OHSAA Announces Cross Country Divisions and Contract with Obetz

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OHSAA Announces Cross Country Divisions and Contract with Obetz
Four divisions and three-year contract with Obetz highlight upcoming cross country season

COLUMBUS, Ohio – With cross country expanding to four divisions this fall, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced the new divisional breakdowns, along with a new three-year contract with Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park to host three OHSAA cross country events each fall.

Divisional breakdowns for the fall sports of golf, girls tennis, soccer and girls volleyball will be announced on Monday. The 2025 football divisional breakdowns and regional playoff assignments will be announced next Thursday, May 1.

Since 2020, the OHSAA has annually held three cross country events at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park in Southeast Columbus, including the Early Season Invitational in mid-August, the 7th-8th Grade Invitational in mid-October and the high school Cross Country State Championships on the first Saturday in November. The contract extension with Obetz is for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 seasons.

“Obetz has been such a great host for our three cross country events,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director. “The stadium and park have proven to be a fantastic venue for our student-athletes to compete. We appreciate all the work that goes into all three events and are excited to be there for the next three years.”

As announced in January, the OHSAA will expand cross country from three to four divisions this fall. The breakdowns for the new four-division format were approved by the OHSAA Board of Directors at its April meeting on Thursday. The 2025 divisional breakdowns are posted at: https://www.ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Cross-Country/2025-Cross-Country

2025 Cross Country Season Dates
Practice Begins – August 1
Early Season Invitational at Obetz – August 16
Season Begins – August 18
Non-Interscholastic Date – September 29
7th-8th Grade Invitational at Obetz – October 19
District Tournaments – October 18
Regional Tournaments – October 25
State Championships at Obetz – November 1
 
 
Do we have any updates on when they'll announce the tournament regulations for the four-division format? I'll be coaching in Division 4 Central District and we're down to 15 teams, so I'm curious what the regional qualifying requirements will be.
 
*A coin flip to break a tie in Division III resulted in Boardman remaining at 7 representatives going to the state tournament and Tiffin going from 5 to 4 representatives to the state tournament.

A coin flip?
 
Do you have a better way to do this? You can't take half a team from each region.

Usually these numbers are on a two year rotation and next year the Tiffin region will get the spot.
 
Altor said:
Do you have a better way to do this? You can't take half a team from each region.

Usually these numbers are on a two year rotation and next year the Tiffin region will get the spot.
Click to expand...
I believe there is a new enrollment count next year so likely be quite a few changes.
 
CC Track Fan said:
I believe there is a new enrollment count next year so likely be quite a few changes.
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Fair enough, but that is their modus operandi when there's a equal number like that... one region gets the spot one year and the other gets the spot the second year. Use a coin to determine which gets which. Seems as fair and equitable as anything.
 
Altor said:
Fair enough, but that is their modus operandi when there's a equal number like that... one region gets the spot one year and the other gets the spot the second year. Use a coin to determine which gets which. Seems as fair and equitable as anything.
Click to expand...
I had no issue with flipping the coin. No better way to break a tie. I guess they could have done rock/paper/scissors. ;)
 
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