Correspondence photograph / Robert Hayes. Heartland Christian's Rebecca Geiss (left) leads throughout the second spherical of the Div. III 3200m from June in Dayton. Geiss would go on to complete fourth with a time of 10:51.
DAYTON – If one phrase may sum up Rebecca Geiss' expertise on the 2024 OHSAA state meet, it could be “superior.”
The Heartland Christian sophomore distance runner completed fourth within the Division III women 3,200 meters, a race that additionally featured Maplewood's a number of state champion Caleigh Richards.
“It's wonderful,” Geiss mentioned of her podium end. “It's a very nice alternative and to compete in opposition to these wonderful runners, that's actually wonderful too.”
Geiss, who gained Heartland Christian's first state cross nation title within the fall by edging out Richards, ran the two-mile race in 10 minutes, 51 seconds, greater than 20 seconds sooner than her state time final 12 months.
Regardless of this, Geiss completed fourth, down just a few spots from her second-place end a 12 months in the past. However that's not one thing Geiss worries about.
“I believe the locations have modified this 12 months simply because the women are sooner,” mentioned Geiss, who complimented her “wonderful” competitors.
No matter putting, Geiss' enchancment from her freshman season to her sophomore season was evident — after operating 11:12.13 within the 3,200 meters final 12 months, Geiss considerably improved her time, closing the hole between herself and the winner from final 12 months's 19.13 seconds to this time simply 3.48 seconds at Daytona.
Whereas Geiss will definitely be the favourite to win the state championships in each cross nation and monitor and area as a junior, she doesn't thoughts the higher expectations that include successful a state title.
“I attempt not to consider it,” Geiss mentioned. “Proper now I'm simply targeted on what I'm doing.”
As for any targets, Geiss simply desires to maintain “to race in opposition to these wonderful opponents.”
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