Boys State Preview (Rest of State)

Though our focus is primarily on Central Ohio distance running, we couldn’t miss the chance to preview the upcoming state championships for the rest of Ohio. The state is packed with exceptional teams and elite athletes, and in this article, we’ll highlight the top contenders and share our predictions for how the state meet might unfold.

Projected Individual Champion: Landon Kimmel (Tippecanoe)

Projected Team Champions: Mason Comets

The top three teams in the state, on paper, all come from outside Central Ohio and hail from Region 4, which includes the Cincinnati and Dayton areas. These squads—Little Miami, Mason, and St. Xavier—along with Dublin Jerome and Westerville North, make up the primary contenders. Both Mason and St. Xavier are powerhouse programs consistently in the state title conversation; over the past three years, they have shared one state championship and three runner-up finishes, with the lowest placement for either team being sixth. Expect similar results this season, as both programs field exceptionally strong squads once again. Little Miami, primarily known for producing 2021 State Champion William Zegarski, may be a less established team on the state stage, but currently ranks as the top team on paper.

I predict that Mason, fresh off a Region 4 team title, will continue their streak of dominance and claim the state title again this season, thanks largely to their unrivaled depth. Leading the Comets is junior Caden Winship, who boasts a personal best of 15:07 and is ranked 5th in the state. While having a top runner certainly helps, depth is what matters most at the state level. For Mason, depth is no issue—each of their top five runners ranks within the top 50 scorers, making them the only team to achieve this feat. Additionally, their sixth runner is projected to finish ahead of other contenders’ fifth runners, ensuring that one subpar performance from their top five won’t hurt them as much as it might other teams. Expect the Comets to showcase their depth-driven dominance once again at states.

Our projected runner-up is Little Miami, who finished just behind Mason at regionals last weekend. They’ll give Mason strong competition for the team title, but we believe Mason has the edge due to their depth, which Little Miami lacks after their fourth runner. In terms of top-end talent, no team in the state rivals the Panthers. Their duo, Ryne Reynolds and Michael Zegarski (brother of 2021 state champion Will Zegarski), is undoubtedly the best pair in Ohio, while Ian Patrick and Justin Evans form an impressive 3-4 combo. A notable development from regionals was Justin Evans finishing as Little Miami’s fifth runner, behind their usual sixth man, Mitchell Reynolds. Little Miami’s only vulnerability is their fifth runner, who, on paper, scores 57 points, putting them at a disadvantage compared to Mason. However, if the older Reynolds can stay close to Evans and Patrick, Little Miami will almost surely capture the state title.

St. Xavier will also be in the mix for the state title but is even more impacted by depth issues than Little Miami. While they feature the fastest runner on paper in the state, Alex Bruns, along with Dom Ellis and David Franz, who each boast personal bests in the 15:30s, they face challenges with their fourth and fifth runners, who project to score 50 and 57 points, respectively. At regionals last week, their usual fourth runner, Jack Nesbit, held his own; however, their fifth runner, Owen Paul, struggled, contributing 42 points to their team score. This resulted in an upset by Centerville and a near upset by Beavercreek. Without standout performances from both their fourth and fifth runners at states, St. Xavier will likely fall short of state title contention.

Outside of the main contenders for the state title, there’s no shortage of dark horse teams that could push toward the top of the podium. These teams include Hudson, Centerville, Massillon Jackson, Beavercreek, Olentangy Liberty, and Toledo St. Francis. Hudson, Liberty, and St. Francis will rely on their tight pack time to boost their standings at states, while Centerville, Jackson, and Beavercreek will count on their top-end talent to perform well, hoping their back-end runners can move up in the flat middle-to-back range of the race. While we don’t expect any of these teams to win the state title outright, each has a realistic shot at a top 3-5 finish.

Now onto the individual side of things. The battle for the state championship looks to be between four runners: Alex Bruns, Eli Ilg, Landon Kimmel, and Charlie Guerrera. Guerrera is the only runner in this group with a personal best above 15 minutes, but I believe he has yet to show his full potential this season. Ultimately, I predict Kimmel will claim the individual title. He placed 3rd at states last year and has only improved this season, despite missing his sophomore track season. While Bruns has a faster personal best, Kimmel defeated him by 4 seconds at regionals last weekend. I expect Bruns to finish close behind Kimmel at states, with Ilg and Guerrera rounding out the top four.

The next group of contenders vying for First Team All-Ohio honors includes Kasem Kaheal, Caden Winship, Ryne Reynolds, Tate Ruthers, Noah Burgh, Michael Zegarski, Sam Darmanie, Anthony Clark, Jackson Davis, Marcus Adelman, Zavier Medina, and Mick Temple. Each of these runners has a personal best under 15:20 and represents Ohio’s second tier in Division 1.

Other athletes to watch at state who could push for overall All-Ohio recognition include Max Friedrich, David D’Altorio, Eric Dando, Daniel Emmert, Jeremy Snyder, Ronan Wolfer, Ben Gasiorski, Ian Patrick, David Franz, Mamdouh Abukaram, Dom Ellis, Nathan Hartenberg, Jacob Proctor, Adrian Stechschulte, Will Buckalew, Sean McNulty, and Billy Dennison, along with all the names mentioned in the Central Ohio State Preview article. Each of these runners has a personal best under 15:40 and could make a big impact with a standout race at state.

As the state championships near, excitement builds for an exhilarating showdown in Ohio. With powerhouse teams like Mason and Little Miami at the forefront, and standout individuals like Landon Kimmel and Alex Bruns ready to compete, the competition promises to be fierce. While the frontrunners are clear, dark horse teams could disrupt expectations. Ultimately, depth, talent, and race-day performance will determine the champions. We eagerly await the thrilling performances and unforgettable moments that will shape the future of Ohio distance running!