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 (tstried@ohsaa.org or 614-267-2502, ext. 124) at the OHSAA office if you have additional questions. Previews, state qualifiers and additional information will be posted on the OHSAA web site the week of the state championships.
Date, Location, Directions and Website: Saturday, Nov. 2 at National Trail Raceway, 2650 National Road SW, Hebron, OH 43025, www.NationalTrailRaceway.com. National Trail is located approximately 25 miles east of Columbus off Interstate 70. If coming from the west, take Exit 122 off I-70, turn left onto Outville Road (State Route 158), then in one mile turn right onto National Road (Route 40). If coming from the east, take Exit 126 off I-70, turn right onto Lancaster Road (State Route 37), then in one mile turn left onto National Road. Note that school transportation vehicles coming from the west should proceed to exit 126 so that they park in Lot A for participants.
Media Credentials for the State Championships: Media shall use the OHSAA’s official cross country credential application form and fax it to Tim Stried at 614-267-1677 (or scan and email it to tstried@ohsaa.org). The deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Credentials will be held for pickup near Gate B, which is located in front of the main tower at National Trail Raceway. All media must show company identification to pick up their credential. No credentials will be issued to school, student, parent or freelance photographers.
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: Media who receive a parking pass should use it to enter Gate B, which is located in front of the main tower at National Trail Raceway. The media credential pick-up location is on the east side of the tower.
Media Work Space, Wireless Access, Internet Connections: Media desiring a work space at National Trail shall go to Room 205 in the main tower. Wireless internet access is available in that room. See OHSAA or National Trail personnel inside Room 205 for the wireless pass code. The work room closes at 7 p.m.
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 permitted in the blacktop area beyond the finish line.
Format: All six races are 5,000 meters. Teams and individuals will qualify for the state championships at their respective regional tournaments on Oct. 26. Four teams from each of the four regional tournaments (16 teams total) will qualify in each division. Individuals not a qualifying team who finish in the top 16 positions will also qualify in each division.
Race Start Times:
11:00 a.m. - Division III Girls
11:45 a.m. - Division II Girls
12:30 p.m. - Division I Girls
1:30 p.m. - Division III Boys
2:15 p.m. - Division II Boys
3:00 p.m. - Division I Boys
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.
Your Hosts: Tournament Manager Terry Oehrtman, OHSAA Cross Country Administrator Dale Gabor, OHSAA Director of Communications Tim Stried and OHSAA Communications Intern Brendan Hall and Alexis Holderman will be at National Trail Raceway to assist the media.