Central Ohio Boys State Recap

It was an unfortunate off year for Central Ohio boys, both individually and as teams, at the 2024 state meet. However, despite not stacking up well against the rest of the state this weekend, there were still many impressive performances worth highlighting. Enjoy our in-depth recap of all the Central Ohio performances at states!

Central Ohio Top Individual: Charlie Guerrera (Dublin Jerome)

Central Ohio Top Team: Westerville North Warriors

For the first time since 2020, Central Ohio did not have a team finish in the top 5 at the state meet. The 2024 season showcased some of Ohio's best teams on paper, and despite Region 3’s high potential, none of its top squads could deliver a breakout performance to place higher at states. The final placements for the region were as follows: Westerville North in 9th, Dublin Jerome in 10th, Olentangy Orange in 11th, St. Francis DeSales in 13th, and Olentangy Liberty in 14th. While Central Ohio missed the top 5, there were no teams in the bottom 5 either, indicating that none experienced a complete blow-up.

The battle for the top finish among Central Ohio teams could not have been closer, with Westerville North edging out Dublin Jerome by a single point. Despite having the highest-scoring top runner, Jerome’s remaining top 5 runners fell just behind each of North’s corresponding scorers, allowing the Warriors a razor-thin victory. Olentangy Orange also surprised many by finishing within 15 points of both North and Jerome. Thanks to All-Ohio performances from Matthew Schroff and Bradyn Allender, the Pioneers kept it competitive with Central Ohio’s top teams, even though their back three scored 80+ points each.

While North, Jerome, and Orange finished close together, St. Francis DeSales and Olentangy Liberty trailed by around 50 points behind the region’s top trio. DeSales’ leading trio—Charles Rizek, Jacob Reash, and Ashton Boyd—each scored fewer than 40 points, but the team’s overall score was impacted by younger 4th and 5th runners, who scored 88 and 114 points, respectively. Liberty’s top three runners scored decently as well, yet the team needed either stronger finishes from these runners or more of a pack finish from their back two to close the gap, as they demonstrated earlier in the season.

This year, no Central Ohio runners cracked the top 5, and only two—Charlie Guerrera and Tate Ruthers—finished in the top 10. This was a stark contrast to last season, when three of the top five and five of the top ten finishers were from Central Ohio. The Olentangy Orange duo of Matthew Schroff and Bradyn Allender both placed in the top 15, earning 2nd team All-Ohio honors. Schroff delivered a strong comeback race, while Allender built on his momentum from a 4th-place finish at regionals. Mick Temple also earned 2nd team All-Ohio honors, placing 16th and securing his second All-Ohio award of his high school career.

One of Central Ohio's standout performances came from Marcus Speed, who set an impressive personal record of 15:33 on the challenging Fortress Obetz course, placing 23rd in his state meet debut. Jeffery Kerns also achieved a personal best, finishing six spots behind Speed with a time of 15:36. Both earned All-Ohio Honorable Mention honors, bringing Central Ohio’s total All-Ohio awards to seven—only one less than in 2023, despite fewer top-end finishes.

Outside of the Central Ohio All-Ohioans, there wasn’t much more to note. Casey Carlos and Cayden McClure were the only other top-50 finishers from the region, which contributed to the lower team scores for Central Ohio. A bright spot was Austin Benedict, who finished as the second-highest placing freshman at the state meet and will almost certainly become an All-Ohioan in the future.

In summary, while Central Ohio teams and runners faced challenges at this year's state meet, there were still notable individual achievements and promising performances. From close team battles to personal bests and All-Ohio honors, the region demonstrated resilience and depth, even without top-tier finishes. With young talents like Austin Benedict and the experience gained this season, Central Ohio is well-positioned for a stronger showing in the years ahead. For now, we'll stay tuned to the national meets to see if the top Central Ohio boys can bounce back.