Central District Section 3 Breakdown

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Central District Section Three Breakdown

The Central District Section 3 cross-country races delivered an exciting day of competition, featuring tight battles for both the boys' and girls' team titles along with standout individual performances. While some pre-race predictions held true, others were disrupted by breakout performances from underdogs and consistent efforts from seasoned runners. This recap will dive into the pivotal moments of both races, highlight team and individual achievements, and discuss what these results mean as athletes prepare for the upcoming regional stage.

Boys Race

Individual Champion: Charles Guerrera (Dublin Jerome)

Team Champions: Dublin Jerome

Team Qualifiers: Dublin Jerome

Dublin Scioto

New Albany

Hilliard Darby

Worthington Kilbourne

The boys’ race in Section 3 was as thrilling as expected, with the team competition coming down to the wire. Granville mounted a strong challenge, giving Worthington Kilbourne a real run for the final qualifying spot. Kilbourne, however, managed to hold on thanks to standout efforts from Thomas Katsares and Owen Klein, along other clutch performances from their squad, who rose to the occasion in the final moments. Dublin Jerome cemented their dominance, winning the team title behind a commanding 1-2 finish from Charles Guerrera and Ethan Ishida, who set the tone from the front. Dublin Scioto’s Owen Kockentiet and New Albany’s duo, Marcus Speed and Austin Benedict, rounded out the top five, playing key roles in helping their teams secure qualification spots.

Worthington Kilbourne’s pack had been highlighted in pre-race previews, but it was Hilliard Darby who delivered the most impressive team spread on the day. Their top five finished within a minute of each other, with the top four crossing the line within just 27 seconds. This tight grouping demonstrated their depth and teamwork, helping them take 4th place, narrowly behind New Albany and Dublin Scioto. The drama at the cutoff for the final team qualifier added extra tension to an already electric race.

Girls Race

Individual Champion: Brooke Chapman (Olentangy Orange)

Team Champions: Hilliard Davidson

Team Qualifiers: Hilliard Davidson

Bishop Watterson

Olentangy Orange

Dublin Coffman

Thomas Worthington

On the girls’ side, the race largely unfolded as expected, but with one surprising twist: district runner-up favorite Celia Schulte struggled, opening the door for Bella Conforti to step up and break 18 minutes for just the second time in her career, despite the heat. Behind Conforti, Thomas Worthington's Lainey Fauth followed, with Schulte eventually securing 4th place. At the front, Brooke Chapman claimed the individual title by more than 10 seconds, living up to her pre-race favorite status. This unexpected shift added a layer of excitement to the race.

Hilliard Davidson dominated the team standings despite missing one of their top runners, Erica Kaulen. Sophia Tartaglia delivered an impressive 5th place finish, just behind Schulte, stepping up in Kaulen’s absence. Davidson’s depth was on full display, with all five of their scoring runners placing in the top 10, securing a team score of just 34 points. This commanding performance has set them up as strong contenders for the Regional title and possibly the state championship. Bishop Watterson comfortably secured the runner-up spot, benefiting from the return of Kaitlyn Van Zandt, while Olentangy Orange edged out Dublin Coffman for third, thanks to their strong 1-2 punch at the front of the race.

Overall, the Central District Section 3 cross-country races showcased impressive team and individual efforts. From Dublin Jerome’s runaway win on the boys' side to Hilliard Davidson’s dominance in the girls' race, many athletes delivered on expectations, while a few breakout performances made waves. With the Regional stage ahead, these results offer a preview of what to expect as teams and individuals look to punch their tickets to the state championships.

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