The 2001 Junior Orienteering Championship Meet was a huge success. 125 competitors in 73 groups competed on White, Yellow, Orange, and Green Courses. 9 workers, 7 coaches/teachers, and 5 bus drivers ensured the event was successful.

The courses were designed during January 2001 and vetted and field checked in February. 32 controls, one crossover (check-in) point and 1 water location were needed for the event. The crossover checkpoint was designed into the courses as a precaution to knowing which part of the MetroPark a competitor may be lost in - if they had not checked in, most likely there were in the NW part of the MetroPark; If they checked in, most likely they were in the SW part of the MetroPark.

Matt Bond overprinted the Germantown maps with the courses in early March 2001 and the clue sheets were attached to the overprinted maps and the maps sealed in waterproof bags. All was proceeding as planned.

At 2pm on Wednesday, 14 March 2001, the crew of Mark Novitski, Dianne Olix, Sue Blum, and Noah Blum (6 months) arrived to set the controls. Imagine our surprise when we found all the trails closed around the Nature Center! All courses were to use these trails and the crossover control point was just outside the nature center. A water main was being installed and the trails were not crossable with a 10 foot wide and 6 feet deep ditch along 3 different trails all courses would use. After the initial anger (why wasn't I informed), disappointment (all the predrawn maps were no good), and indecision (what was I going to do?), I recovered (as best that could be expected).

Assessing the closed trails, where the controls were to be placed, and where the new locations needed to be, we set out the controls. Streamers would be needed to move the competitors around the construction. Yellow tape was use to warn the competitors not to proceed beyond this point. The GO control was moved to ensure the competitors stayed out of the construction. The white course needed 2 controls moved in addition to the GO. The Yellow course lost 2 controls as they were within the construction area. The crossover checkpoint was moved to keep the competitors out of the construction. The Orange and Green courses each had a control deleted because it was within the construction zone. The Green course was instructed to run their course out of order (something that is never done). The distance remained the same on all courses.

Thursday, 15 Mar 2001 dawned cold, damp, and cloudy with the promise of rain. Temperatures were in the mid 30's at 7am and in the 38 for the 1st start just after 9am. Winds up to 10 miles an hour should not be a factor.

As the competitors arrived and processed through registration they were instructed to open their maps and make the necessary changes to their maps and clue sheets. I believe a few individuals and groups did not understand what they needed to do as 8 individuals and groups did not make it to the crossover check point.

The 1st group showed up around 9am, the rain stayed away, and the rest is history.

BHS Beavercreek High School

GHS Greenville High School (Navy JROTC)

WHS Wayne High School (AF JROTC)

PHS Piqua High School (Navy JROTC)

LHS Lebanon High School (AF JROTC)

MSP Mis-punched

DNF Did Not Finish

DIS Disqualified

OT Over Time (there is a 2 hour time limit for the trophy competition, but for the November warm up event no one was recorded as overtime)

White 11 controls 2.3K in length 60m climb

Yellow 11 controls 3.2K in length 100m climb

Orange 10 controls 4.0K in length 150m climb

Green 10 controls 4.0K in length 180m climb

I believe the high number of DNF's was related to the confusion over the map changes and the re-routing of the courses due to the construction.

BHS Large (traveling) & Small Trophy

WHS

PHS

BHS Small Trophy

GHS

PHS

WHS Large (traveling) & Small Trophy

PHS

BHS Small Trophy

WHS Large (traveling) & Small Trophy

Special thanks to Matt Bond for getting the maps over printed; Dianne Olix, Sue Blum & Noah for setting controls; Jill Mills, and Jonna Hamrick for running registration; Fred Dudding, Sharon Bond, Steve Barnhart, Matt Bond, Jill Mills, and Jonna Hamrick for running start, finish, and results; Dianne Olix working training; Sue Blum for working the halfway checkpoint; Dianne Olix meet photographer; and Matt Bond picking up controls. The meet was successful because of the volunteers!