Boys Division 1 Central Ohio Preview

After a long indoor season, it’s finally time for the Division 1 runners from Central Ohio to showcase their strength. Of the 64 total distance entries, 28 come from Central Ohio—nearly half the field. Each event will be packed with Central Ohio talent, with at least six qualifiers in every distance race. Given that anything can happen on race day, we’re excited to see what this strong group of competitors can accomplish. Below, we break down all of Central Ohio’s entries and highlight those who could make a big impact.

4x800m Central Ohio Qualifiers: Westerville North, Olentangy Liberty, Gahanna Lincoln, Dublin Jerome, Marysville, and Lancaster

The indoor state 4x800m relay is always an exciting race to watch. While outdoor relay teams typically post their best times at the start of the postseason, the indoor season has only one postseason race, meaning we don’t see teams at their peak until the state meet. This year, only one team enters with a seed time under 8:00, but it’s likely that at least half the field—or more—will break that barrier.

Six Central Ohio teams have qualified for this event, but I see four as legitimate contenders for the state title. While Marysville and Lancaster both deserve their spots in the field, it’s hard to see them pushing for a top-three finish without standout individual legs. Lancaster does have Brock Jarrett, but beyond him, they likely lack another runner capable of splitting significantly under 2:00, a situation similar to Marysville.

However, I believe Westerville North, Olentangy Liberty, Gahanna Lincoln, and Dublin Jerome all have a shot at the state title. Seed times don’t hold much weight in this race, as every team is expected to drop a lot of time at the state meet. Westerville North returns four runners with sub-2:00 outdoor PRs, with Jeffrey Kerns, Gabe Wise, and Casey Carlos also qualifying individually for indoor states. Gahanna Lincoln and Olentangy Liberty are in similar positions, each with one individual indoor state qualifier on their relay squad. Liberty will rely on its depth, as all four runners have posted sub-2:00 marks in the open 800m this season. Gahanna, on the other hand, will depend on top-seeded 800m runner Owen Towler to anchor them to victory despite having weaker depth.

Despite entering with the slowest seed time of these four Central Ohio contenders, I believe Dublin Jerome has the best shot at the state title. All four of their relay legs have qualified for an individual event—Ethan Ishida and Cayden McClure in the 1600m, and Charlie Guerrera and Graham Tyler in the 3200m. Guerrera and Ishida both split 1:55 last outdoor season, and Tyler has already run 1:56 indoors this year. With McClure likely capable of at least a 2:00 split, I think Jerome will break the 7:50 barrier and take home the state title, capping off their dominant indoor season and setting the stage for an exciting 4x1600m at New Balance Indoor Nationals.

1600m Central Ohio Qualifiers: Matthew Schroff, Ethan Ishida, Cayden McClure, Casey Carlos, Zee Rabi, Gabe Wise, Ryin Fisher

While Central Ohio has plenty of entries in this event, I believe only one has a legitimate shot at the state title—Olentangy Orange senior Matthew Schroff. The Michigan State commit was an All-Ohioan in the 1600m last outdoor season, boasting a sub-4:10 personal best. However, with St. Ignatius’s Max Friedrich running 4:08 this indoor season, Schroff will need an outstanding race to claim the title. That said, I wouldn’t count him out.

A notable absence in the field is Mick Temple, who is not entered in any event at the indoor state meet despite having an indoor personal best that would have made him a top contender. With his absence, much of the race is wide open. Dublin Jerome’s duo of Ethan Ishida and Cayden McClure are seeded fifth and sixth but will have to manage the fatigue of running the 4x800m earlier in the meet. Fortunately, with Division 1 and Division 2 now alternating events, there is significantly more recovery time than in previous years.

Casey Carlos, Zee Rabi, Gabe Wise, and Ryin Fisher are all seeded outside the top eight, with all but Fisher doubling back from the 4x800m. Each of them has the potential to sneak into an All-Ohio finish, but it will ultimately come down to how the race unfolds

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800m Central Ohio Qualifiers: Owen Towler, Matthew Schroff, Ty Munroe, Dylan Winters, Brendan Steele, Brock Jarrett, Lavon Wilborn

The man to beat in this race is Gahanna Lincoln senior Owen Towler. He enters the meet with a seed time of 1:55.19, over half a second faster than any of his competitors. An outdoor All-Ohioan last year, Towler will likely run even faster than his seed time.

However, he’s not the only standout Central Ohio runner in the field. Olentangy Orange senior Matthew Schroff, Olentangy senior Ty Munroe, and Reynoldsburg senior Dylan Winters are all seeded in the top eight, making them projected All-Ohioans. Schroff will be doubling back from the 1600m, but with the longer recovery time, the effects of that race should be less severe.

Meanwhile, Brendan Steele, Brock Jarrett, and Lavon Wilborn enter with seed times between 1:57.75 and 1:58.05, putting them just outside of All-Ohio contention. However, all three are strong competitors and could still find a way to break into the top eight.

3200m Central Ohio Qualifiers: Charlie Guerrera, Logan Behm, Bradyn Allender, Mckinley Norman, Jeffrey Kerns, Gordon Kimberly, Austin Benedict, Graham Tyler

The 3200 has the most Central Ohio entries, with half of the 16 competitors from Central Ohio. The clear leader from this group is Charlie Guerrera, the regional cross country champion and an All-Ohioan in the 1600m last outdoor season. Seeded third in this race, he faces a tough challenge in Eli Ilg, who has run a stellar 9:04 this indoor season. While Guerrera holds personal bests of sub-4:10 in the 1600m and 9:10 in the 3200m from last outdoor season, it’s uncertain if he is currently at Ilg’s level. However, he has the chance to represent Central Ohio well—especially if he can pull off an upset victory, which could mark his second state title of the day.

As for the rest of the field, much like the 1600m, this race is wide open beyond the top contenders. With seven other Central Ohio qualifiers, several have a legitimate shot at securing an All-Ohio finish. If I had to highlight two names to watch, I’d go with Graham Tyler and Bradyn Allender. Tyler, despite being seeded near the bottom, has had a stellar indoor season, running 4:17 in the 1600m and 1:56 in the 800m—both top-eight marks in Division 1. I believe he has a strong chance at a top-five finish. Allender is another name to watch after his breakout performance at the end of the cross country season. If he can replicate that All-Ohio form, he could also push for a top-five spot.

Central Ohio is well-represented in the Division 1 indoor state meet, with a strong contingent of talented athletes across all distance events. With top contenders like Matthew Schroff, Owen Towler, and Charlie Guerrera, the region is poised to make a significant impact, especially in the 4x800m relay and 3200m. While some races will feature tough competition, many of the Central Ohio qualifiers are positioned to secure All-Ohio finishes, and a few may even challenge for state titles. The stage is set for an exciting and unpredictable championship weekend, and we can’t wait to see how these athletes rise to the challenge.