The Girls’ Division 2 Regional race at Pickerington North brings together a deep field of individual talent and several teams capable of making noise at the state level. With postseason stakes at their highest so far, every move, from the opening mile to the final kick, will determine who advances to Fortress Obetz and who sees their season end on Saturday. The course is familiar, the conditions are set, and the stage is ready for one of the most competitive regional showdowns of the year.

Predicted Top Five Individual Finishers: Sophia Szolosi, Lucy Rush, Kaitlyn Van Zandt, Grace Buskirk, Ella Luker

Predicted Team Qualifiers: Bishop Watterson, Canal Winchester, Athens, Big Walnut, Granville

Following a regular season that could stack up against the best in Ohio regardless of division, Sophia Szolosi enters as the clear favorite to take home the regional crown on Saturday. She has only been defeated once this season, and that loss came by just one hundredth of a second at the Berlin Bear Den Dash. Aside from that slight blemish, Szolosi has been flawless, and that momentum should carry into the race at Pickerington North this weekend.

It’s behind Szolosi where things get a bit more interesting in the individual race. I’ve predicted that Lucy Rush, Kaitlyn Van Zandt, Grace Buskirk, and Ella Luker will round out the top five finishers. Rush and Van Zandt are coming off dominant performances this past Saturday, as both secured District titles in their respective sections. Buskirk hasn’t posted the flashy PRs that many of the contenders have, but she has been one of the most consistent performers in the region all season. Finally, Luker’s top-end potential gives me confidence that she will place inside the top five.

While those are the frontrunners, they won’t be alone. Kaylen Goss, Elsa Tonnessen, Miriam Rule, Karine Bhowmick, and Cecilia Keller have all broken 19 minutes this season, firmly placing them in the conversation to run with the lead pack. In a field this tightly matched, bold and tactically smart racing will be essential for those looking to finish as high as possible on Saturday.

Behind the sub-19 group is still a deep field of runners capable of earning All-Regional honors. Cameron Walker, Peyton Hughey, Campbell Retzke, Addison Ranly, Claire Speakman, Leighton Coey, Blake Witter, Lillian Stepp, Zoe Wayner, and Kylie Smith are the leading candidates to medal. Each of them has the potential to finish even higher, but in a meet this deep, many will find themselves right on the bubble for those top spots.

On the team side, just like in the individual race, there is a clear favorite. Bishop Watterson has been phenomenal this season, nearly sweeping their district meet and performing like one of the top Division 2 teams in the state. After Watterson, six full teams will battle for the remaining four state-qualifying spots. Our picks are Canal Winchester, Athens, Granville, and Big Walnut. Canal may lack a true low stick, but their depth and balance position them well for the postseason. Athens, led by star Sophia Szolosi, benefits immensely from her scoring just one point up front. Granville, led by Elsa Tonnessen, should advance comfortably if their fifth runner holds steady. The final spot comes down to Big Walnut and Jonathan Alder. However, we’ll give the edge to Big Walnut after their head-to-head win at districts last week.

Saturday’s race will test depth, composure, and championship instincts. While a clear frontrunner leads the individual and team races, the margins behind her are narrow and opportunities will be there for athletes and teams willing to take risks. Expect bold pacing, late-race surges, and more than one program making a statement when it matters most. By the end of the day, only four teams and ten individuals will punch their tickets to state, and the fight to earn those spots should make this one of the standout contests of the regional round.