Jonathan Alder set to hit the ground running in fifth consecutive state appearance

It may be the fifth time is the charm in Pioneer Country as Jonathan Alder gets set to compete during the 2022 OHSAA girls state cross country meet.

The final meet of this year’s cross-country season will mark the fifth consecutive appearance for Jonathan Alder’s program.

Coach Justin Creps said he’s confident in his team’s ability and fortitude that it will give it their all.

“It’s been a good week,” Creps said about the unit’s preparation ahead of their final race. “We kind of keep things in perspective this week.

Jonathan Alder senior Eliza Streit (2231) competes during the 2022 OHSAA State Cross Country Championships.

“We know that we have a big meet and we try to keep our routine similar to what we’ve been doing.”

Typically, prior to each season, the team lists three goals it wants to accomplish, which include winning the league, the district and the ultimate goal of reaching the state meet.

 “We’ve accomplished all three of those things this year,” Creps said. “This week has kind of been a weird week of celebrating those accomplishments but still remembering we got some work to do and run some races that we are proud of.”

While reaching for the ultimate prize of a state title is the preeminent goal for any sports team, it is also about the journey which defines athletes in their ability to overcome obstacles.

With it being the team’s fifth year participating in the state meet, the Lady Pioneers will feature just two seniors on a mostly freshmen and sophomore-filled team.

“We are one of only 14 girls programs in the whole state to be going for at least five years,” Creps said. “We have a new cast of characters who’ve stepped up to the legacy that some of our alumni have been.”

The Lady Pioneers’ lineup will feature the likes of seniors Eliza Streit and Avery Wynk, sophomores Kalyn Greiner and Lauren Wynk and the freshmen trio Megan Ahner, Addison Ranly and Ella Luker.

“Five of our top seven are freshmen and sophomores,” Creps said.

Looking back, there was some hesitation from Creps on whether the team could reach the ability to compete at Fortress Obetz this year, given its youth.

However, there were moments that gave him confidence that the talent is there.

Earlier this season, the Lady Pioneers participated in the Panther Invitational at Pickerington High School North. Noting the meet’s difficult nature, given that it’s also the site for the regional course, the Lady Pioneers earned first place.

“They were the D-II champs in that one,” Creps said. “I don’t think we’ve ever won that one before — it is usually a pretty tough one.”

After walking away with the Panther Invitational’s first-place hardware, JA’s confidence grew.

“We know we can run well on Pickerington’s course,” Creps said, noting that four weeks later the team punched its ticket to the state meet on the same course.

This year’s OHSAA state meet will be held at Fortress Obetz — the same site as last season. The course is a total of 5,000 meters long from start to finish,

Part of it runs through the grandstands of the former Crew soccer stadium.

With the potential of holding up to 6,500 people in its bleachers, several spectators will be there applauding runners as they traverse the state route in hopes of claiming the title.

Creps and the team ventured to the multi-purpose stadium Thursday to preview the course. For those who haven’t seen the layout, some aspects of its terrain can be challenging.

“We feel strongly about knowing the course and strategizing about it,” Creps said. “It’s especially true of Obetz… it’s about controlling your emotions.”

The meet is organized to be a spectator-friendly course with runners jaunting a quarter of a mile before the first sight of spectators.

They’ll see more fans in another two miles. While the cheers can help runners stay motivated, it can also be a curse.

“You can sometimes throw off your pacing,” Creps said about the spectators adding extra motivation.

Today, the team will make its routine run through Plain City with a police escort to guide them. The last run before the state meet has become a tradition, which started as a surprise but has now become.

Creps encourages JA fans make the trip on Saturday to support their Lady Pioneers.

“We are just really proud of the girls,” Creps said. “Five years in a row is a really cool accomplishment.”