The Division II Girls State Championship closed out a season of superb racing for teams and individuals across Ohio. With a stacked field representing multiple regions, Central Ohio’s strength was clear as both the individual and team champions came from programs that had already delivered dominant performances at the Pickerington North Regional a week earlier. After a long season of hard work, it was rewarding to see so many athletes reap the benefits of their training. The race itself was dominated from the front, followed by a thrilling team battle that once again cemented Central Ohio as one of the premier regions in the state.

Top Five Individual Finishers: Sophia Szolosi, Anna Prusak, Kylah Meyer, Teagan Kennedy, Kaitlyn Van Zandt 

Top Three Team Scorers: Bishop Watterson, Hathaway Brown, Lexington

After a commanding performance at the regional meet, Sophia Szolosi finished the job at Fortress Obetz on Saturday, capturing the state championship in style. Her time of 17:02 was nearly 50 seconds ahead of the runner-up, proving that the Duke commit is truly in a class of her own. Szolosi ran the fastest time of any girl on the course that day, taking the lead early and never looking back. This dominant victory was the perfect conclusion to her high school cross country career in Ohio, capping off a season defined by poise, pace, and total control.

Behind her, several Central Ohio runners delivered standout performances. Kaitlyn Van Zandt led the charge for Bishop Watterson, finishing fifth overall and pacing the eventual team champions. Close behind was Mount Vernon’s Lucy Rush, who turned in a stellar effort in her final Ohio cross country race. Karine Bhowmick, Zoe Wayner, Campbell Retzke, and Ella Luker also earned Second Team All-Ohio honors, an impressive accomplishment that reflects their consistency and hard work throughout the season.

In the team race, the champions once again hailed from the Central Region. Bishop Watterson capped off a remarkable season by winning the state title by just three points. Although Hathaway Brown held a slight edge through three runners, strong finishes from Cecilia Keller and Berkeley LaCount in the fourth and fifth positions pushed Watterson over the top. Even more impressively, this team graduates only one runner from its top seven, setting up the Eagles as a legitimate contender to defend their crown next November.

Behind them, a Szolosi-led Athens squad produced a top-ten team finish for Central Ohio. The Bulldogs placed seventh overall, thanks to solid efforts from Zoe Wayner, Andie Corrigan, and Landis Corrigan, who complemented Szolosi’s dominance up front. Teams from Canal Winchester, Big Walnut, and Granville also represented the Central Region, finishing 13th, 17th, and 21st respectively. Aside from Athens, each of these programs returns its top runner and much of its core, suggesting that Central Ohio’s D2 presence is only growing stronger.

This year’s state meet will certainly be remembered for its championship-level performances across the board, as both teams and individuals reaffirmed Central Ohio’s depth in Division II girls cross country. As many athletes now shift their focus to Nike Cross Regionals or begin preparing for the upcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons, one thing is clear—the new divisional realignment has done nothing to weaken D2. If anything, it has revealed just how loaded this division truly is. Expect D2 programs to remain a force to be reckoned with for years to come.