2020 NE Ohio
Cross Country Camp
2020 NEO XC Camp Update - The camp will be held fro Sunday, July 26 - Friday, July 31. The format has changed due to Covid and is described below.
Following is the camp informational letter emailed out on July 18. Use the links in this for necessary information about camp:
Week schedule for Sunday, July 26 - Friday, July 31:
Meetings: Sunday - Thursday virtual evening meetings starting at 8 pm. Runners should download Zoom before the week starts from here - Zoom Download Link. On Sunday, July 26th at 8 pm, you will log on to the meeting with this link - Zoom Meeting Link. It is very important for each person to log onto Zoom using the same email address that they are receiving this email on... that will allow you to be placed into small group breakout rooms during the meeting automatically. This same Zoom link will work for each evening meeting. So that we can conduct efficient meetings,you must log onto Zoom between 7:50 PM and 8 PM each evening. You will be placed in a waiting room. At precisely 8 PM we will admit everyone into the meeting. You may not be able to access the meeting after 8 PM. You will not need a password to enter the meeting.
8:00 - 8:05 - Welcome and instructions.
8:05 - 8:30 - Staff will meet with their breakout groups of 6-10 runners.
8:30 - 9:00 - Featured speaker followed by Q&A
Runs: Monday - Friday Mornings at 8:30 am morning training run.
Monday - Fartlek Run
Tuesday - Recovery Run
Wednesday - Long Run.
Thursday - Recovery Run
Friday - 5K Tempo Run
- Run Information - We want you to be at the run site promptly at 8:30 (due to larger numbers a couple sites are using two starting times; 8:00 and 8:30... you will be notified if you are in the 8:00 start). IMPORTANT - We all must do our best to make sure that XC season happens this fall. If an infection spreads from a practice it will increase the chance of cancellation. Check your temperature before leaving home each morning. If your temperature is elevated or you feel sick at all... Stay Home! Bring your own water bottle to runs and a towel... no drinks will be provided at run sites. When you arrive, we encourage you to wear a mask and maintain social distancing while we stretch and discuss the run. You will be sent off in small groups and you may remove your mask before beginning your run, but maintain distancing during your run. When you complete your run, you are free to leave. The run will be discussed at the 8 pm evening group session each day. Following is specific information for where to park and meet at each site location.
- Mastick - Meet at fountain near playground area at South Mastick Picnic Area off of the Valley Parkway. Click here for map link.
- South Chagrin - Shelter House Parking Area - off of Hawthorn Parkway about a mile east of SOM Center. Click here for map link.
- Peninsula - Overflow Parking Area at Lock #29 in Peninsula. Click here for map link.
- Mill Creek Park - Wick Recreation Area in Mill Creek Park off of Bella Vista. Click here for map link.
- Minerva - Bicentennial Park - 314 Murray Ave, Minerva, OH 44657. Click here for map link.
- Mansfield - Lexington Park in Mansfield. Ohio. Click here for a map link.
- High Banks - Big Meadows Picnic Area at High Banks Park. Click here for map link.
- Canal Winchester - Pickerington Ponds Metro Park - Glacier Knoll Parking Area off of Bowen Road, Canal Winchester. Click here for map link.
- Runner Roster - Attached is a list of runners the sites that they selected and the groups that they are assigned to for evening Zoom small group sessions. The list also notes the starting time for those teams that will be starting at 8 am. A few notes on the list:
- Don't panic when you see it if you are not listed at your desired site... reply to this email and I will change it. We want you going to the closest site and the one where your teammates are if at all possible.
- 131 runners did not respond to the questionnaire on site selection. I assigned them to what I thought was the closest site on this list. If I assigned you wrong... or if you cannot attend, reply to this email to let me know, please.
- If during camp week something comes up and you will miss a run or a meeting, you do not need to inform us.
- If the weather is inclement, check your email before leaving home. The site captain will email a cancellation notice to all runners by 7:30 if and only if the run is cancelled.
- Strava - If you wanted to be tracked on Strava, please join the NEO Camp group on Strava. Most of the sites also have their own specific group that you should also join (example - NEO Mill Creek).
