Geiss keeps pace with the best
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DAYTON -- Heartland Christian sophomore Rebecca Geiss brought out the pink jersey Friday night for the first time since winning the cross county state title in it last fall.
"I save it for the state meet, something special," she said.
It must make her run faster. She finished fourth in the Division III girls 3200-meter run in a personal-best 10 minutes, 51.00 seconds at Welcome Stadium.
"I was not thinking about times," Geiss said. "State is about place. Just being here is a great opportunity."
Five runners went under 10:59, including Maplewood senior and Youngstown State commit Caleigh Richards, who won the race for the third time in 10:47.2. She was a distant third before making a late kick.
"She's a really good competitor and I like running against her," Geiss said. "Winning after the mile is impressive. I wanted to concentrate on the 3200. Maybe in the future I will do both."
Smithville sophomore Kaitlyn Carr was second (10:49.1) and New London senior Reese Landis was third (10:50.09).
Geiss led for the first 3 1/2 laps and was second through six laps.
"I didn't have a plan," Geiss said. "I knew Caleigh and Kaitlyn were not taking it out fast because they just ran the mile."
Geiss' young career already has a second and fourth at state in the 3200 run, along with a state title and a 10th-place finish at the state cross country meet. She said nothing has changed since being state cross country champion.
"Not really," Geiss said. "I try not to focus on it that much and do what I can do."
State notes
¯ Beaver Local junior Savannah Nign advanced to the finals in the girls 100-meter wheelchair race for the third straight year.
She won her heat Friday in 24.48 seconds and had the third-best time overall.
Grove City senior Esther-Faith Henn, the 2022 state champion, posted the top time of 23.85.
The state finals will be at 10:10 a.m. Saturday.
Nign also will be in the 400 state finals later in the afternoon.
¯ Geiss plans on competing in the New Balance Nationals later this month.
¯ Heartland Christian is making a name for itself.
Freshman Cooper Grim just reached the state tennis tournament and won his opening match.
"He's a really good kid," Geiss said. "It's nice to have two people from the same school at state. It makes it that much more special."