BRR Girls Preseason XC Team Rankings

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BRR Girls Preseason XC Team Rankings

Disclaimer: With the announcement of expanded cross country divisions by the OHSAA, our coverage this year will include both Division 1 and Division 2. This change also brought an alteration to the postseason structure of cross country.

For Division 1 girls, district meets have been eliminated, creating a gap week where that competition once was. All teams in the region will now compete in one large “Super-Regional” meet. Eight teams will qualify for the state meet, along with the top 16 individuals whose teams did not qualify.

For Division 2 girls, district meets will remain. Twelve total teams and 24 total individuals will advance to regionals. From there, the top five teams and the top 10 individuals whose teams did not qualify will move on to the state meet.

Division 1 Rankings:

Hilliard Davidson: This should come as no surprise. The Lady Wildcats, fresh off a 4x800 state championship last spring, return most of their key contributors and are led by the impressive duo of Celia Schulte and Erica Kaulen. Supporting them are Sophia Tartaglia, Gemma Pusateri, and Laken Wenclewicz, who give Davidson a strong top five. One potential concern is depth, as no other returners enter the season with personal bests under 21:30.
Gahanna Lincoln: Don’t sleep on the Lady Lions this year. After a breakout track season, Ruby Lewis will look to lead an impressive cast in pursuit of a regional title. Behind Lewis, Lincoln has four more runners under 19:35 in Olivia Smeck, Jillian Gomez, Abigail Young, and Rebecca Shope, along with even more depth further down the roster.
Dublin Jerome: With one of the region’s best low sticks in Natalie Fouts, Jerome will once again be a top contender. Supporting her is a strong group of sub-20 runners in Jillian Randolph, Emma Styn, Allie Guster, and Abbie McBrearty, giving the Celtics a balanced lineup.
Olentangy Liberty: Just a step behind Jerome is Olentangy Liberty, who boast a very comparable top five. Elena Aldrink provides a formidable front-runner presence, while Katie Boettcher, Bridget Snider, Addy Miller, and Quinn Cachat round out a consistent supporting cast of sub-20 returners.
Upper Arlington: The Golden Bears round out the top five and look poised for a breakout season. With a returning lineup of Josie Cox, Morgan Hamilton, Helen Griffith, Clara Crist, and Peyton Burton, UA will aim to punch their ticket to the state meet.
Olentangy Orange: The best duo in the region (and possibly the state) belongs to Olentangy Orange with Brooke Chapman and Bella Conforti leading the way. Add in Cecelia Pachko as a capable No. 3, and Orange should be locks to qualify for states. Their ceiling, however, may depend on whether their fourth and fifth runners can take a big step forward.
Lancaster: Last year’s state champions lost several key contributors, but they still return a strong core. The trio of Harper Allen, Brooke Derringer, and Amelia Fries remains one of the toughest in the state, though Lancaster will need more support from its back two runners to seriously defend its title.
Teays Valley: Led by state-title favorite Katy Zang, the only returner in Ohio with a personal best under 17 minutes, Teays Valley will be in the mix for a state qualifying spot. Backing her up are Reese Galinger and Addison Keplar, forming a reliable trio. With improvements from their fourth and fifth runners, the Vikings could be in line for a state berth.
New Albany: One of several teams on the outside looking in, New Albany will need big improvements to fight for a state qualification. Kyla Benedict projects as an individual state qualifier and is supported by four more runners under 21 minutes. If two or more of their top five can take a leap, the Eagles could become dangerous.
Thomas Worthington: Much like New Albany, Thomas Worthington is led by a strong low stick in Lainey Fauth, with the rest of the top five hovering around the 20:00 mark. If a couple of the Cardinals’ returners can make a jump, they’ll have a shot at sneaking into the state meet.

Division 2 Rankings:

Bishop Watterson: Highlighted by a strong low stick and incredible depth, the Eagles are clearly the top team in the Division 2 region. Sophomore Kaitlyn Van Zandt owns the fastest returning time in the region and is supported by five other teammates who have all run under 20 minutes.
Jonathan Alder: A new addition to our expanded coverage, Jonathan Alder brings a strong squad this season. Led by Ella Luker—the third-fastest returning runner in the region—they have the depth to make a serious impact in the postseason.
Big Walnut: Boasting what may be the best trio in the region, another Eagles squad looks poised for a top-three finish. Leigha Kay, Grace Buskirk, and Leighton Coey are each projected to place in the top 10, while a solid pack from runners four through seven gives them a strong overall lineup.
Granville: While they lack a clear frontrunner, Granville makes up for it with impressive depth. Six runners have personal bests between 20:00 and 21:00, and if they can hold together as a pack, they’ll be a dangerous team this year.
Canal Winchester: Another team with a formidable trio, Canal Winchester is led by Claire Speakman, Lillian Stepp, and Peyton Hughey, each of whom has run 19:45 or faster. Projected to grab the final qualifying spot for states, their chances improve even more if the rest of the varsity lineup can take a step forward.
St. Francis DeSales: Similar to Granville, DeSales lacks a true No. 1 but compensates with a deep pack. While they currently sit just outside the qualifying picture, a strong team effort at regionals could push them over the edge and into the state meet.
Bishop Hartley: With a nearly identical team makeup to DeSales, Hartley will also be in the hunt for the final state qualifying spot. It would require a big leap, but a path to states is certainly still within reach.