Cross country: Top runners, teams to beat at 2024 conference meets

High school cross country conference championships for the 2024 season are scheduled to place this week, beginning with the Toledo Area Athletic Conference meet on Wednesday and the remaining Toledo-area leagues running on Saturday.

Here are the top times this season and teams to beat in the local Ohio conferences, according to available results.

TOLEDO AREA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

When : Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.

Where : Maumee Valley Country Day School

Top boys : Joe Mayer-Heckathorn, Ottawa Hills (season best 16:22.49); Ian Jones, Ottawa Hills (17:03.60); Kaed Egan, Ottawa Hills (17:11.80).

Boys team to beat : Ottawa Hills

Top girls: Natalie Nixon, Ottawa Hills (19:38.10); Emily Chen, Ottawa Hills (20:29.00); Isabella Stueve, Maumee Valley (20:33.95).

Girls team to beat: Ottawa Hills

CITY LEAGUE

When : Saturday, 9 a.m.

Where : Collins Park Golf Course

Top boys : Elias Valdez, Waite (16:40.30); Brett Retzloff, Bowsher (17:50.40); Oscar Valdez, Waite (19:02.20).

Boys team to beat: Rogers

Top girls: Faith Forrest-Townsend, Start (20:33.47); Samantha Zadrazil, Start (24:37.20); Amia Love, Rogers (24:38.00).

Girls team to beat : Rogers

NORTHERN LAKES LEAGUE

When : Saturday, 9 a.m.

Where : Walsh Park in Fremont

Top boys: Anthony Clark, Perrysburg (15:16:18); Adrian Stechschulte, Findlay (15:38.28); Erek Kendrick, Bowling Green (15:46.50).

Boys teams to beat: Perrysburg, Bowling Green.

Top girls: Ava Beeks, Perrysburg (18:20.31); Gwen Huddle, Napoleon (18:31.40); Lily Good, Whitmer (18:35.40).

Girls teams to beat: Perrysburg, Bowling Green.

NORTHERN BUCKEYE CONFERENCE

When : Saturday, 10 a.m.

Where : Oak Harbor High School

Top boys : Wesley Kellermeier, Otsego (16:22.37); Micah Balsmeyer, Lake (16:25.60); Nathan Strahm, Otsego (16:38.39).

Boys team to beat: Otsego

Top girls: Leah Emch, Eastwood (18:39.57); Stella Rethman, Genoa (20:05.50); Arriana Dugan, Maumee (20:20.20).

Girls team to beat: Eastwood

NORTHWEST OHIO ATHLETIC LEAGUE

When : Saturday, 9 a.m.

Where : Swanton High School

Top boys: Daniel Sintobin, Delta (16:31.90); Konnor Hawkins, Delta (16:33.43); Braydon Buchanan, Bryan (16:35.00).

Boys team to beat: Bryan

Top girls: Ella Rhoades, Wauseon (18:31.19); Josilyn Welch, Delta (18:51.00); Kate Thormeier, Bryan (19:11.00).

Girls teams to beat: Archbold, Patrick Henry.