LEXINGTON — If he keeps this pace up, Nick Stricklen may need to hire a travel secretary. The Lexington junior has been chasing state titles all across Ohio.
The Richland Source Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, Stricklen finished eighth in the Division II state meet earlier this month at National Trail Raceway in Kirkersville. It was his second straight trip to the state cross country meet after finishing fifth as a sophomore.
In between he qualified for the state swimming and diving championship as a member of two relay teams and the state track and field meet in Columbus, where he finished third in the 3,200 meter run.
He picked up this fall where he left off last spring. Stricklen finished first at the Galion district (15:51.79) and at the Tiffin regional (16:02.82). His eighth-place time of 16:12.72 at this year’s state meet was nine second faster than last year, when he finished fifth in 16:21.72.
“I was three places worse, but I had a stronger race than last year,” Stricklen said. “It’s just disappointing that it was a tougher state meet this year.”
The Minutemen finished fourth in the team standings and four of Sticklen’s teammates, seniors Zane Sturts and Quinton Glenn and freshmen Ryan Johnston and Forest Volz, joined him on the Richland Source team.
Sturts was an All-Ohioan for a second time after finishing 24th in 16:29.96. He was fourth as a junior in 16:18.94. Sturts was fourth at the Galion district (16:26.51) and third at the Tiffin regional (16:15.30).
Glenn was 20th at the Galion district (17:24.80) and 26th at Tiffin (17:17.69). He capped his career with a 17:35.64 at state.
Johnston established himself as one of the top young runners in the area. He finished 20th at state in 16:25.72 after taking second at the district meet (16:00.76) and fifth at the regional (16:21.49).
Volz was 63rd at state in 17:06.22. He was 10th at sectional (16:53.43) and 30th at regional (17:23.94).
Ontario’s Brett Cortelletti and Crestview’s A.J. Trent also earned spots on the All-Richland Source team.
Cortelletti earned the final All-Ohio spot in the Division II state meet. He finished 25th in 16:31.39. Cortelletti was third behind Stricklen and Johnston at the Galion district (16:05.88) and eighth at the Tiffin regional (16:24.24).
Like Cortelletti, Trent grabbed the final All-Ohio spot in the Division III race. He was 25th in 16:40.97. Trent was third at the Galion district (16:28.97) and eighth at the Youngstown regional (16:58.72).
