Central District Section Two Breakdown

The Central District Section 2 cross-country races lived up to the hype, offering intense competition in both the boys' and girls' events. With team titles coming down to razor-thin margins and standout individual performances defining the day, this section did not disappoint. Pre-race predictions were both affirmed and challenged, as underdogs rose to the occasion and established runners proved their dominance. In this article, we break down the highlights of the boys’ and girls’ races, including key performances, team battles, and a look ahead to the regional stage.

Boys Race

Individual Champion: Jacob Bolton (Dublin Coffman)

Team Champions: Westerville North Warriors

Team Qualifiers: Westerville North

Olentangy Orange

Dublin Coffman

Westerville Central

Lancaster

The boys race in Section 2 delivered a thrilling competition, with nail-biting finishes in both individual and team contests. Although Matthew Schroff was the pre-race favorite, it was Jacob Bolton from Dublin Coffman who claimed his first-ever invitational victory, capturing the district title in a dramatic sprint finish over Westerville North's Jeffery Kerns. Schroff, not quite in top form, still secured a solid third place. On the team side, the expected battle between Westerville North and Olentangy Orange was as tight as predicted, with North edging out Orange by a mere two points to claim the team title.

The top seven individuals also included strong performances from Olentangy Berlin’s Vansh Sethi, Lancaster’s Brock Jarrett, Orange’s Bradyn Allender, and North’s Casey Carlos. Sethi was the only individual qualifier from the top seven, as the others advanced with their teams. The other additional individual qualifiers in this race were Abdoul Bah, Griffin Ley, Anton Shishlo, and Eli Baxter. Notably, Brock Jarrett broke through with a 20-second personal best, leading Lancaster to their 15th consecutive regional appearance—a remarkable streak.

The team race was as intense as expected, and the score breakdown sheds light on how it played out. Orange’s third runner, Sahil Khandari, with a personal best of 15:50, seems to be out indefinitely, yet the depth in their third through sixth runners kept the race close. A surprising development was Jordan Mazak, typically a key part of the team’s “Big 3,” finishing fifth on his team after a slow postseason start. Meanwhile, teammate Gabe Wise has been on a tear, giving North the potential for a dominant “Big 4” if Mazak rebounds. Beyond the top two teams, Lancaster executed the predicted upset over Olentangy Berlin to grab a qualifying spot, while Dublin Coffman cruised to third place as expected.

Girls Race

Individual Champion: Elena Aldrink (Olentangy Liberty)

Team Champions: Dublin Jerome Celtics

Team Qualifiers: Dublin Jerome

Olentangy Liberty

Upper Arlington

Olentangy Berlin

Canal Winchester

Pickerington North

The girls' race played out much as anticipated, with both the individual and team champions aligning with expectations. Olentangy Liberty’s Elena Aldrink continued her winning streak, outdueling Dublin Jerome’s standout Natalie Fouts for the individual crown. However, it was Jerome’s team that eked out a narrow victory, mirroring the close battle seen in the boys’ race.

Joining Aldrink and Fouts among the top seven finishers were Pickerington North’s Mia Eberhardt, Jerome’s Hellen Randolph, Upper Arlington’s Ava Cox, Whetstone’s Miriam Rule, and Logan’s Kaylen Goss. Eberhardt maintained her strong postseason form following last weekend’s conference win. Rule and Goss earned their spots at regionals as individual qualifiers, along with Marion Harding’s Lydia Price, Licking Heights’ Addison Caudill, and Olentangy’s Ava Alexander.

The team race was a closely contested affair, as expected. Jerome's one-two punch of Fouts and Randolph proved crucial, giving their squad just enough firepower to overcome Liberty, whose depth from runners two through six wasn’t quite enough. Five of the six team qualifiers were correctly predicted, with Canal Winchester exceeding expectations by securing fifth, edging out Pickerington North. Unfortunately, Logan’s girls missed qualifying by a mere 13 points, but their star sophomore, Kaylen Goss, will still represent them at regionals.

The Central District Section 2 races showcased the depth of talent and competitive spirit among these teams and individuals. With thrilling finishes, unexpected breakouts, and fierce team rivalries, the stage is now set for even greater challenges at regionals. Whether it was Jacob Bolton’s impressive first victory or the narrow team victories by Westerville North and Dublin Jerome, these athletes have shown they are ready to rise to the occasion. As the postseason continues, all eyes will be on these qualifiers as they battle for a spot at the state championships.