Central District Section 2 Preview

The Region 3 cross-country season is nearing its most crucial point, with teams and individuals set to face off in high-stakes races. Both the boys’ and girls’ competitions in the second section of the Central District are packed with talent, as powerhouse programs like Westerville North, Olentangy Orange, Dublin Jerome, and Olentangy Liberty aim to secure their spots at regionals. With some of the region’s top athletes battling for district supremacy, these races promise intense showdowns and thrilling finishes that could set the stage for the postseason. In this section, the boys race will see 5 teams and 20 individuals qualify to regionals, while the girls will send 6 teams and 24 individuals.

Boys Race

Projected Individual Champion: Matthew Schroff (Olentangy Orange)

Projected Team Champion: Westerville North Warriors

Projected Team Qualifiers: Westerville North, Olentangy Orange, Dublin Coffman, Lancaster, and Westerville Central

The second section of the Central District boys' competition promises fierce team and individual matchups. The spotlight is on Westerville North and Olentangy Orange, two of the top three teams in the region, while Dublin Coffman, a perennial powerhouse, will look to maintain its status. Other notable teams include Westerville Central, Olentangy Berlin, and Lancaster, all capable of strong showings and potential regional qualifications.

Matthew Schroff, fresh off his OCC Central division title where he outpaced Jacob Bolton by seven seconds, is the favorite to secure the individual crown. Bolton, the second-seeded runner in this section, will likely push Schroff to fast times. The race should feature an exciting battle between these two, with a competitive pack closely following. Expect fierce competition from Jeffery Kerns, Bradyn Allender, Casey Carlos, Sahil Khandari, Gabe Wise, and Jordan Mazak from Westerville North and Olentangy Orange as they seek to help their team capture the district title. Additionally, the Olentangy Berlin duo of Vansh Sethi and Eli Baxter, along with the Canales brothers from Dublin Coffman, will be determined to stay within striking distance, setting up an intense race dynamic.

When it comes to team dynamics, the race for the top spot is a close call between Westerville North and Olentangy Orange. We’re giving North a slight advantage, but an unexpected breakout performance could easily shift the balance. Dublin Coffman is anticipated to secure a solid third place. As for the final two spots, although Westerville Central and Olentangy Berlin are currently projected to fill them, we predict an upset. Despite being seeded lower on paper, Lancaster has yet to run a fast course this season, and with their history as a regional powerhouse, they have the potential to surprise and clinch fourth place. This scenario leaves either Central or Berlin at risk of elimination. While the competition will be tight, we expect Central to emerge victorious for the final spot, as their depth, though still developing, surpasses that of Berlin.

Girls Race

Projected Individual Champion: Elena Aldrink (Olentangy Liberty)

Projected Team Champion: Dublin Jerome Celtics

Projected Team Qualifiers: Dublin Jerome, Olentangy Liberty, Olentangy Berlin, Upper Arlington, Pickerington North, Logan

The girls' competition in the second section of the Central District features top-tier teams and fierce individual battles. Dublin Jerome and Olentangy Liberty headline the field, both ranked among the best in the region. Quality teams like Olentangy Berlin, Upper Arlington, Pickerington North, Logan, and Canal Winchester are also in contention for regional spots.

At the individual level, the showdown between Natalie Fouts and Elena Aldrink is poised to be a thriller. Both athletes are coming off impressive conference wins last weekend. Despite Fouts having the faster personal best, Aldrink’s upset victory over last year’s 1600m state champion, Brooke Chapman, gives her a slight edge in this prediction. The chase pack will include a diverse group of top talent from different schools. Look out for Helen Randolph from Dublin Jerome, Mia Eberhardt from Pickerington North (OCC Buckeye champion), Grace Heitkamp from Olentangy Berlin, and Lydia Price from Marion Harding among others.

The team competition, like the boys’, will be close. Dublin Jerome and Olentangy Liberty are expected to battle for the district title. Jerome’s strength lies in their depth, particularly with a second runner who can place within the top five. This gives them a slight advantage over Liberty. Olentangy Berlin and Upper Arlington are expected to secure regional spots without too much trouble. The final two regional berths will come down to a tight contest between Pickerington North, Logan, and Canal Winchester. Based on the depth of their pack behind their top runner, Pickerington North is projected to take fifth, with Logan edging out Canal Winchester for the final spot thanks to Caylen Goss, their top individual performer.

As the dust settles on the District 2 races, the road to regionals will be clearer, with only the best advancing. Whether it’s Matthew Schroff and Elena Aldrink dominating the individual races or Westerville North and Dublin Jerome staking their claims to team titles, every performance will count. The excitement and unpredictability of these district races ensure that this season's storylines are far from over, with regional and state aspirations driving each team and runner forward.

Click here for full team start lists and meet information