Buckeye Run Report

The Division I boys race is stacked with talent from top to bottom and features one of the most exciting individual title battles in years. Three nationally ranked runners lead the charge, each capable of putting together a state championship performance. With several sub-15-minute athletes and powerhouse programs all converging on Fortress Obetz, the potential for a historic race is sky-high. Top 5 Individual Finisher Projections: Mick Temple, Max Friedrich, Dom Ellis, Ryne

The Division I girls state championship is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races of the weekend. With several of the state’s top-ranked individuals and powerhouse Central Ohio programs all converging on Obetz, the potential for fast times and tight team battles is sky-high. Expect a mix of breakout performances and veteran poise from some of the best runners in the country. Top 5 Individual Finisher Projections: Elena Aldrink, Katy Zang, Kaitlyn Reese, Brooke Cha

The Division 2 boys’ regional at Pickerington North featured both a standout individual performance at the front and a tightly contested battle for team advancement. With state meet spots on the line, the race brought major breakthroughs, late-race drama, and several teams pushing their depth runners to the limit. Top 5 Individual Finishers: Grant Hamilton, Michael Kinzer, Luke Rettenberger, Marcus Adelman, Jack Hangen State Qualifying Teams: Bishop Watterson, New Philadelphi

The Division 2 girls’ regional at Pickerington North delivered both dominance at the front and tight battles throughout the team standings. With individual star power headlining the race and several programs fighting to keep their seasons alive, the stakes were high from the opening gun. What followed was a showcase of elite talent, rising underclassmen, and defining moments that shaped the state meet field. Top 5 Individual Finishers: Sophia Szolosi, Kaitlyn Van Zandt, Lucy

The Division 1 boys’ regional at Pickerington North delivered one of the most dramatic and unpredictable races of the postseason. With individual breakthroughs, late-race surges, and teams rising at the perfect moment, the meet reshaped expectations heading into the state championship. Top 5 Individual Finishers: Mick Temple, Logan Behm, Austin Benedict, Casey Carlos, Calvin Watson State Qualifying Teams: Dublin Jerome, Hilliard Darby, Westerville North, Thomas Worthington, O

The Division 1 regional girls’ race at Pickerington North brought both expected dominance at the front and meaningful movement throughout the pack. With state berths on the line, top individuals delivered statement performances, while several teams had to rely on depth and composure to secure their advancement to Fortress Obetz. Top 5 Individual Finishers: Elena Aldrink, Katy Zang, Harper Allen, Natalie Fouts, Brooke Chapman State Qualifying Teams: Gahanna Lincoln, Hilliard D

Note: The top two vote-getters will earn “Runner of the Week” honors. Calvin Watson: The Thomas Worthington freshman phenom ran a stellar 15:27, good for fifth place in Division 1. Logan Behm: The Hilliard Darby junior turned heads with a major PR of 15:18, earning Division 1 regional runner-up honors. Ben Canales: The Dublin Coffman junior ensured their streak of individual qualifiers stayed alive, placing ninth in Division 1 with a substantial PR of 15:33. Austin Benedic

Note: The top two vote-getters will earn “Runner of the Week” honors. Katy Zang: The Teays Valley junior returned to the regional meet triumphantly, finishing as the Division 1 runner-up and earning a major season best. Abigail Young: The Gahanna Lincoln junior put together a strong performance, finishing eighth overall to help her team win the Division 1 region title. Addison Caudill: The Licking Heights senior finished ninth in Division 1, running a strong mark and punch

Saturday, October 25th, marks the beginning of the “super-region” era in Division I racing. In previous years, the cross country postseason featured a district week that allowed only certain teams to advance to regionals. However, in Division I, that week has been eliminated, with all teams now competing in a single regional race. With this change come new qualification standards: the top seven teams in the region advance to the state meet, and the top 14 finishers who did no

