Winner: Gabe McNeil

School: Lancaster

Quote: “I knew I had nothing to lose, so I just went for it — and I had the same mindset going into states.”

Highlight:Gabe McNeil may have been a newcomer to the mid-distance scene this track season, but he rose to the occasion in a big way. As only a sophomore, McNeil placed 6th in the 800 at the OHSAA State Meet, clocking a time of 1:52.89. Just a year ago, he was competing as a sprinter during his freshman season, but he gave the 800 a shot during the 2025 indoor season — and never looked back. “I came into this season knowing I didn’t have as much experience as others in my field, especially after moving up to the 800,” he explained.

Despite being new to the distance, McNeil proved he belonged. After opening the season with a 1:57, he steadily dropped time throughout the spring, improving in nearly every race. By the time states rolled around, he had established himself as one of the rising stars of Ohio middle-distance running. “I knew I had nothing to lose, so I just went for it — and I had the same mindset going into states,” he said. That fearless approach helped power him down the final stretch, where he outkicked many older, more experienced competitors to secure All-Ohio honors.

While his résumé is already impressive, this is only the beginning for McNeil. He’ll head into next season as one of the top returning 800m runners in the state — and the fastest in Ohio’s class of 2027. With plenty of strong competition in the region, he’ll be pushed to his full potential, and we’re excited to see how far that will take him.