Perfect November cross-country weather greeted 448 boys from 142 schools and 452 girls from 152 schools who participated in the 79th Boys and 30th Girls Ohio High School Athletic Association State Cross Country Championships. Thousands of fans enjoyed the weather, the six races and perhaps the country's best High School State Cross Country Championships.

The Girls Division III race was the first championships of the day as runners started in the infield of the Scioto Downs race track and looped around the first 1200 meters before heading out and running on the south side of the property grassy are. The runners would return to the infield around the mile and three quarter mark and run in front of the cheering fans in the grandstands. The runners then exited the infield just after the two-mile mark and would run the hilly north part of the course. The final 600 meters was again run in the infield, as the runners would finish in front of the grandstands.

Barnesville's junior Stephanie Morgan who won the Division III 1600 meters and 3200 meters in last spring Track Championships took the lead early and ran away form the field to win in 17:27. Morgan who place fifth last year, winning time was the fastest Division III time since 1982 Jackson Milton's Patty Metzler (17:17). Fort Laramie's freshman Janel Olberding (18:28) took home runner up honors. Bellaire St John Central's senior Natalie Perzanowski (18:38) moved up one spot from last year to finish third. Attica Seneca East's freshman Brittany Stcokmaster (18:50) and Ottoville's freshman Shayla Siefker (18:51) rounded out the top five.

Versailes (119) which placed fourth in the Regional Championships a week early on their strength of their fifth runner won the Girls Division III team title by one point over Gates Mills Gilmour Academy. Minster (124), Bureton Berkshire (136) and Fort Laramie (145) rounded out the top five teams.

Cleveland Heights Beaumont's senior Emily Infeld who set Division I records in the 1600 meters and 800 meters in last year State Track Championships ran away with the Division II championships to easily defend her title with her 17:30 clocking. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit's junior Chelsea Oswald (18:12) and Kettering Archbishop Alter's senior Hilary Esselstein (18:28) each improved five spots from last year to finish second and third respectfully. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit's junior Katie Gillespie (18:28) and Perry's freshman Abbie Clifford (18:32) finished next.

Kettering Archbishop Alter improved on their 2006 runner up finish with the team title with 94 points. Cuyahoga Valley Christian (111) took home runner up honors while Cleveland Heights Beaumont (123) took home third. Defiance (125) and West Milton-Milton Union (131) finished next.

Worthington Kilbourne's senior Clair Durkin who in last year's Division State Track Championships placed second in the 1600 meters and won the 3200 meters to improve on her third place finish last year to captured the individual crown with her 17:10.51. Durkin's time broke the Division I State 1992 meet record of Salem's Jenni Brown (17:15.3). The all time girls State record is 1996 Cleveland Heights Beaumont Katy Radkewick 16:59.8. Cincinnati Oak Hills' junior Brooklyn Ridder (17:38) repeated her 2006 runner up finish. Springboro's freshman Carly Hamilton (18:12) finished third. Massillon Jackson's senior Emily Pritt repeated her 2006 fourth place finish. Hilliard Darby's senior Erika Alpeter (18:21) improved seven spots from last year to place fifth.

Brecksville Broadview Heights improved on their 2006 sixth place finish to win the Division I team title with 115 points. Rocky River Magnificat (120) improved two spots from last year to take home runner up honors. Massillon Jackson finished third with 132 points. North Canton Hoover (147) and Cincinnati Colerain (151) rounded out the top five.

Dayton Christian's senior twins John and Walter Luttrell battle each other the final mile before Walter overtook his brother in the final stretch to win by less than a half of second with his 15:34 clocking. In last years race John was eighth and Walter was ninth, while at the State Track Championships Walter won the 3200 meters while his brother was third. Louisville St Thomas Aquinas's senior Tony Migliozzi (15:47) improved two spots from last year to take home the bronze. East Canton's senior James Gibson (15:56) improved nineteen spots from 2006 to finish fourth. Andover Pymatuning Valley's senior Landon Hamilton (15:57) improved twelve spots from last year to place fifth.

Louisville St Thomas Aquinas easily defended their team title as they won with 54 points. McDonald improved one team spot from 2006 to take home the runner up trophy with 118 points. Russia improved ten spots to finish third with 124 points. Bellaire St John Central (185) improved one spot from last year to place fourth while Garfield Heights Trinity (195) finished fifth.

2007 Division II 1600 meters State Champion Sandusky Perkins' senior Cory Leslie (15:33) improved seven spots from last year to take home individual honors. Alliance Marlington's junior Jarrod Eick (15:57), who placed fifteenth last year, nipped Peninsula Woodridge's senior Brian Himelright, who placed third last year, by less than a second for runner up honors. Chillicothe Unioto's senior Galen Dills (15:50) moved up one spot from last year to place fourth. Vincent Warren's senior Tyler Cantley (15:51) improved twenty-seven spots from last year to place fifth.

Peninsula Woodridge repeated as Division II team Champions with 83 points. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (115) moved up four spots form 2006 to take home runner up team honors. Canal Winchester (132) moved down one spot from last year to take home the team bronze. Uhrichsville Claymont (150) improved six spots from last year to place fourth. Tipp City Tippecanoe and Mantua Crestwood both finished with 176 points and Tipp City Tippecanoe was award fifth place based on their sixth runner.

A pack of six runners hit the two-mile mark together making the final race of the day the most competitive race on the day. Medina's junior Donny Roys (15:21), who placed eighth last year, held off Cincinnati St Xavier's senior Dan Thaler (15:22), who placed seventeenth last year, to take home overall honors. Massillon Jackson's senior Dave Rafailedes (15:30) improved seventeenth spots from 2006 to finish third. Mason's freshman Zach Willis (15:32) took home fourth. Miamisburg's Greg Roeth (15:34) improved nine spots from lat year to place fifth.

Medina improved three team spots from last year to take home the Boys Division I team title with 76 points. Centerville (127) improved four spot from 2006 to captured runner up team honors. North Canton Hoover (157) and Brecksville-Broadview Heights (162) finished next. Last year's runner up Toledo St John's Jesuit (201) placed fifth.

Check out all of the results on the results section at: http://www.runohio.com/archive

Pictures from the OHSAA Cross Country Championships will be posted here: http://www.runseattle.com//runohio/OHSAA- xc-07/Untitled-1.html