State Tournament Media Information: The following information was prepared to assist you with your coverage of the upcoming OHSAA cross state championships. Please contact Tim Stried ([email protected] or 614-267-2502, ext. 124) at the OHSAA office if you have additional questions. State qualifiers and additional information will be posted on the OHSAA web site the week of the state championships.
Date and Location: Saturday, November 2, 2024. The state championships venue is Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park, located at 4175 Alum Creek Drive, Obetz, OH 43207 (southeast side of Columbus).
Schedule for Nov. 2, 2024:
10 a.m. - Division III Girls
10:45 a.m. - Division III Boys
11:15 p.m. - Division III Awards
Noon - Division II Girls
12:45 p.m. - Division II Boys
1:15 p.m. - Division II Awards
2 p.m. - Division I Girls
2:45 p.m. - Division I Boys
3:15 p.m. - Division I Awards
Media Credentials for the State Championships: Media shall use the OHSAA’s official cross country credential application form and send it (via email or fax) to Tim Stried at [email protected] or fax 614-267-1677. The deadline is noon on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Credentials will be held for pickup near Gate E, which is located on the south side of the facility. All media must show company identification to pick up their credential. No credentials will be issued to school, student, parent or freelance photographers who have not been assigned by a credentialed media outlet.
Your Hosts: The Tournament Manager at Fortress Obetz is Steve Adams. The OHSAA cross country administrator is B.J. Duckworth. The media director is Tim Stried.
Confirmation Email and Approved List: Upon processing a credential application, the OHSAA will send a confirmation email to the media outlet. In addition, a list of those media members who have been approved for credentials will be posted on the credential information webpage at OHSAA.org.
Parking: Approved media shall park in the South Gravel Lot near Gate E. Media will enter through Gate E to receive their credential.
Media Work Space, Wireless Access, Internet Connections: Media desiring a work space at Fortress Obetz shall go to the media work room located near Gate E on the south side of the facility. The work room closes 60 minutes after the Division I awards have concluded.
Interviews: Student-athletes and coaches may be interviewed following their races, but media are asked to give the competitors time to recover after a race. Interviews are commonly done after the awards presentations. Interviews are permitted in the blacktop area beyond the finish line, or around the podium area close to the grandstand
Format: All six races are 5,000 meters. Teams and individuals will qualify for the state championships at their respective regional tournaments.
Results: The link for live results will be posted on the OHSAA website. Printed results will not be provided.
Media Policies: Coaches, school staff, freelance photographers and parents of competitors are not permitted to receive media credentials. Media outlets found to be in violation could be subject to reduced access at future OHSAA state tournaments.