Jonathan Alder’s girls cross-country team will compete today during the Division II state meet in Columbus. Members of the squad are from left, front row, Avery Wynk, Eliza Streit, Emma Kennedy, Evie McDaniel, Morgan Hicks, Reagan Gray and Maddie Davis. (Photo submitted)
Jonathan Alder High School cross-country coach Justin Creps went into the 2020 season with big expectations.
“We returned the majority of our team that qualified to the state meet last year, so making it back to states for a third straight year was definitely an expectation,” he said.
The Lady Pioneers qualified for today’s Division II state meet with a fourth-place spot last week in the regional competition.
Alder placed 16th during last year’s state meet.
Creps described what his squad has been about this fall.
“Our team is a group of hard-working, fun-loving girls who care an awful lot about each other,” he said. “There’s a lot of talent on our squad as well, but I think those other traits come first with our team.
“We’ve also been very competitive all season.”
Jonathan Alder has been led by its top two runners in Morgan Hicks and Eliza Streit.
Hicks placed third during last week’s regional with a time of 19:19.4.
Streit was 12th in 19:45.9.
Creps knows the Lady Pioneers will have to bring their “A” race to the state competition.
“To do well our team will need to run its best today,” he said. “From a strategic standpoint, our No. 3 (Maddie Davis) and No. 5 (Regan Gray) spots in the line-up probably have the most opportunity to gain points by running what they’re capable of doing.”
The Alder coach said Hicks has the potential to earn a trip to the awards stand as one of the top 20 individual finishers.
“I definitely think a top 10 finish is possible for Morgan,” said Creps.
“She’s capable of running with and/or beating all but maybe three-to-five girls in the state.
“She’s been really tough in battling through nagging injuries all season, so I’m already so proud of her no matter how she runs,” he said.
“Hopefully she’s feeling good and improves upon her 15th place state finish from last year,” said Creps. “That high up on the podium, anything can happen and a lot will come down to which of those elite girls have their best day.
“Division II in the girls category this year is about as talented and deep as I’ve ever seen in my time as coach.”
Regardless of where the Lady Pioneers finish later today, Creps said he wants them to put their best foot forward.
“My goal is always that we leave the meet with no regrets, knowing we did everything we possibly could to run our best,” he said. “Beyond that, cross country goals can be a little misleading.
“I’d love to see us in the top 10, which would easily be our best finish ever,” he said. “We also have some local rivals we always try to go out and compete well against and the Central District will be represented well at the state meet.”
Granville, Bexley and Buckeye Valley will join JA from the Central District in the state meet.