With the postseason quickly approaching, the OCC Championships are set to deliver another weekend of standout performances and heated team battles. From returning stars like Mick Temple and Brock Jarrett to powerhouse programs such as Dublin Jerome and Westerville North, each division promises drama, depth, and fast times across Central Ohio.

OCC Buckeye Division

Predicted Individual Champion: Brock Jarrett

Predicted Team Champion: Lancaster

The individual race in the Buckeye Division is shaping up to be a competitive one, with Lancaster’s Brock Jarrett and Gabe McNeil, Canal Winchester’s Grant Hamilton, and Logan’s Drew Perry all vying for the title. While Jarrett is the frontrunner, Hamilton, Perry, and McNeil have all broken 16 minutes and should be in the mix. Other notable names to watch include Reide Klamorick and Talan Carter.

Continuing a long-standing trend, Lancaster is projected to cruise to another conference win. While they may not complete a full 1–7 sweep like in previous years due to a few quality individuals from other schools, no other team appears close to challenging them.

OCC Capital Division

Predicted Individual Champion: Michael Kinzer

Predicted Team Champion: Westerville North

This one should be a lot of fun. Packed with competitive runners and strong teams, the Capital Division is sure to produce an exciting race. The individual title will likely come down to Westerville North’s Casey Carlos and Holden Gray, along with Dublin Scioto’s Michael Kinzer. Although it’ll be tight, I think Kinzer will come away with the win. He opened the season with a blazing 15:33, and while he hasn’t matched that mark since, he’s due for a big performance that could edge out Carlos and Gray. Other strong competitors include Khalid Guled, Aidan Green, Owen Klein, Hayden McComb, Austyn Fox, and Jack Flanagan.

In the team battle, a victory for Westerville North seems inevitable. Despite losing four of their top five from last season, they’ve reloaded impressively, fueled by breakout campaigns from Holden Gray and Khalid Guled. They currently sit as the top team in the state on paper, so conferences likely won’t be much of a concern. Delaware Hayes and Worthington Kilbourne are also quality squads with state-qualification potential, while Big Walnut and Dublin Scioto stand out as top Division II programs.

OCC Ohio Division

Predicted Individual Champion: Mick Temple

Predicted Team Champion: Westerville Central

Featuring one of the only undefeated runners in the state, Butler commit Mick Temple, the Ohio Division will be one to watch. After winning the conference as a freshman, Temple now looks to complete a four-peat of OCC cross country titles. It’s unlikely anyone will be able to stick with him, but expect Austin Benedict, Alex Hohman, Liam Irvin, Dominion Mercurio, and Corbin Morrisey to battle for first-team all-conference honors and state qualification.

The team battle is a toss-up among New Albany, Westerville Central, and Gahanna Lincoln, three squads capable of making the state meet. An argument can be made for any of them, but I’ll take Westerville Central to pull off the upset. Their third runner, Andrew Gould, who ran 4:22 in the 1600 last spring, has battled injuries this year but could be the key to securing the win if he returns to form. That said, New Albany’s tight 1–5 spread gives them a real chance to come out on top if they can maintain consistency.

OCC Cardinal Division

Predicted Individual Champion: Kole Hyer

Predicted Team Champion: Dublin Jerome

The Cardinal Division might be the most competitive of the day, featuring a deep pool of high-potential runners, including Ethan Ishida, Graham Tyler, Lincoln Kelly, Kole Hyer, Logan Behm, Rishi Jha, Calvin Watson, and Vansh Sethi. Each is capable of running in the 15:30s, making the individual title wide open. I’ll give the edge to Hyer, who has been consistently improving and holds the fastest personal best in the field, but don’t be surprised if any of the top eight pull off the win.

The team battle will be just as close, with three regional powerhouses, Dublin Jerome, Thomas Worthington, and Hilliard Darby clashing for the title. I’m picking Jerome, as I believe they’ve yet to run to their full potential and boast a trio of sub-16 athletes. If Thomas or Darby’s fifth man can step up and tighten their scoring gap, though, an upset could be in play. Olentangy Berlin, while not a title contender, is also a strong team with a legitimate chance to qualify for the state meet.

OCC Central Division

Predicted Individual Champion: Anton Shishlo

Predicted Team Champion: Olentangy Orange

Once among the most competitive conferences in the whole state, the Central Division has taken a slight step back, but it still features several standout individuals and solid teams. The individual crown should come down to Hilliard Bradley’s Anton Shishlo and Olentangy Liberty’s Gordon Kimberly. My pick is Shishlo, who has posted several impressive performances this season, though Kimberly certainly has the upside to pull off an upset. Other individuals to watch include Cowen Allender, Sid Sivakumar, Sahil Khandari, and Ben Canales.

The team title likely won’t be close, with Olentangy Orange projected to cruise to victory. Entering the season, there were concerns about their back-end depth, but breakouts from Adam Ellison and Jackson McKinney have silenced those doubts. Orange sits on the bubble for state qualification, and their performance here should indicate how well they’re positioned for the postseason. Dublin Coffman and Olentangy Liberty are also solid, regionals-caliber squads likely to battle for the conference runner-up spot.

The OCC Championships will serve as a final tune-up before the postseason, showcasing many of Central Ohio’s best teams and athletes. From dominant front-runners like Mick Temple and Anton Shishlo to tight team races in the Ohio and Cardinal divisions, this weekend promises a thrilling mix of speed, strategy, and statement performances heading into the regional championships.