With several new faces rising and one clear frontrunner leading the way, the Division II girls race at Fortress Obetz is set to deliver plenty of excitement. Athens standout Sophia Szolosi headlines the field, while a tightly packed group of contenders and balanced team battles promise to keep things interesting behind her.

Top 5 Individual Finisher Projections: Sophia Szolosi, Lucy Rush, Anna Prusak, Teegan Kennedy, Kylah Meyer

Top 3 Individual Team Projections: Bishop Watterson, Hathaway Brown, Athens

With one of the strongest individual favorites in the state, the Division II girls race is shaping up to be an exciting showcase of front-running dominance and tight team competition at Fortress Obetz. Athens senior Sophia Szolosi enters as the heavy favorite, projected to finish first overall in 16:43. She owns a sizable projected gap over the rest of the field, and as long as she performs to her usual standard, she should have little trouble claiming the state title. Her aggressive racing style and consistent pacing make her difficult to challenge once she establishes a lead, and she’ll look to cap off her season with another statement win.

Mount Vernon’s Lucy Rush is projected as the runner-up, coming in with a seed time of 17:43. If she can keep Szolosi in her sights early on, she should have no issue holding her position as one of the top finishers. Behind her, Hathaway Brown’s Anna Prusak is projected third in 17:50 and will need to fight to maintain that spot against a deep pack of contenders. If she can slightly outperform her projection, she has the potential to move into second place. Maumee’s Teegan Kennedy and Louisville’s Kylah Meyer round out the top five, with times of 17:52 and 17:53 respectively. The margins among the top six runners are razor-thin, separated by just 13 seconds, meaning the final mile could come down to a strong finishing kick to secure a top-five position.

For the team race, Bishop Watterson is the projected champion thanks to its strong middle pack and reliable front runner. All five of their scorers are seeded inside the top 50, with their lead runner projected fourth overall, giving them one of the most balanced lineups in the field. Hathaway Brown sits close behind, led by a strong 1–2 punch projected inside the top 12. Their next three runners fall between 44th and 57th, so a strong performance from the middle of their lineup could put them in serious contention for the win. Athens is projected third, with Szolosi leading the way, but for them to challenge for the top spot, their 2–5 runners, projected at 24th, 37th, 52nd, and 95th, will need to close the gap and perform above expectation.

Overall, Szolosi looks poised to dominate the individual race, with her projected time more than a minute faster than the next finisher. If she runs her race, it’s hard to imagine anyone catching her. As for the team title, Bishop Watterson appears to be in control. If their middle pack can hold position or even climb a few places, they have the depth and balance needed to secure the win at Obetz.

Between Szolosi’s dominance up front and Watterson’s balanced team strength, the Division II girls race could be defined by decisive performances from both the individual and team favorites. Still, with so many athletes projected close together, a few standout efforts could easily shake up the final standings. Expect a fast, competitive race to close out the season in style.