Buckeye, Ohio, and CCL

With the regular season coming to an end, it's the perfect time to reveal our OCC previews. In this article, we will review the Buckeye, Ohio, and CCL divisions, all featuring talented and underrated runners that we’re excited to discuss. 

OCC Buckeye Division

Predicted individual champion- Grant Hamilton

Predicted team champions- Lancaster

Despite losing a significant amount of talent last year, Lancaster is still projected to remain at the top of what some would call the weakest division in the OCC. Junior Brock Jarrett, who enters the race as the second-fastest seeded runner with a time of 16:16, leads the charge for the Golden Gales. However, our projected individual champion is senior Grant Hamilton, who has a personal best of 15:54 this season and is one of the best runners in Canal Winchester’s history. He and Jarrett are the only two athletes in the conference to have broken 16:30. Both Carter Davis, Jarrett’s teammate, and Reynoldsburg’s Abdoul Bah, who were top-seven finishers last year, are aiming to secure their second consecutive 1st Team OCC award. While Lancaster looks likely to pull away as a team, Logan has also had a strong season and seems poised to finish as the conference runner-up.

OCC Ohip

Predicted individual champion- Mick Temple

Predicted team champions- Gahanna Lincoln

The OCC Ohio division is one of the most exciting conferences in Ohio this year, filled with star power. Leading the way is Mick Temple from Pickerington North, who is aiming for his third consecutive conference championship. Temple has been nearly unstoppable in the division since his upset win as a freshman, and despite dealing with injury this year, he still shows no signs of slowing down. A two-man battle is expected for the runner-up spot between Austin Benedict and Owen Towler. Benedict, a freshman sensation from New Albany, has steadily improved from being a top middle school runner in the state to posting a 15:37 at Dublin Jerome’s Celtic Clash. With limitless potential, Benedict enters the postseason with high expectations for Regionals and States. Towler, a senior from Gahanna Lincoln, is a speedster who finished fifth in the 800m at the state meet just four months ago and has a personal best of 15:39, just two seconds behind Benedict. Benedict’s teammate, Marcus Speed, is the only other runner in the conference to have broken 16:00 this season, with a personal best of 15:56. The rest of the top ten seeds are dominated by Gahanna runners, with six of them clocking under 16:25. Westerville Central’s Alex Hohman and Caleb Manoharan, who set personal bests at Hilliard Davidson’s Hot Summer Bash, will aim to stay with Gahanna’s pack. With such depth, the Gahanna boys’ team appears poised to end their title drought. After last winning the conference championship in 2018, Gahanna looks ready to reclaim the top spot and break their streak.

CCL

Predicted individual champion- Charles Rizek

Predicted team champions- St. Francis Desales

Often overlooked in Central Ohio distance running, the Central Catholic League should not be forgotten, as it boasts significant talent, led by two standout individuals. DeSales seniors Charles Rizek and Jacob Reash, both with personal bests in the 15:30s, will each make a strong case for the top spot in this race. Although Rizek has slightly edged out Reash throughout the season, the competition between them could go either way if they choose to make it intense. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if they crossed the finish line together, a fitting end to their successful careers in the CCL. Hartley senior Conner Caltrider will also challenge the DeSales duo, with a personal best of 15:41 after an impressive season. DeSales is expected to take an easy team victory, thanks to the significant improvement of their top five, and they’ll aim to place highly at the regional and state levels. Bishop Watterson, following their own strong improvement, is likely to secure runner-up honors with a solid group of five runners ranging between 16:05 and 16:35.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the OCC divisions—the Buckeye, Ohio, and CCL—feature a wealth of talent as we approach the championship season. Standout runners like Grant Hamilton, Mick Temple, and Charles Rizek are poised to make their mark, while teams such as Lancaster and Gahanna Lincoln vie for victory. With so many skilled competitors, fans can anticipate thrilling races that will not only determine conference champions but also highlight the future stars of Central Ohio distance running. The stage is set, and we look forward to seeing how these athletes perform when it matters most.

(Note: These previews do not include any results from the weekend of October 5th.)