The first Ohio high school track and field postseason with five divisions concludes with the boys and girls state meets June 4-7 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Divisions IV and V compete June 4 and 5, the Division III meet is June 5 and 6 and divisions I and II compete June 6 and 7. Track previously had three divisions.
Here are six central Ohio storylines entering state:
Hilliard Davidson girls look to defend state title
The Wildcats feature several athletes who contributed to the program’s first state championship a year ago, and they tuned up for this week by helping to win a second consecutive Division I regional title.
Senior Celia Schulte, a Furman commit whose win in the 800 meters (2 minutes, 4.65 seconds) last year set records for OHSAA Division I, the Division I state meet and Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, took first in the 800 (2:12.33) in the super regional at Huber Heights Wayne. She also joined Laken Wenclewicz, Erica Kaulen and Mackenzie Kline on the first-place 3,200 relay (9:16.32) at regional.
Kaulen, a senior who will run at Youngstown State, won the 1,600 (5:00.35) at regional and finished second in the 3,200 (10:36.13).
Senior Anna Wile, an Indiana signee who won a state title in the 100 hurdles (13.79) and finished second in the 300 hurdles (42.13) last year, won the 100 hurdles (13.48), 300 hurdles (42.3) and 100 (11.81) at regional.
Senior Lilly LaRosa, a Cincinnati commit and another key 2025 contributor, won the 400 (56.14).
“We have some momentum heading into state, but we know going through that the other regions are super good, too,” coach Matt Beatty said. “It will be an interesting state meet. Like last year, we’re just hoping we can make the finals. If we make the finals, we have a shot. We’re trying to keep everybody’s wheels on.”
Gahanna Lincoln girls hope to challenge Davidson
Although Lions coach Roger Whittaker believes Davidson is again the team to beat, he said his team will “be in the mix” after winning the super regional at Pickerington North.
“Hilliard Davidson is loaded,” Whittaker said. “Everybody knows that, but showing the power that we have in relays and in some individual stuff, you have to put us in the upper echelon of the teams that have a chance.”
OHSAA postseason expansion led to Division I teams starting with a super regional rather than a district meet.
“We made it a point that Gahanna Lincoln is going to win the first super regional,” Whittaker said. “The girls took that to heart. They just ran out of their minds.”
Ruby Lewis won the 3,200 (10:59.96). Brionna Wright joined Aliyah Bennett, Moriah Dixon and Chloe Yates on the first-place 400 relay (46.8) and finished third in the 100 (12.01) and 200 (24.37).
The Gahanna boys also won regional.
“This is a great accomplishment,” Wright said of the Gahanna titles. “It shows how hard we’ve been working all year. We prepared for this moment. This is preparing us every day for more competition at state.”
Gahanna boys head to state as regional champions
The Gahanna boys regional title included first-place finishes in the 800 (1:27.01) and 1,600 (3:20.52) relays.
“This is a testament to the kids,” coach Shawn Johnston said. “These kids have been working hard, and for them to come out here [and win] the first super regional, it’s really special.”
Gavin Swain won the 1,600 (4:14.8), Brayden Hunt finished first in the 110 hurdles (14.06), Khalil Church won the 300 hurdles (37.67) and Elijah Daniels finished first in the long jump (23 feet, 2½ inches).
“They are capable of doing things [at state] that they can’t even imagine,” Johnston said. “We’re ready to do some really special stuff.”
Big Walnut girls enter state on high note
The Golden Eagles won their fourth regional title and first since 1998 by edging Toledo St. Ursula 76-71 in the Division II meet at Lexington.
Big Walnut also won regional titles in 1982 and 1983.
“This is an exciting time for the program,” coach Joe Evener said. “It demonstrates that the hard work the girls and coaches have put in is paying off. The coaching staff is second to none.”
Big Walnut qualified for state in seven events, the most in Evener’s 32-year tenure.
Lindsey Cochran won the 800 (2:14.61) and 1,600 (4:56.63) and joined Leighton Coey, Kylie Cochran and Grace Buskirk on the first-place 3,200 relay (9:14.12).
“We have several great opportunities to get on the podium [with a top-eight state finish],” Evener said. “We came out of a strong region and the athletes who moved through the competition are in position to make memories that will last a lifetime.”
Worthington Kilbourne boys jumpers advance to state
Kilbourne’s Grant Rathge and Elijah Vincent both advanced to their first state meet by finishing first (6-6) and third (6-4), respectively, in the high jump at the Pickerington regional.
“It will be fun to participate instead of watch [state],” Rathge said. “It’s been fun jumping with Elijah the last three years. We push each other a lot.”
They will be joined at state by Westerville Central’s Elijah Harris, who finished second (6-4) at regional despite taking just one jump because of a right hamstring injury. He hopes to be close to 100% for the state competition June 7, the final day of the meet.
Harris, who will compete at TCU, withdrew from the long jump because of the injury.
Canal Winchester boys capture first regional title
Canal Winchester won its first regional championship, outdistancing Big Walnut 68-60 in the Division II meet at Lexington.
Grant Hamilton led Canal, winning the 1,600 (4:14.88) and 3,200 (9:18.64). Gabriel Merrill won the shot put (58-2½) and Antonio Felts finished first in the discus (162-0).
Canal Winchester qualified for state in eight events.
“This was an extremely competitive field of athletes, and the team rose to the challenge,” coach Kurtis Robinson said.
Big Walnut’s Jamier Brown, an Ohio State football commit, won the 100 (10.35) and 200 (20.94). Brown won last year’s Division I state title in the 100 (10.41) for Wayne.
High school sports reporter Frank DiRenna can be reached at fdirenna@dispatch.com and at @DispatchFrank on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 6 central Ohio storylines for OHSAA state track and field meet
Reporting by Frank DiRenna, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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