Division 2 Indoor State Meet Recap

Central Ohio’s Division 2 athletes made their presence felt at the Indoor State Championships, with several standout performances and podium finishes. While the number of qualifiers was limited, the region still produced impressive results, highlighted by top-three finishes and personal bests across multiple events. From gritty middle-distance showings to breakthrough races in the distance events, Central Ohio’s competitors made the most of their opportunities on the state’s biggest stage.

Boys: Despite a small group of Central Ohio qualifiers in Division 2, several athletes still turned in strong performances. Granville, the lone Central Ohio team in the 4x800 meter relay, faced challenges after likely missing one of their qualifying runners and finished outside the top teams. In the 1600, Granville’s Cohen Stump and St. Francis DeSales’ Jacob Reash both earned All-Ohio honors, with Stump running 4:23 for sixth and Reash clocking 4:24 for eighth. In the 800, St. Charles senior Evan Graessle delivered a standout performance, placing third with an indoor personal best of 1:55.48. The 3200 saw another third-place finish from Sheridan’s Tate Ruthers, who ran 9:26, while DeSales’ Charles Rizek narrowly missed All-Ohio honors after doubling back from the 1600.

Girls: The Division 2 Central Ohio girls opened their day with an impressive third-place finish from Bishop Watterson in the 4x800 meter relay, crossing the line in 9:56. In the 1600, Mount Vernon’s Lucy Rush delivered a massive breakthrough, slashing nearly 15 seconds off her personal best to finish seventh in 5:10 and earn All-Ohio honors. Logan’s Kaylen Goss also qualified in the 1600, placing 10th. Big Walnut’s Leighton Coey was the region’s lone 800 meter qualifier and made the most of it, securing a fourth-place finish with All-Ohio honors and a personal best of 2:19.22. In the 3200, Granville freshman Elsa Tonnesson earned All-Ohio honors with a sixth-place finish of 11:24. Rounding out Central Ohio’s competitors were Mount Vernon’s Lucy Rush (9th), Logan’s Kaylen Goss (10th), and Bishop Watterson’s Kaitlyn Van Zandt (12th).

Although Central Ohio’s Division 2 representation was small, the athletes delivered big results. Multiple runners brought home All-Ohio honors, with standout efforts in the 800, 1600, and 3200 meter races, as well as a podium finish in the girls’ 4x800. With the indoor season now wrapped up, these performances set the stage for what should be an exciting outdoor season as Central Ohio’s top Division 2 talent looks to build on their momentum.