The meet was held at Scioto Downs for 26 years and saw crowds of 10,000 spectators, making it one of the largest cross country meets in the nation.
In June, Ohio governor John Kasich approved a deal that would allow slot machines for seven horse racing tracks across the state. Scioto Downs then told the OHSAA they couldn’t accommodate certain requests during the meet — like shutting off its slot machines.
The OHSAA moved quickly to find a new location. The drag racing facility can hold 15,000 spectators in two different grandstands.
The state meet will be held Nov. 5.
While most area cross country coaches said they’d miss Scioto Downs, they’re hoping the new course will bring them good luck.
“We’re definitely going to miss the atmosphere at Scioto Downs because it’s just electrifying in there,” said Shawnee coach Brian DeSantis, whose boys team finished 14th in Division II a year ago.
“We like the fact that there’s a new venue. We feel like teams like Chillicothe Unioto and Peninsula Woodridge, that state course had become like their home meet. They’d gotten so good up there. We’re kind of thinking with the new course, it’s a good time for a change. We don’t have any bad memories of this new course like we do with Scioto Downs.”
West Liberty-Salem coach Ann Vogel felt the same way. Her girls team finished fourth in Division III in 2010 and advanced the last two years in a row.
“The atmosphere was incredible,” Vogel said. “There was nothing like it. But the course itself ... it was mediocre at best. I don’t really have any emotions about it. If the state meet’s in Alaska, we’re going to go run where ever it is.”
She’s hoping the OHSAA can keep the same environment at Hebron. However, there’s still not a mapped out course at National Trail, so no one knows what to expect.
“There’s nothing better than walking to the start line before the race (and seeing the crowd of 10,000 fans at Scioto Downs),” Vogel said. “I always tell the girls, ‘Look! There’s all these people and signs.’ ”
Greenon coach Kim Wise said she was disappointed to leave Scioto Downs after so many years.
She advanced to the first state meet at Scioto Downs as a sophomore runner at Olmsted Falls near Cleveland in 1985. Last year, her Knights girls team advanced for the second straight season, running in the final meet at Scioto Downs.
“It’s cool to kind of come full circle,” Wise said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365, mcooper@coxohio.com or on Twitter @SNS_Wizard.
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