ve just seen some pictures,” he said.
“The big grandstand will give the state meet a stadium-type of atmosphere,” he said. “If nothing else, it should generate excitement.
“It will also give our cross-country runners something in which to work toward, given the current craziness (of the coronavirus pandemic).”