Team Rankings Post-Regionals

1. Dublin Jerome - While the Celtics couldn’t clinch the team title at the regional meet, they remain steadfast in our #1 position. This was a tough call, but the presence of state title contender Charlie Guerrera distinguishes them from other leading teams in the region. The regional meet illustrated that the top four teams in Central Ohio have a legitimate chance to challenge each other at the ultimate showdown at Fortress Obetz. For Jerome to reclaim Central Ohio glory this coming weekend, their pack will need to elevate their performance. If they do, they could very well find themselves atop the podium with a state title.

2. Westerville North - Attention, Big 3 fans—you might not like this one. An upset victory at the regional championships has propelled Westerville North back to the #2 spot in our rankings. However, as mentioned earlier, their lack of a state championship standout keeps them from overtaking the top position. Jordan Mazak’s performance will be crucial for their success this weekend. If Mazak returns to his early-season form, the Warriors could not only secure the top spot from Central Ohio but also enter the conversation for the state title.

3. Olentangy Orange - It’s astonishing to consider how formidable this Olentangy Orange squad could be if they hadn’t lost their #3 runner, Sahil Kandhari. Despite this setback, the Pioneers secured a third-place finish and showcased the best 1-2 scoring punch in the region. Senior Bradyn Allender stepped up admirably, taking home a 4th place finish while Matthew Schroff was struggling. If Allender maintains his impressive form, Schroff returns to mid-season strength, and their 3-5 pack continues to excel, the Pioneers could not only challenge the region's best but also have an outside shot at the state title.

4. Olentangy Liberty - Despite finishing 4th at the regional championships, the Patriots have only slipped to the #4 spot in our rankings as we head into the state championships. This is due to two main factors: their remarkable depth and the breakout performance of Gordon Kimberly (9th place finish), which hints at the potential for a three-headed monster. If Louie Perry and Zee Rabi can race alongside Kimberly at the front, the Patriots could upset the top teams in the region at Fortress Obetz.

5. St. Francis DeSales - Although they finished 4th this weekend, placing ahead of Olentangy Liberty, the Stallions hold steady at our 5th rank. We didn’t learn anything new about them this weekend; their trio of Charles Rizek, Jacob Reash, and Ashton Boyd remains among the region's finest. However, their 4th and 5th scorers both finished in the 50s, placing their 4th scorer behind every other qualifying team's 5th. While their front trio will pose a threat this weekend, a lack of support from their backend scorers could hinder the Stallions in the team contest.

6. Dublin Scioto - As noted in our regional preview, it seems there’s always a heartbreaking end to a team's season at the regional championships. Unfortunately for Irish fans, Dublin Scioto fell victim to this phenomenon this year. The Irish finished just 1 point shy of 5th place Olentangy Liberty and only 5 points away from overtaking 4th place DeSales. While this loss will sting, they can take solace in the individual success of teammate McKinley Norman, who qualified individually.

7. New Albany - Having steadily climbed the rankings throughout the year, the Eagles maintain the 7th position. With strong performances from Marcus Speed and Austin Benedict (the only freshman in the top 20), the Eagles secured an 8th place finish. Although their team season has concluded, they have two front runners to look forward to at Fortress Obetz this coming weekend.

8. Dublin Coffman - Although they weren’t able to reach the state championships this year, Coffman can take pride in a 7th place finish during what was a rebuilding year. Highlighted by Jacob Bolton’s 5th place finish, the boys from Coffman improved as the season progressed. While they’ll lose 3 seniors from this year's regional team, they return a pair of freshmen and a pair of sophomores, aiming for a strong push for next year's state championships.

9. Gahanna Lincoln - A solid season for the Lions came to an end this weekend with a 9th place finish at Pickerington North, just 1 point behind New Albany. While Owen Towler qualified individually for Fortress Obetz, the rest of the pack couldn’t meet the early-season expectations. Despite having a 7th runner with a PR of 16:24 on paper, they struggled to perform cohesively, yet it was still a respectable year for the Lions.

10. Hilliard Darby - It was a disappointing day for the Panthers, who finished in 10th place, narrowly avoiding falling out of the top 10 by just 2 points. Not only did they fail to qualify as a team, but they also won’t send any individuals to the state championships. While they showcased glimpses of strong pack running and talented individuals, they couldn’t put it all together over the weekend. Their performance was just enough to keep them in our top 10.

Honorable Mentions:

11. Marysville

12. Westerville Central

13. Lancaster

14. Thomas Worthington

15. Hilliard Davidson

16. Worthington Kilbourne