To many, this was expected to be the year the Reynoldsburg High School boys cross country team slipped from the ranks of the area's elite.
Two of the top three runners from last season's team graduated, and it was unclear in the summer how much the increase in pay-to-play fees would affect the turnout this season.
On top of that, two key runners were still out of the lineup with nagging injuries as the season began.
"We weren't expected to do anything," senior Lamar Booker said. "Coming into regionals, we weren't even ranked (in the state poll)."
But by season's end, the Raiders were back in the Division I state meet for a third consecutive season and the seventh time in nine years. When the state meet arrived on Nov. 7, the Raiders felt they were ready to have their best finish in several years.
Unfortunately, Reynoldsburg did not have one of its better races at Scioto Downs and could only match its state result from a year ago. The Raiders finished 14th overall with 328 points as Cleveland St. Ignatius won the title with 82. Reynoldsburg had a better overall team race than last season, but did not have any standout individuals near the front. Booker led the pack in 79th place (17 minutes, 6.76 seconds).
The expectations are always high at Reynoldsburg, and coaches and runners said that simply making it to the state meet is not enough.
"That's something (to make it 7 of 9 years), and we're proud of that," coach Denny Hammond said. "But you want more than just getting there. We've done that. This group was here last year."
The week before, Reynoldsburg had perhaps its best performance of the season in the regional meet at Pickerington North on Oct. 31. The Raiders scored 118 points to finish second behind North (75). Booker led a tight pack by finishing 18th (17:53.11).
It was the best regional finish for Reynoldsburg since it won a regional title in 2004.
In the district 3 meet on Oct. 24 at Watkins Memorial, Reynoldsburg failed to win its third consecutive title, settling for second. New Albany scored 67 points to edge Reynoldsburg (69) for the championship. Hiruy Abraha led the way in seventh (17:28.16).
Reynoldsburg also finished second in the OCC-Ohio Division meet on Oct. 17 at Watkins Memorial. The Raiders scored 42 points to finish behind North (22) and ahead of Gahanna (100), Lancaster (102), Pickerington Central (134) and Newark (165). Tsehaye Hiluf was third overall in 16:23.77.
The Raiders will lose two runners from their starting lineup, including a three-year starter in Booker. Booker ran in the top three most of the season and made a significant improvement on his placement and time at state this fall.
Last season, in less windy conditions, Booker was 116th in 17:14.89.
Senior Yeamne Abebe also started most of this season. Abebe was 15th in the conference meet in 17:29.56.
Brothers Tsehaye Hiluf and Hiruy Abraha are expected to lead the way next year. Hiluf, a sophomore, was the team's top runner for most of the season until an illness hampered him in the postseason. He placed 30th in the state meet in 2008. Abraha, a junior, returned from an injury this fall and had the best season of his career. He finished seventh at district and had a fifth-place finish in the conference meet (16:41.26).
Sophomores Khalid Omar and Jeremy Richard stepped into the starting lineup and typically ran fourth and fifth for the Raiders. Richard was ninth in the conference meet (17:08.62). Omar played a key role in Reynoldsburg reaching state, placing 33rd at regional (18:18.96).
Junior Paul Newell returned midway through the season after missing almost a year. He finished 19th in the league meet (17:49.04).