State cross country meet gets new home

The state high school cross country championships are all about speed, and starting next year they will be held at the former site of Columbus Motor Speedway. The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced Wednesday that its showcase cross country event will move to Fortress Obetz, a 50-acre multi-purpose sports complex located on the southeast side of Columbus. The meet will be held at the facility for at least the next five years. Fortress Obetz opened in 2017 and has hosted an array of events, from youth sports to concerts to the Big Ten rugby finals. It was the home of the Ohio Machine professional lacrosse team from 2017-19. "This facility is so impressive, from the course layout for the competitors to being more spectator friendly for the fans, and we are thrilled to sign a five-year agreement," OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass said. "We would like to thank National Trail Raceway for hosting the state championships for the last nine years and doing an outstanding job as our host." National Trail Raceway, located east of Columbus in Hebron, hosted the state championships from 2011-19. The 2018 state meet was postponed one week due to flooding on the course. Area coaches should be pleased with the new venue, Huron cross country coach Roger Blevins said. "A lot of the area coaches were looking for a change," he said. "The previous place wasn't spectator friendly. It looks like you can see the meet at the new place. That's great if you're going to drive two or three hours to see it." The facility in Obetz offers several upgrades, including video boards, concessions, restrooms and a huge parking lot. "The traffic could back up at National Trail," Blevins said. "You could be stuck in traffic for a good hour if you came at the wrong time. This looks a lot better." The Obetz grandstands feature 6,500 seats, including 1,100 flip-down seats and 2,000 bench-back seats. The state meet in early November is one of the largest high school cross country events in the country, drawing more than 11,000 fans for boys and girls races in multiple divisions. Scioto Downs, located just south of Columbus, hosted the state championships from 1985 through 2010 before the facility added a casino. "The Village of Obetz is extremely proud and excited to partner with the OHSAA," said Steve Adams, the village's National Director of Athletic Operations and Facilities Promotion. "We feel our Memorial Park and the Fortress is perfectly suited for the OHSAA cross country state tournament. "We have created a safe and challenging course for the runners and kept the spectator experience in mind as well."