Winner: Gordon Kimberly

School: Olentangy Liberty

Quote: “Big things are coming”

Highlight:

After a breakout performance at the Pickerington North XC Classic, Olentangy Liberty senior Gordon Kimberly looks poised to shake up the regional standings. Finishing third in what was essentially a regional preview (with the runner-up not from the area), Kimberly has firmly placed himself on the radar. His finishing time of 15:32 marked a 16-second cross country personal best from the same course at last year’s regional meet, where he placed ninth.

Kimberly’s 2025 outdoor track season wasn’t bad, but a 12th-place finish in the 3200 at regionals left him wanting more. While he did claim 8th at the indoor state meet, running a personal best of 9:27 in the 3200, he wasn’t quite able to carry that momentum outdoors. Still, as Kimberly has shown, it’s not about how hard you fall, but how quickly you get back up.

Asked about his performance, Kimberly gave a confident four-word response: “Big things are coming.” With his swagger seemingly back, he looks ready to bounce back from a frustrating outdoor season and establish himself among the state’s elite. Expect him to challenge Mick Temple for the regional title and fight for a spot on the All-Ohio podium at the state meet in November.