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 6, 2021. 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 Saturday, Nov. 6:
9 a.m. - Division III Girls
10 a.m. - Division III Boys
Noon - Division II Girls
1 p.m. - Division II Boys
3 p.m. - Division I Girls
4 p.m. - Division I Boys
Media Credentials for the State Championships: Media shall use the OHSAA’s official cross country credential application form and send it (via fax or email) to Tim Stried at
[email protected] or fax 614-267-1677. The deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2. 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 John Kuzio. 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 last race has 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 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. Five teams from each of the four regional tournaments (20 teams total) will qualify in each division. Individuals not a qualifying team who finish in the top 20 positions will also qualify in each division.
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.