Boys Runner of the Week from State Championships  

Winner: Jeffery Kerns  

School: Westerville North

Highlight: The senior from Westerville North ran a personal best of 15:36 at the State Championships this past weekend at Fortress Obetz. His 29th-place finish made him the 7th Central Ohio runner across the line, matching his 7th-place performance from the Regional Championships. He also led the Warriors to a 9th-place finish, the highest ranking for any Central Ohio team.

For the second consecutive week, our Runner of the Week award goes to a Westerville North athlete, with senior Jeffery Kerns taking the honors. Throughout the season, Kerns has been the undisputed leader of the Regional Champion Warriors. While the team has seen variability in their 2-4 positions, Kerns has remained consistently strong. Outside of the State Championships, he only finished outside the top 10 at one meet, the Berlin Bear Den Dash, and broke the 16-minute barrier at every single race. Capping off his outstanding season with a PR and All-Ohio finish at the State Championships was the perfect finale.

“I was happy with my state meet performance because I ran a PR and achieved my personal season goal of All-Ohio,” Kerns shared when asked about his experience at this year’s State Championships. It was his best race of the year, showcasing his ability to peak at the right time. With the possibility of one more race for the Warriors this season, they’re eager to perform to their full potential. “We were hoping for a bit more at the state meet,” Kerns admitted. While the team didn’t achieve their ideal finish at Fortress Obetz, he recognizes it was still an impressive season.

“Our team had an amazing season, going undefeated against Central Ohio teams and winning the Regional Championship,” Kerns said. At the Regional Championships, Kerns led the way with his 7th-place finish, supported by Regional Runner of the Week Gabe Wise in 15th, Casey Carlos in 18th, Charlie Bosler in 24th, and Jordan Mazak in 46th. Now, Kerns looks ahead to the upcoming track season.