The Thunderhawk senior and defending Ohio Division I state cross country champion turned in a time of 14:36.77 in the Midwest Meet of Champions at Hilliard Darby on Sept. 30, but he was outpaced by the defending Division II state champion, Buckeye Valley senior Zach Kreft, who finished more than seven seconds faster than Horter.
“That was an eye-opener for him,” Thomas said. “That could be an extra motivator.”
Horter is scheduled to open defense of his championship at the three-division, 10-race boys and girls district meet on Saturday at Voice of America Park in West Chester Township. The schedule includes two races each for Division I and Division II boys and girls and one race each for Division III boys and girls starting at 10 a.m.
Each first-place team will be considered to be a district champion.
St. Xavier goes into the Division I boys meet ranked No. 1 in the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches voting, while Greater Miami Conference champion Mason is No. 3. The Comets used a pack approach to capture the GMC title. Horter won the individual championship, followed by Middletown junior Conant Smith, who finished third in the state last season. Comet runners filled the next seven slots.
“I would’ve told you before the GMCs that it looked like St. Xavier has a very, very strong team,” Thomas said. “They still do, but the way Mason ran in the GMC was very impressive. Once the regional comes around, they’re going to be really strong. I know they’re well-coached.”
St. Xavier and Mason are the No. 1 seeds in their respective races. East is No. 3 and Lakota West fifth behind St. X.
Thomas’ East girls team goes into the meet ranked ninth in the state, behind No. 5 Ursuline and just ahead of Mason, which is tied for 10th. The Thunderhawks earned the No. 1 seed in their race, ahead of No. 2 Mason, in voting that took place before the Comets outran the Thunderhawks to capture the GMC girls championship.
“(Mason coach) Chip Dobson got his girls fired up for the GMC, and they ran a fantastic race there,” Thomas said. “Ursuline right now is the team to beat around here. If my girls all run to their capabilities, we’ll be in the mix in this area.”
Other local schools seeded fifth or better in their races include West at No. 4 in one Division I girls, Monroe No. 3 and Ross fifth in one Division II girls race, Badin No. 3 in the other Division II girls race and No. 5 in one Division II boys run, and Fenwick in the other Division II boys race.
The Division III races were not seeded.
Four teams and 16 individuals advance to the Division I boys regional meet next Saturday at Troy Memorial Stadium. Five teams and 20 individuals qualify in Division I girls, three teams and 12 individuals qualify out of each Division II boys race and one Division II girls race, while two teams and eight individuals will advance from the other girls race.
Four teams and 16 individuals qualify out of each Division III race.
The state meet is scheduled for Nov. 4 at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.
Besides the runner-up finish in September, Horter also could benefit this season from being pushed by a high-level competitor like Smith in his own league.
“Dustin’s No. 1 goal is repeating as state champ,” Thomas said. “We have a few guys on our list that cannot be taken lightly. Now that the postseason is here, we know that (Middletown coach David Fultz) will have Smith ready to go.
“Dustin ran a great race against him in the GMCs. Dustin is going to run his race at the state meet.”
District schedule
What: District boys and girls cross country meets
When: Saturday
Where: Voice of America Park, 7850 Voice of American Park Dr., West Chester Township; Cedarville University, 251 N. Main St., Cedarville
Voice of America races: Division I boys, Race 1 (Lakota East, Lakota West, Hamilton), 10 a.m.; Division I boys, Race 2 (Fairfield, Ross), 10:30 a.m.; Division I girls, Race 1 (Lakota West, Fairfield), 11 a.m.; Division I girls, Race 2 (Hamilton, Lakota East), 11:30 a.m.; Division II boys, Race 1 (Badin, Monroe), 12:30 p.m.; Division II boys, Race 2 (Fenwick, Madison), 1 p.m.; Division II girls, Race 1 (Monroe, Ross, Fenwick), 1:30 p.m.; Division II girls, Race B (Badin, Madison), 2:05 p.m.; Division III boys (Cincinnati Christian, Middletown Christian), 2:40 p.m.; Division III girls (Cincinnati Christian, Middletown Christian), 3:15 p.m.
Cedarville races: Division III girls, 10 a.m.; Division III boys, 10:45 a.m.; Division II girls (Carlisle), 11:30 a.m.; Division II boys (Carlisle), 12:15 p.m.; Division I girls (Edgewood, Franklin, Lebanon, Middletown, Talawanda), 1 p.m.; Division I boys (Edgewood, Lebanon, Franklin, Middletown, Talawanda), 1:45 p.m.
About the Author