As the landscape of Central Ohio cross country begins to take shape, Week 2 of racing proved that the competition in the region is only growing deeper. Two major events, the Hot Summer Bash and the Westerville North Classic, produced a number of strong performances, highlighting the depth that Central Ohio and the rest of the state have to offer.

Hilliard Davidson Hot Summer Bash

Individual Champion: Dom Ellis

Team Champion: Beavercreek

A large number of teams from around the state showed up on the notoriously quick Hilliard Davidson cross country course. Dublin Jerome proved they will remain one of Central Ohio’s top squads despite losing several impact runners from a year ago. The Celtics finished fourth in a highly competitive invitational, beating the likes of Gahanna Lincoln, Olentangy Orange, and Olentangy Liberty along the way.

Individually, Michael Kinzer added another strong performance to his senior season, placing fifth in the deep field with a formidable 15:39. Juniors Cowen Allender and Vansh Sethi also impressed, breaking the 16-minute barrier and finishing seventh and ninth, respectively. Dublin Jerome’s Ethan Ishida and Lincoln Kelly chipped in with top-15 finishes to round out a strong day for the Celtics.

Westerville North Classic

Individual Champion: Casey Carlos

Team Champion: Westerville North

On his home course, Casey Carlos turned heads by taking down the field with a winning time of 15:48, signaling that both he and his Westerville North squad are ready to reach new heights in 2025. Following closely behind was Brock Jarrett in 15:54, while junior Holden Gray delivered a massive breakthrough, finishing third and dipping under 16 minutes.

The defending regional champions dominated their home invitational, placing six runners inside the top 20. Charlie Bosler, Gregory Kerns, Khalid Guled, and Owen Wiggins joined Carlos and Gray up front, proving this squad is once again capable of climbing to the top of the regional stage. Westerville Central and Lancaster also impressed, each featuring strong front-runners backed by reliable depth through their packs.

Looking Ahead

With blistering results across both invitationals, the stage is set for major clashes in the coming weeks. In the individual ranks, familiar names such as Casey Carlos, Mick Temple, Brock Jarrett, and Michael Kinzer look like early frontrunners, but breakout performances from athletes like Cowen Allender and Holden Gray suggest the door is wide open for new challengers.

On the team side, Dublin Jerome and Westerville North appear to be on a collision course as top regional contenders. However, strong outings from Westerville Central, Lancaster, and Delaware Hayes prove that the team race is far from settled.

Overall, the second weekend of cross country racing showcased both established contenders and emerging talent, once again reminding fans that anything can happen on any given Saturday. The Central Ohio landscape may be starting to take shape, but in a season as unpredictable as 2025, momentum can swing in an instant.