- Forms - If you have not sent your physical... do so immediately. It is the same form that your school requires. Preferably scan and email to me at ted.rupe@gmail.com. Also, at these links, we want you to complete the Background Information Form and the Safety Form if you have not done so already.
The 2020 NEO Camp will be supported by:
2. Camp Rules and Safety Form (complete form at this link)
3. Background Information Form (complete form at this link)
Address to send physical form. This is my home address - do NOT come to this address for camp!
NE Ohio XC Camp - 2533 Davis Peck Road - Cortland, OH 44410
Camp Philosophy
The directors and staff of the NE Ohio CC
Camp share the philosophy that lasting success in distance running must come from within the athlete. Regardless of the enthusiasm that coaches and parents share for the runner, the level of success will ultimately depend upon the runner's dedication and determination. The camp is thereby committed to instilling an attitude of enjoyment in each runner. For only when the runner learns a love of the sport, will they develop a work ethic allowing them to
establish challenging goals and put forth the necessary training to accomplish these goals. The camp is geared toward the junior high and high school runner that has a positive attitude towards self improvement through training designed to be strenuous yet rewarding. The training runs at the camp will be broken into low, intermediate and upper mileages. Each runner should be in adequate condition to run a minimum of 6 miles each day, with the intermediate group covering an average of 8 miles each day and the upper group 10-12 miles.
The Directors
2020 will mark the 41st year for the NE Ohio CC Camp. Directors will be Ted Rupe, Chris Rupe and Fred Kieser. This trio along with the accompanying staff represents some of the finest runners and coaches in the Midwest United States.
Ted Rupe
In his over 45 years of competition and coaching, Ted has accumulated some fine credentials. He was the 1972 State CC Champion in Div. A, leading his team to the state title. He was world ranked in the 10 K in 1977, won the Cleveland Marathon in 1986 and the 1986 Moscow Peace Race. As a coach, his teams qualified for 20 straight state CC championships from 1990 through 2009, 14 of these teams finished in the top 4 at the Ohio State Championships, including a 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2005 State Championship and runners up in 1990, 1998 and 2001. He also coached the 2000 track team that tied for a state championship. He was selected as Ohio's High School CC Coach of the Year for 1997-1998. Ted was inducted into the Ohio Track and Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2003 for his accomplishments.
Chris Rupe
Chris boasts a 14:37 5k, and 24:10 for 5 miles and 2:21 marathon. He has finished as top Ohioan twice at Cleveland Marathon and twice at Columbus Marathon. Recently at McDonald HS he has coached 5 state championship 4×800 relay teams and state champions Becky Testa, Stuart Henderson and state record holder Ed Stonestreet. His 1999 Track and Cross Country teams were both state champions. His 2001, 2004, 2011 and 2013 CC Teams also won the state championship, while his 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2017 squads were runners-up. Chris was inducted into the Ohio Track and Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2013 for his accomplishments.
Fred Kieser
Fred has had a long career as a runner and coach. As a high school athlete his senior year at Kirtland he finished 2nd in cross country and was on the winning 4 × 800 meter relay. Then at Miami University he qualified for the NCAA championships in cross country and won his conference 3000m steeplechase title twice. After college Fred found his niche on the roads, especially in the marathon where he has won 3 big city marathons, qualified for two Olympic Marathon Trials, and has a PR of 2:17:20. Even at the masters level, Fred continues to compete including a masters national championship in the 15k, a second place in the 10k, and a 3rd place at the masters cross country meet. He coaches track and cross country at Saint Joseph Academy in Cleveland where his teams have qualified to 10 state meets with a best finish of 4th place.
The Staff
Below is the staff from the 2019 NE Ohio CC Camp. The staff for the 2020 NE Ohio XC Camp will include many of the same staff with some additions.
2019 Week 1 Staff
2019 Week 2 Staff
2019 Week 1 Campers
2019 Week 2 Campers
Below is a partial list of the anticipated camp staff for
The 2017 NEO XC Camp:
Ryan Adams - CVCA, Furman University - currently a sophomore at Furman
University and a 2015 graduate of CVCA, where he was a 5x State Champ in track
and State Runner-Up in cross-country. Ryan set the Division 2 state record in
2015 running 4:07.12 in the 1600m. His other high school PRs include 1:51.02 in
the 800m and 15:41.37 in the 5k. At Furman as a freshman he ran 4:05.19 in the
mile and 3:42.25 in the 1500m which converts to a sub 4:00 mile. As a redshirt
freshman in cross-country he ran 24:08.50 in the 8k and 30:08.70 in the 10k. He
placed 24th at the NCAA Division 1 Southeast Regional to earn All-Region
honors.