With recent OHSAA cross country realignment, a new group of former Division 1 teams has shifted into Division 2 to compete against the conference’s yearly elites. This change introduces standout individuals and teams eager to take advantage of their new placement. Last week’s district meets thinned out some of the competition, but a strong crop of runners remains ready to compete for state-qualifying positions. With five teams and ten individuals not on qualifying teams advan

The Girls’ Division 2 Regional race at Pickerington North brings together a deep field of individual talent and several teams capable of making noise at the state level. With postseason stakes at their highest so far, every move, from the opening mile to the final kick, will determine who advances to Fortress Obetz and who sees their season end on Saturday. The course is familiar, the conditions are set, and the stage is ready for one of the most competitive regional showdown

The Division I cross country postseason takes on a new look this year, as Saturday, October 25th marks the debut of the “super-region” format. Instead of the traditional district races that once determined which teams advanced, every Division I program will now line up together in a single, all-inclusive regional meet. The updated structure also brings new qualifying standards: the top eight teams will move on to the state championship, and the top 16 individuals not on thos

Winner: Natalie Fouts School: Dublin Jerome Quote: “I’ve been looking forward to regionals and states the whole season and want to finish out my season strong.” Highlight: Natalie Fouts continued her stellar senior campaign with a dominant conference victory in the OCC Cardinal Division, beating the rest of the field by an entire minute with a time of 18:12. The OCC meet marked her second individual win of the season after taking first at the Pre-Season Invitational in the

Winner: Lincoln Kelly School: Dublin Jerome Quote: “I knew I had that fitness going into the race, and there’s nothing stopping me from getting All-Ohio.” Highlight: Dublin Jerome senior Lincoln Kelly officially put his name on the map with a breakthrough performance in the OCC Cardinal Division race, finishing as the runner-up by less than a second. Though he couldn’t quite hold off Hilliard Darby’s Kole Hyer, Kelly led the race until the final 50 meters, clocking a major

The Division II Central District Championships delivered an exciting slate of races, setting the stage for what’s shaping up to be a competitive regional weekend. From dominant team performances to standout individual efforts, runners across all four sections battled through ideal racing conditions in pursuit of district titles and regional berths. Boys Section 1 Individual Champion: Michael Kinzer Team Champion: Bishop Watterson The first race of the day brought fireworks,

Girls’ OCC Recaps Last weekend featured the OCC Championships, split between courses at Hilliard Bradley and Pickerington Central. (It was noted by several coaches that Pickerington Central’s course ran noticeably slower than Bradley’s.) Many individuals had impressive breakout performances, shaking up the team rankings as we head toward the Regional Championships. It was a great weekend of racing and another exciting display of the talent showcased in Central Ohio. OCC Bucke

Boys’ OCC Recaps Across all five sections of the Ohio Capital Conference, there were fantastic performances from favorites and underdogs alike. With the new “Super Region” in Division I this season, the OCC meet provided the final opportunity for many teams to prove themselves one last time before the chance to qualify for the state championships. With that in mind, numerous teams and individuals delivered stunning performances at both Hilliard Bradley and Pickerington Centra

Winner: Jillian Gomez School: Gahanna Lincoln Quote: “So far my season has been going really well. I have been consistently dropping time each race and have broken my sophomore record twice now.” Highlight: The Lady Lions from Gahanna Lincoln have been on a tear this year, dominating the competition everywhere they go and holding the #1 ranking in the state all season long. Sophomore Jillian Gomez has enjoyed an incredible year, contributing heavily to the Lions' domi

Winner: Braden Burns School: Dublin Coffman Quote: “My goal for this season was to continuously improve… I have always had upperclassmen runners who have provided great role models, and I hope to be one of those as well.” Highlight: Entering the year, Dublin Coffman junior Braden Burns had not broken the 17-minute barrier, but now he has his sights set on the 16-minute mark. Following significant improvement throughout the season, his most recent breakthrough of 16:19

Grace Buskirk: The Big Walnut junior earned a commanding victory in the OCC Capital Division, winning by nearly 25 seconds with a time...