Girls District 2 Recap

District 2 featured some of the deepest and most competitive girls' distance races in Central Ohio. With dominant wins, breakthrough performances, and razor-thin finishes, the meet showcased both top-tier talent and rising stars. As teams and individuals battled for regional qualification, several athletes delivered at just the right time.

4x800

Regional Qualifiers: Hilliard Davidson, Dublin Jerome, Bishop Watterson, Hilliard Darby, Worthington Kilbourne, Canal Winchester

There’s no question that Hilliard Davidson is peaking at the right time. The Wildcats’ quartet of Pusateri, Alsko, Kline, and Kaulen clocked a 9:27 — one of the top relay times in the region — to take the win in impressive fashion. Dublin Jerome wasn’t far behind, finishing in 9:29 thanks to a strong anchor leg from McBrearty. Bishop Watterson and Hilliard Darby both broke 9:45 to claim the third and fourth qualifying spots, while Worthington Kilbourne and Canal Winchester rounded out the top six in a tightly contested battle for the final two regional berths.

1600

Regional Qualifiers: Natalie Fouts, Erica Kaulen, Ashley Alsko, Kyla Benedict, Annie See, Ella Wynk

Dublin Jerome’s Natalie Fouts continued her stellar season with another win — this time in a new personal best of 5:00.71, giving her a decisive edge over the field. Hilliard Davidson picked up valuable points with Erica Kaulen and Ashley Alsko finishing second and third, respectively. The surprise of the race came from New Albany freshman Kyla Benedict, who dropped a massive PR of 5:14 to place fifth and firmly establish herself as one to watch moving forward. St. Francis DeSales’ Annie See and Jerome freshman Ella Wynk also advanced with strong performances.

800

Regional Qualifiers: Celia Schulte, Abbie McBrearty, Gemma Pusateri, Sarah Lundine, Audri Barry, Ella Watson

There’s no other way to put it — Hilliard Davidson’s Celia Schulte absolutely dominated this race. Her 2:07 winning time wasn’t just the fastest in the Central District — it was a statement performance that vaulted her into the conversation as one of the state’s top 800 contenders. Behind her, Dublin Jerome’s Abbie McBrearty claimed the runner-up spot with a personal best of 2:18.66. Schulte’s teammate Gemma Pusateri and Worthington Kilbourne’s Sarah Lundine also qualified with season-best efforts. Rounding out the top six were St. Francis DeSales’ Audri Barry and Dublin Jerome’s Ella Watson, who finished just tenths of a second apart in one of the closest finishes of the meet.

3200

Regional Qualifiers: Natalie Fouts, Erica Kaulen, Kaitlyn Van Zandt, Mia Eberhardt, Cecilia Keller, Elena Wanek

Once again, Natalie Fouts took care of business. Doubling back from her 1600 victory, the Dublin Jerome standout cruised to the 3200 title in 10:56, showing remarkable strength and composure. Hilliard Davidson’s Erica Kaulen backed up her earlier success with another solid performance, finishing second in 11:10. The breakout of the race came from Bishop Watterson freshman Kaitlyn Van Zandt, who shocked the field with an 11:19 personal best to claim third. Pickerington North’s Mia Eberhardt and Watterson’s Cecilia Keller took the next two spots, while Olentangy’s Elena Wanek ran one of her best races of the season to finish sixth.

With six qualifiers advancing in each event, District 2 will be well represented at the regional meet. From veteran standouts like Natalie Fouts and Celia Schulte to impressive freshmen like Kaitlyn Van Zandt and Kyla Benedict, this group has the talent and momentum to make a serious impact in the postseason