Heartland Christian's Geiss salutes competition at state track meet

Correspondent photo/Robert Hayes. Heartland Christian’s Rebecca Geiss (left) gets the better of Maplewood’s Caleigh Richards in the second round of the June Div. III 3200m in Dayton. Geiss would finish fourth with a time of 10:51.

DAYTON — If one word could sum up Rebecca Geiss’ experience at the 2024 OHSAA state track and field meet, it would be “awesome.”

The Heartland Christian sophomore distance runner finished fourth in the Division III girls’ 3,200-meter run, a race that also featured Maplewood’s multiple state champion Caleigh Richards.

” It’s awesome “ Geiss said about his podium. “It’s a really great opportunity and to compete with these incredible riders is really cool too.”

Geiss, who won Heartland Christian’s first state cross country title in the fall by edging Richards, ran the two-mile race in 10 minutes, 51 seconds, more than 20 seconds faster than his time at last year’s state meet.

Despite this, Geiss finished fourth, a few places lower than his second place finish last year. But that’s not something that worries Geiss.

“I think things have changed this year just because the girls are getting faster,” said Geiss, who complimented her “amazing” competition.

Regardless of the ranking, Geiss’ improvement from her freshman to sophomore season was evident – after running 11:12.13 in the 3,200-meter race last year, Geiss improved her time significantly and closed the gap between herself and the winner from 19.13 seconds last year to just 3.48 seconds at Dayton this time around.

While Geiss is certainly the favorite to win a state championship in cross country and track and field as a junior, she doesn’t mind the greater expectations that come with winning a state title.

“I try not to think about that.” Geiss said. “I just focus on the moment and what I’m doing.”

As for the goals, Geiss just wants to keep them “to race against these formidable competitors.”

Got a great story to tell? Email Preston Byers at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @PresByers.

Today’s latest news and more delivered to your inbox