LEXINGTON, Ohio — Those confidence problems that gnawed at Nick Stricklen as a junior must seem like a distant memory now.
The two-time Richland Source Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, Stricklen put the finishing touches on a spectacular cross country career with a third-place finish at the Division II state meet earlier this month at National Trail Raceway. The senior finished in 15 minutes, 43.2 seconds, leading the Minutemen to an unlikely team title.
Ranked third in the pre-state coaches poll, Lex scored 54 points to easily outdistance runner-up Tippecanoe (77). It was the first boys cross country team title in school history.
“It seemed like the only people who believed in us were our coaches and some of the parents,” Stricklen said shortly after collecting the team trophy. “To come in today and everyone racing to their full potential … is just unbelievable.”
Individually, Stricklen earned his third podium finish at the state meet. He was fifth as a sophomore and eighth as a junior.
Stricklen ran a faster time at state as a junior than he did as a sophomore, but slipped down the podium. The same thing happened in track, where he finished third in the 3,200 meter run as a sophomore and sixth as a junior despite running 11 seconds faster last spring.
“I’ve got to believe in myself. I had problems with that last year,” Stricklen admitted earlier this season. “I wasn’t happy with my junior year. I was happy with the times, but I didn’t place as well at state as I would have wanted to.
“My sophomore year state placing at cross country and track were both better than my state placing as a junior.”
Stricklen surprised himself by winning the Ohio High School Athletic Association Early Season Invitational in August. He captured sectional and district titles and ran a personal best 15:17 at the Galion Cross Country Festival.
Stricklen led a Lexington sweep on the All-Richland Source team. He is joined by teammates Ryan Johnston, Forest Volz, Kyle Johnston and Bailey Stach.
A junior, Ryan Johnston was on Stricklen’s heels all season long. He was second at the Galion district (15:50) and second at the Tiffin regional (15:43.8) before finishing fourth at the state meet in 15:47.6.
A sophomore, Volz was Lexington’s trusty No. 3 runner. He was fourth at the Galion district (16:24) and seventh at the Tiffin regional (16:16.4). Volz earned a podium finish at state, finishing 13th in 16:09.6.
Lexington’s remarkable postseason run began to take shape when freshman Kyle Johnston returned from a freak foot injury. He finished 12th at the Galion sectional (17:06) and 27th at the Tiffin regional (16:55.7). The younger Johnston saved his best for last, running a 16:30.2 at the state meet, good for 31st place.
Nobody came up bigger at the state meet than Stach, a soccer convert. The senior was 15th at the Galion district (17:23) and 25th at the Tiffin district (16:51.1) before running a 16:41.6 at state, finishing 45th.
