On the girls’ side, one main meet emerged as the centerpiece of strong competition in Week 3, with several smaller meets rounding out the weekend. The competition continues to intensify as the season progresses, with standout performances from both teams and individuals giving fans plenty to look forward to.

McGowan Invitational

Individual Champion: Brooke Chapman

Team Champion: Hilliard Davidson

Olentangy Orange’s Brooke Chapman returned to top form on Saturday, claiming an impressive victory against a loaded field at Watkins Memorial. In a stunning 17:17, Chapman pulled away from rival Erica Kaulen to win the meet. Kaulen’s 17:23 was equally impressive, solidifying her place among the top competitors to watch as the season moves forward.

On the team side, Hilliard Davidson continued its dominance, led by the trio of Kaulen, Celia Schulte, and Mackenzie Kline. Strong runs from Gemma Pusateri and Laken Wenclewicz in the fourth and fifth spots secured the victory. The Wildcats are proving to be a tough team to beat early on, hoping their strong start translates into postseason hardware.

Other notable performances came from Harper Allen and Josie Cox, who clocked 17:52 and 17:58, respectively, putting their names in the upper echelon of Central Ohio distance running. In the team standings, Lancaster and Upper Arlington rounded out the podium in second and third, edging out Olentangy Liberty, which was without frontrunner Elena Aldrink.

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

Mason Cross Country Invitational

Individual Champion: Hannah Jicha

Team Champion: Hurricane

Central Ohio’s Teays Valley turned in a strong performance despite missing lead runner Katy Zang. Reese Galinger dipped under 19 minutes with an 18:58, while Addison Keplar followed in 19:35. The team finished 7th in a deep field packed with talent from other regions, showing that with Zang, they could be a legitimate postseason contender.

Looking Ahead

The weekend’s highlights were undoubtedly the standout efforts by Brooke Chapman and Hilliard Davidson. Chapman struck gold with her performance, but with Aldrink and Zang absent, this race was just another step in her pursuit of the regional crown.

As for Hilliard Davidson, the Wildcats remain a force that cannot be ignored. Their commanding victory over a deep field at McGowan shows that no other team is currently on their level. With Kaulen leading up front and a strong supporting pack, it will take a herculean effort to topple this squad.

Overall, the racing this weekend underscored just how deep Central Ohio is this season. With fast times and fierce head-to-head battles unfolding week after week, this is shaping up to be a season to remember.