The final week of the regular season capped off with a strong showing at the Les Eisenhart Cross Country Invitational hosted by Thomas Worthington. While many teams opted to rest their top runners, squads like Gahanna Lincoln and Hilliard Davidson kept their feet on the gas, making for an exciting showdown.

Les Eisenhart Invitational Recap

Team Champion: Gahanna Lincoln

Individual Champion: Erica Kaulen

The varsity girls race featured several standout performances, led by Gahanna Lincoln’s Erica Kaulen, who cruised to victory in an impressive 17:34. She was followed by teammates Ruby Lewis and Olivia Smeck, both posting sub-18 finishes to secure a dominant top-three sweep for the Lions. Rounding out the top five were Hilliard Davidson’s Celia Schulte and Jillian Gomez, who finished neck and neck at 18:19. In the girls’ 11/12 race, Katy Zang also impressed, winning by over 80 seconds to cap off a big day for Central Ohio talent.

On the team side, the Lady Lions continued their streak of dominance, placing 2-3-5-7-14 in the varsity race, a remarkable display of depth. At this point, they look nearly unbeatable not only at the regional level but also statewide. Hilliard Davidson also shined, led by strong finishes from Kaulen and Schulte, a formidable duo that should position the Wildcats well for postseason success.

Looking Ahead

While many teams chose to rest their top runners in the final week of the regular season, this weekend offered a glimpse of what’s to come in the postseason. Programs like Gahanna Lincoln and Hilliard Davidson will aim to carry their momentum into conference championships, while individuals such as Erica Kaulen, Ruby Lewis, and Olivia Smeck look to establish themselves among the state’s elite. The Central Ohio girls’ field appears to be one of the deepest in recent memory, setting the stage for a thrilling postseason.