The third weekend of racing delivered everything fans could hope for—fast times, breakthrough performances, and team battles that hint at a wide-open road to November. Between the stacked McGowan Invitational, the always-competitive Wooster XC Invitational, and the massive Tiffin Cross Country Carnival, Central Ohio athletes made headlines across the state. From record-setting marks to upset victories, Week 3 showed that the 2025 season is beginning to separate the contenders from the pretenders.

Wooster XC Invitational

Individual Champion: Mick Temple

Team Champion: Hudson

Mick Temple stole the show in Wooster, blasting a 14:44 to take down returning state 3200m champion Maxwell Friedrich by nearly 10 seconds. The run marked a massive PR and a new school record, cementing Temple’s place among the state’s elite. Thomas Worthington freshman Calvin Watson ran 15:41, with teammate Rishi Jha just behind in 15:42, placing 11th and 12th. Olentangy Berlin’s Vansh Sethi crossed in 15:53, while Pickerington North’s Dominic Mercurio delivered a breakthrough at 15:54, also impressing in the loaded field.

On the team side, Thomas Worthington placed 3rd overall thanks to strong depth behind Watson and Jha. Olentangy Berlin earned 5th with sub-16 efforts from Sethi and Passerini, while Pickerington North secured 7th behind Mercurio’s performance. Central Ohio placed three teams in the top 10 of a highly competitive field.

McGowan Invitational

Individual Champion: Anton Shishlo

Team Champion: Delaware Hayes

The McGowan Invitational produced one of the most competitive fields of the weekend. Anton Shishlo came away with the win in 15:22, holding off Brock Jarrett, who closed hard with a negative split for 15:27, and rising star Cowen Allender, who finished in 15:38. Dublin Coffman’s Benjamin Canales placed 4th in 15:43, while host Watkins Memorial’s Pierce Lott ran a massive 35-second PR of 15:45 for 5th. On the team side, Delaware Hayes shocked the field with a depth-driven victory, topping Olentangy Orange and Lancaster.

Note: The course is roughly 100 meters short, so times should be viewed with that in mind.

Division II Race

Jonathan Alder’s Lincoln Wilson starred with a runner-up 15:30, while Bexley’s Everett Lynch clocked 16:10 and Alder sophomore Brandon Engle added a 16:15 to crack the top 10. Jonathan Alder placed 2nd as a team, just behind powerhouse Fairfield Union, with Bexley 3rd and St. Francis DeSales a close 4th—only a point back.

Tiffin Cross Country Carnival

Individual Champion: Sean Reith (unattached)

Team Champion: Westerville North

At Tiffin, Westerville North dominated with just 31 points, placing all five scorers inside the top 12. Casey Carlos finished 2nd in 15:59 and Holden Gray followed in 3rd at 16:09, with Charlie Bosler adding a 7th-place 16:17. Marysville’s Adam DeSutter broke up the Warrior pack with a 16:10 for 4th, though his team settled for 4th overall.

Mason Cross Country Invitational

Individual Champion: Caden Winship

Team Champion: Mason

Two Central Ohio teams made the trip to Cincinnati for the Mason Invitational: Hilliard Darby and Dublin Scioto. Scioto’s Michael Kinzer placed 2nd with a stellar 15:48, while Darby’s Kole Hyer finished 3rd in 16:04. Other notable finishes included Logan Behm at 16:13, Venny Kurapati at 16:30, and Jack Flanagan at 16:37.

Looking Ahead

Three weeks in, it’s clear Central Ohio is experiencing one of its deepest seasons in recent memory. Established stars like Temple and Carlos continue to shine, while emerging names such as Watson, Allender, and Lott are forcing their way into the conversation. On the team side, Delaware Hayes’ upset win and Westerville North’s dominance at Tiffin prove that depth may matter more than a single front-runner when it comes to chasing postseason hardware.

The fall is long, and momentum can shift in a single race—but one thing is certain: Central Ohio is no longer just competing with the state’s best; it’s leading the charge. As the calendar turns toward bigger stages and higher stakes, fans can expect even more fireworks in the weeks to come.