Fun in final race

OBETZ, Ohio — Trevor Heitkamp does a lot to prepare for his races.

In previous years, he has studied film of past state champions and combined that knowledge with his strengths to create a detailed race strategy.

On Saturday, the senior took a different approach. He came into the day looking to enjoy his final high school race.

While the more relaxed approach doesn’t fit Heitkamp’s M.O., he still found his way to his best showing.

Heitkamp ended his cross country career at Fort Recovery High School as he finished in 33rd place at the OHSAA Division III State Championship at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park.

“Trevor had a really strong race considering the last few weeks,” coach Christy Diller said. “He's got to be so proud of that.”

Heitkamp clocked in at 16 minutes, 32.77 seconds.

Heitkamp’s primary goals for the race were to make the All-Ohio team and to give himself a shot at standing on the podium. All-Ohio includes the top 30 finishes, while the top 20 earn medals.

The senior fell three spots short of that goal, as Ryan Lehman of Northmor claimed 30th place with a time of 16:25.9, eight seconds ahead of Heitkamp.

Cincinnati Christian’s Micah Katz (16:21.4) was the final athlete to make the podium, while Rittman’s Luke Snyder (15:23.03) walked away with the championship.

“Obviously, I would have liked to be in the top 30, but that didn't happen today,” Heitkamp said. “And that's just the reality of it. I'm very happy to be here. … In the end, how I'm feeling is, I'm just very thankful for everything.”

As he often does, Heitkamp started the race near the front of the pack, clocking in sixth place the first time he entered the stadium at the 450 meter marker. During the first mile, he fell back to 29th place but still held onto the chance of earning All-Ohio.

Unable to hold the position, he fell back to 34th at the 2-mile mark. Heitkamp was able to gain ground during the third mile, taking advantage of a hill and passing a pair of runners. During the final 90-meter stretch, Jose Blanco of Fayette came storming back to edge him by two seconds.

While he didn’t necessarily get the finish he was hoping for, it was his best appearance at the state meet. In 2022, he placed 35th (16:46.4) and in 2021 he was 76th (17:09.6).

Diller thinks the relaxed mindset may have played a key role in the improved finish.

“He has a tendency to think too much, and he knows that,” Diller said. “To finish your season at state any year is a good year, but especially as a senior. Then, you know, when your last race is. Why not be grateful about it and run happy?”

Last week, Heitkamp mentioned how running solo can be stressful, making it difficult to take the approach to just have fun. Luckily for him, he had some help.

Freshmen Reese Diller and Russell Hart accompanied Heitkamp at state, working to keep his nerves relaxed and energy high.

On the bus ride to Obetz, they hyped Heitkamp up. Once on site, the freshmen cracked jokes to try to keep things light while walking the course with Heitkamp.

“They made this experience way more enjoyable, and way less stressful,” Heitkamp said. “Whenever you have another person with you, and especially those two teammates, talking to you telling you some stupid idea they have or some genius plan they have, it really just eliminates that moment, that time for you to get stressed out. 

“So, I was on the line and I was laughing at some random joke Reese said to me. That just made my mindset going into the race way better and made the race way more enjoyable.”

The experience was mutually beneficial, as it gave Diller and Hart a chance to see how Heitkamp prepares for an event as big as state and an opportunity to learn some insights on the course.

“I thought that was really cool to like, get to walk the course and cheer him on and be on the line with him,” Reese Diller said. “It was just super cool to see the atmosphere, such a big and important meet.”

Heitkamp leaves behind a legacy.

As a freshman, he set dream goals of being top five in Fort Recovery boys cross country history and to make it to state. Now as a senior, he has smashed those goals by holding the school record of 15:53.44 and making it to state three times in a row.

To top it all off, Heitkamp succeeded in enjoying his final race.

“It hasn't really sunk in yet,” he said. “When I took that last turn and I could see the finish line I just had a smile on my face because I knew ‘this was it. This was the rest of my season and the rest of my high school career.’”