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 advancing to the state meet, there are plenty of spots up for grabs in the new-era Division 2. With many of the region’s top teams and individuals set to square off, this regional meet is poised to deliver just as much excitement as its Division 1 counterpart.

Predicted Top Five Individual Finishers: Michael Kinzer, Luke Rettenberger, Marcus Adelman, Grant Hamilton, Jack Hangen

Predicted Team Qualifiers: New Philadelphia, Bishop Watterson, Granville, Big Walnut, Dublin Scioto

Taking full advantage of Dublin Scioto’s move to Division 2 this season, I predict that Michael Kinzer will take home the victory on Saturday. He’s coming off an impressive district title, where he took control early and never looked back. Kinzer also finished runner-up at the OCC Capital meet behind Westerville North’s Casey Carlos, proving that he’s the real deal. With a season-best of 15:33, Kinzer should be right at the front of this race. However, he won’t be without competition, as Luke Rettenberger, Marcus Adelman, and Grant Hamilton are all strong contenders for the regional crown.

Rettenberger, Adelman, and Hamilton are coming off district titles of their own, and their performances this season speak for themselves. Rettenberger finished runner-up at a highly competitive Bob Reall Invitational, while Hamilton’s 15:38 PR puts him right in the mix with Kinzer. Additionally, Marcus Adelman of New Philadelphia holds the fastest PR in the entire region, running 15:24 at the Wooster Invitational. Jack Hangen of Bishop Watterson and Lincoln Wilson of Jonathan Alder are also threats for the title, highlighting that this individual race is jam-packed with top-end talent.

Beyond the frontrunners, this region is loaded with athletes capable of finishing near the top and earning all-region honors. Runners such as Jayden Beverly and Rowan Smith have proven they can compete with the best, while Callum Sproul, Cameron Carn, Luke Hollis, Logan Miller, Andrew Perry, Alec Adelman, and Brady Spears are all legitimate threats to crack the top ten.

Further down the individual list, another strong group of runners will be battling for individual qualifying spots. Owen Comes, Hudson Wilson, Calvin Heithaus, Chase Daniel, Everett Lynch, Jack Flanagan, and Kyle Beaber are all all-region-caliber athletes who could surprise a lot of people by moving even further up in the pack with a strong effort on Saturday.

While the individual race may grab most of the attention, the team battle is equally compelling. At the top, it looks like a two-horse race between New Philadelphia and Bishop Watterson. Although New Philadelphia entered the season as the heavy favorite, Bishop Watterson’s late-season surge makes things interesting. Ultimately, I believe New Philadelphia’s front-end depth will give them the edge and the regional title.

The fight for the remaining state-qualifying spots promises to be fierce. With three spots left and several capable teams in contention, expect a scrappy dogfight to determine who advances. Granville, coming off a strong district performance, enters as the third-best team heading into the weekend. For the final two spots, I’m taking Big Walnut and Dublin Scioto from the OCC Capital. Big Walnut’s tight pack should push them through, while Dublin Scioto will rely on low sticks from Kinzer and Jack Flanagan to clinch fifth.

Still, those final two spots are far from secure. Bishop Hartley, Jonathan Alder, and Chillicothe will all be in hot pursuit. Each of these teams has the talent to finish as high as fourth, but inconsistency throughout the season makes them riskier picks. That said, one strong performance from any of these squads could be enough to push them over the bubble and secure a trip to Obetz next week.

Ultimately, Division 2 is ready to showcase its growing strength within the Central Ohio landscape. With a newly realigned field packed with talent, fans arriving early at Pickerington North will be treated to plenty of excitement. Free from the overwhelming size of Division 1 fields, this race offers a new opportunity for first-time Division 2 programs and a fresh challenge for returning contenders. The beauty of this race is that there are no guaranteed winners or qualifiers—every second and every spot matters. In a meet filled with uncertainty and speculation, one thing is clear: Division 2 cross country has arrived as a powerhouse in its own right, ready to deliver thrilling performances for years to come.