The 2025 OHSAA Division I Boys State Championships were nothing short of electrifying in the distance realm. In a meet where legacy programs clashed with breakout stars and seasoned seniors faced off against fearless juniors, the result was a brutally competitive display of endurance, tactics, and grit. While championship titles were distributed across the state, Central Ohio again proved that it houses some of the most talented and deepest distance squads in the Buckeye State.

Let’s break it down.

800 Meters

Latrell Hughes (Lexington) didn’t just handle the pressure in the 800 meters—he bulldozed it. Running a bold, front-running race, Hughes locked into his rhythm early and never looked back. His 1:51 finish put an emphatic exclamation mark on a season where he won just about every race he entered. With a fast opening 200 and a ferocious second lap, Hughes turned what many expected to be a slugfest into a solo statement.

Behind him? Carnage. In one of the deepest 800m fields in recent memory, seven other athletes broke 1:53. That level of depth underscored just how hard it is to even make the podium in Ohio right now.

Mentor’s Aidan Shiels held his nerve in the final 100 meters to claim silver in 1:52. His timing was impeccable, and his ability to hold off University School’s Thomas Lodowski proved critical. Then came Lancaster’s Gabe McNeil—just a sophomore—who fearlessly navigated traffic and surged to a sixth-place finish. His poise under pressure was rare for an underclassman and speaks volumes about Lancaster’s future in the middle distances.

Gabriel Wise (Westerville North) didn’t score, but his 1:53.1 finish was right on the edge. It capped a season where he edged closer and closer to the state’s elite tier, with major gains in consistency.

The 800 seems to get faster every year. This time, it also got meaner. And Hughes? He stayed one move ahead of the chaos.

1600 Meters

For Matthew Schroff, this wasn’t just a state title—it was a full-circle moment.

The senior from Olentangy Orange came in with a résumé packed with big performances but was still chasing a signature win on the biggest stage. On Saturday, he seized his moment. Running a tactical masterclass through the early laps, Schroff unleashed a brutal move with 450 meters to go—and no one could respond.

His 4:07 was one of the fastest in the state this season and validated a campaign built on consistency, toughness, and belief. But the race wasn’t just about Schroff.

Dublin Jerome’s Charles Guerrera gave chase and nearly closed the gap, running 4:09 in one of the best runner-up finishes of the meet. Guerrera’s evolution from dependable No. 2 to state contender has been one of the best stories in Ohio this year. His duels with Schroff throughout the season culminated in a thrilling showdown on the state’s biggest stage.

Lancaster’s Brock Jarrett took third in 4:11, continuing a postseason surge that turned him from underdog to contender. He’s been one of the biggest revelations of the spring, with marquee wins and gutsy racing week after week.

Ethan Ishida, Guerrera’s teammate at Dublin Jerome, placed sixth to keep his double intact for the 4x800. His calm, composed approach has made Jerome arguably the most reliable scoring duo in the state.

Put simply: four of the top six came from Central Ohio. The region doesn’t just show up in the 1600—they own it.

3200 Meters

When Maxwell Friedrich of St. Ignatius dropped an 8:57, it sent a jolt through Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The first sub-9:00 of the meet wasn’t just a milestone—it was the culmination of a perfectly executed game plan. Friedrich stayed composed, responded to every surge, and delivered a decisive move with 600 to go. No one could answer.

But behind him, the chaos unfolded—and Central Ohio was right in the thick of it.

Tate Ruthers of Sheridan, in his debut Division I season, delivered a thrilling finish. With less than 100 meters to go, he shifted gears and powered past multiple top runners to secure second place.

Just behind him was Dom Ellis of St. Xavier, who ran 9:00 flat—barely holding off a hard-charging group that included Lexington’s Chance Basilone and Springboro’s Samuel Darmanie.

Central Ohio’s Charles Guerrera and Mick Temple may not have medaled, but their aggressive racing early helped set the tone. They pushed the pace and made the frontrunners earn every second.

This was a race where courage and positioning mattered. Central Ohio didn’t get the win, but its athletes were essential to how the race played out—and they head into the offseason with momentum and motivation.

4x800 Meter Relay

If you want to understand the future of Ohio distance running, look no further than the boys’ 4x800.

Lexington’s squad of Chance Basilone, Nathan Reed, Will Perkins, and Latrell Hughes delivered one of the best relay performances in state meet history. Their 7:37 wasn’t just a fast time—it was a commanding performance. Basilone opened strong, Reed and Perkins maintained position, and Hughes slammed the door on anchor.

But Dublin Jerome didn’t make it easy. With Ethan Ishida, Cayden McClure, Graham Tyler, and Charles Guerrera, the Celtics ran a near-perfect race, finishing in 7:38—just one second back. Their execution was clean, their effort relentless, and Guerrera nearly reeled in Hughes down the stretch. It was the best second-place finish of the weekend.

Mentor, powered by Mathew Penkowski and Billy Dennison, surged to fourth, while Toledo St. Francis relied on a steady anchor leg from Owen Little to claim fifth.

Westerville North (7th) and Centerville (8th) rounded out the scorers, giving Central Ohio three teams in the top eight. That kind of relay depth—especially at or under 7:40—is nearly unheard of.

Top to bottom, this race had it all: speed, strategy, star power, and a finish to remember.

Central Ohio didn’t just show up—they reshaped the narrative.

With Schroff’s breakthrough win, Guerrera’s silver, Jerome’s thrilling relay duel, and breakout performances from McNeil, Wise, and Ishida, this meet proved what happens when talent, training, and big-stage confidence converge.

Expect to see names like McNeil, Ishida, and Jarrett back next spring. The seniors may be graduating, but Central Ohio distance running? It’s just heating up.

The torch has been passed—and the fire is still burning.