Cory Leslie
- Perkins High
School, Ohio State University, assistant coach Furman University, and runs for
Nike. HS state champ in 800, 1600, and cross country. PRs
1500 3:37.97, 1 mile 3:56.18, 5k 13:43.73, steeplechase 8:20!!! 3rd in
NCAA steeplechase.
Ryan Sullivan - Howland High School, Youngstown State University
Heidi Hoffman
- McDonald High School, Grove City College
Suzanne Koziol - Berkshire High School, Youngstown State University - Suzanne is a redshirt freshman at Youngstown State University and a 2015 graduate of Berkshire. She ran in all 8 of her State Meets in high school, qualifying to both State cross-country and track all 4 years. She is a 6x First-Team All-Ohio performer in track in the 300m hurdles and 4×800m relay. Her high school PRs include 2:20 in the 800m and 19:15 in the 5k.
Tyler
Robakiewcz - Northern Guilford High School, Western
Carolina University
Tom Sullivan
- St. Ignatius High School, Duke University
Austin Mclean
- West Jefferson High School, Youngstown State University
Dylan Dombi - Medina High School, Heidelberg University, Youngstown State University - Three time state qualifier for Medina HS. High school pr's of 15:49 (senior) 9:57,4:28, and 1:57at Medina. I never was an all-Ohioan in track or cross. At Heidelberg University, Divison 3,ran 25:09 for 8k and was all region in cross. In track, ran 14:49. Was 3k and mile indoor OAC champ. Sophomore year was all region again in cross country and ran 8:32 for 3k indoors. Again was OAC champ in the mile. Finished up at Heidelberg as 2 time all-conference in cross, OAC indoor champ in 3k freshman year, runner up sophomore year, back to back mile champ indoors. Transferred to YSU after Sophomore year and currently run on the cross country and track team. College pr's are: 10k-32:43 8k-25:09 5k-14:49, 3k-8:32, Mile-4:17, 1500-3:55, 800-1:55.
Erin Pavick
- Maplewood High School, Youngstown State University
Garrett Crichlow - Twinsburg
High School, University of Akron - a junior at the
University of Akron and a 2014 graduate of Twinsburg. In high school he placed
4th in the 1600m for Division 1 at the State Championships his junior and
senior years, and qualified as First-Team All-Ohio in Division 1 for
cross-country by placing 9th in 2013. His high school PRs are 1:52.65 for the
800m, 4:09.26 for the 1600m, 9:27.80 for the 3200m and 15:29.98 for 5k. At
Akron he's ran 3:53.54 in the 1500m, 24:53.20 for the 8k and has been an All-MAC
performer in both the indoor mile and cross-country.
Maria
Scavuzzo - Medina High School, Miami University
Bobby Johnson - McDonald High School, Butler University
Ken Sullivan
- St. Ignatius High School, Duke University
Maddie Dunlap - Carrollton HS, Kent State
University, 2017 D2 State Mile Champion
All camp mailings and payments are to be sent to:
2533 Davis Peck Road
Cortland, Ohio 44410
For mail in payments, checks are to be made out to: "Gopher Running"
2015 Footlocker National Champion Drew Hunter at 2016 NEO XC Camp
Two-Time World Cross Country Champion Craig Virgin signs autographs at 2010 camp.


The Schedule
A typical day at camp includes:
Running2Win Training Log Link - log on and join the NEO Camp Group!
Directions to Templed Hills Camp - 5734 Durbin Road, Bellville, OH:
- Take I-71 to the Bellville exit, Route #97
- East on #97 for 3 miles to Main Street in Bellville
- Right on Main Street to Durbin Street (at the BP Station)
- Left on Durbin for 1.5 miles to Templed Hills Camp on the right.
Past Camp Photos
Follow us on:
Twitter - @NEOXCC