Boys 3200m Regional Rankings

Note: These rankings are based on how we believe the event will play out at the regional meet, not on current times alone. We’ve also ranked athletes in the event(s) we believe they will actually contest. Some athletes may double or triple, which could affect their freshness for certain events.

1. Matthew Schroff: Making his second appearance atop our rankings (1600m), the reigning indoor 1600m state champion will look to add a regional—and potentially state—title to his already impressive résumé. While his PR of 9:03 puts him four seconds behind our second-ranked athlete, Charlie Guerrera, the Orange senior has demonstrated a lethal kick one too many times for us to bet against him. Last year’s regional 3200m was extremely tactical, resulting in a sub-9 athlete missing state qualification. We expect a similar setup this year—and for Schroff to capitalize, earning his second individual title of the day.

2. Charlie Guerrera: This is beginning to feel like 2021, when Connor Ackley and Sean Carney battled in both the 1600m and 3200m, dominating the field and leaving it to a final kick. Guerrera is currently the only runner in the region with a sub-9 time this season, but this race will be no gimme. While we wouldn’t be surprised if Guerrera takes one—or both—individual titles, we’re giving Schroff the edge for now due to his slightly more proven finishing speed.

3. Tate Ruthers: A cross country mainstay, Sheridan senior Tate Ruthers is now making his mark on the track. The future Ohio University Bobcat owns a PR of 9:11 from this year’s Wayne Invite. While his season hasn’t featured eye-catching marks (2:00 and 4:21), we believe he’ll snap out of that lull and return to the form that made him one of the most respected seniors in the region. Expect a strong showing at regionals.

4. Mick Temple: Now a junior, Pickerington North’s Mick Temple brings considerable postseason experience to the table. He’s already competed at multiple cross country state meets and raced the 1600m at last year’s outdoor state championships. While he attempted the 1600m/3200m double last season, we expect him to focus solely on the 3200m this year. Temple remains a strong contender for a state qualifying spot—regardless of how the race plays out.

5. Jacob Bolton: After an underwhelming indoor season—failing to break 10:15 or 4:40—Bolton has found his stride outdoors. He’s quickly rounding back into the form he showed during cross country, where he peaked in the postseason, winning the district title and placing 5th at regionals. With a 9:17 under his belt this spring, the Coffman senior will be a serious contender for an individual state berth.

6. Mckinley Norman: Norman had an impressive indoor season, running 9:24 for 3200m and placing 6th at the state meet. He currently holds a 9:18 PR from the Wayne Invite and ranks 7th in the region. We expect him to maintain that momentum into the postseason, contend for a spot on the regional podium, and potentially secure an individual berth at the state meet.

7. Jeffery Kerns: That’s 3-for-3 on the "Big 3" from Westerville North making our regional rankings, with Kerns rounding out the trio. A seasoned postseason racer, Kerns brings valuable experience and a 9:20 PR to the field, currently ranked 8th in the region. He finished 10th at the indoor state meet and appears poised for a strong outdoor finish. Like Temple, there are some doubts about his kick, so a fast pace may play more to his strengths.

8. Charles Rizek: The DeSales senior—part of a dangerous trio of his own—closes out our top eight. Rizek also holds a 9:20 PR and currently sits 9th in the region. During the indoor season, he competed in both the 1600m and 3200m at states, but we believe he’ll forgo the double this time to stay fresh for the 3200m. While his cross country postseason was somewhat inconsistent, we think a bounce-back performance is on the horizon.

Honorable Mentions:

Lincoln Kelly

Logan Behm

Notable Athletes Not Considered (Due to Expected Event Focus or Team Entry Limits):

Michael Kinzer (1600m)

Jacob Reash (1600m)