Where: Fortress Obetz, 4175 Alum Creek Drive, Obetz, 4320 BOYS Division I When: 2 p.m. Area team qualifiers: Mentor, Chardon What to watch: Mason comes in as the team favorite with 236 points in the final state poll. The race for second is between Little Miami and St. Xavier as the two are separated by one point. Westerville North is also in contention. Mentor has had the lead on Chardon between the area teams this season and is the same in the final state poll. The Cardinals are 15th, and the Hilltoppers are 19th. Tippecanoe’s Landon Kimmel comes in with the fastest time of the season with a 14:58.88. Mentor features four-time state qualifier Billy Dennison, who is looking for revenge after a rough meet at Obetz a season ago. He was All-Ohio a season ago and aims to be the first Mentor runner on the podium since Matt Bull in 2016. Matthew Penkowski also has a strong chance to earn All-Ohio honors as they aim to be the first Mentor duo to earn All-Ohio honors since Steven Schulz and Jimmy Hudd in 2008, who were ninth and 10th. Chardon recovered from a turbulent season with a third straight team advancement. The Hilltoppers’ best chances of runners earning All-Ohio honors are with the brothers Caleb and Jacob Nieset, but Josh Calzada is another one to keep tabs on after a strong regional showing. Division II When: Noon Area team qualifiers: Chagrin Falls Area individual qualifiers: Owen Thomas, NDCL, Jacob Williams, West Geauga What to watch: This team race is going to be a battle all the way through. Fairfield Union comes in as the favorite, with Woodridge, Lexington and West Liberty Salem not far behind. A rough end to the regional meet for Bay knocked it lower in the poll, but the Rockets are still strong contenders. Chagrin Falls will be in the middle of the pack after an anomaly of a regional meet. The Tigers at full strength will have the trio of Tommy Mooney, Kelan Byrne and Zach Huey in contention for All-Ohio spots. Thomas has been impressive in his postseason push. He has a strong chance to be the Lions’ first All-Ohio runner since Anthony Ciecierski in 2022. Williams will be in the midpack but if the junior can keep things close through the third mile, an early kick and if he can make it stick could result in him earning All-Ohio honors. GIRLS Division I When: 2:45 p.m. Area individual qualifiers: Briella Hewitt, Chardon What to Watch: An intriguing team race could be worth the price of admission. Lancaster comes in as the team favorite ahead of Hilliard Davidson. But they are in a nine-way battle for the runner-up honors. Perrysburg, Talawanda, Mason, Lakota West, Dublin Jerome, Milford, Wadsworth and Avon are all within 100 points of Hilliard Davison. Individually, Brook Chapman of Olentangy Orange and Daniela Sheffler of Uniontown Lake are separated by two seconds, but Kaitlyn Reese of Avon also has a strong shot. Hewitt will be a part of the larger chase pack. But if she follows the formula that she created at regional, making her move strategically and be at the lead of a pack, All-Ohio honors are there for the taking for the junior and at worst a strong chance to break 19 for the first time in her career. Division II When: 12:45 p.m. Area individual qualifiers: Gabby Byrne, Chagrin Falls, Brianna McIvor, Kenston, Holly Vis, Perry, Brielle Collins, Hawken, Sasha Kheyfets, Beachwood What to watch: Minerva, Athens, Hathaway Brown and Lexington are all battling for the team title, with Minerva and Athens as the slight favorites. The individual title race is going to be interesting to track. Sophia Szolosi of Athens comes in as the favorite as the only runner who broke 18 this season. But the flat fast course of Fortress Obetz is one that leads to PRs and strong showings every season. Byrne will once again be in contention not just for All-Ohio honors, but a spot high up on the podium. McIvor, Collins and Kheyfets all are looking for their second All-Ohio finishes. The Bombers’ and Hawks’ seniors are in strong positions to try and end their careers on a high note, both with chances to break 19. If Kheyfets can work her way to the front of the case packs and not get boxed in, a strong run nets her a second honor. Vis hopes that third time is the charm, and if the Pirates’ senior gets out well and can hold her ground, that’s a good cap to her career. Division III When: 10:45 a.m., Nov. 2 Area team qualifiers: Kirtland What to Watch: While four teams come in separated by 22 points, the team title race is between Minster and Rittman. The two are separated by a point in the state poll, and a spot or two can change the top spot on the podium. Kirtland has the young runners who are ready for the challenges going into the meet, but with a top-heavy field it’s going to interesting with how the Hornets can work through the field. The individual title is even tighter than the team race. Caroline Hamilton of Legacy Christan and Rebecca Geiss of Heartland Christian are separated by .17 in seeds and come in as co-favorites. But don’t count out Kaitlyn Carr of Smithville, Mia Amador of Patrick Henry and Naomi Sheesley of McDonald. Last year’s race had a five-runner breakaway but Reese Landis, who led the first two miles of the meet, finished fourth behind Geiss and Carr. Izzie Copeland has the chance to earn All-Ohio honors but will need to tackle the one hill on the course well while having the flat portions controlled.