Mark Dwyer

Nov 02, 2024

Follow along with our live update recap article throughout the duration of the 2024 OHSAA Division I, Division II and Division III State Cross Country Championships.

Boys Division III (Individuals)

Make it a repeat for Luke Snyder!

The junior from Rittman clocked 14:58.13 to prevail in Division III, winning his second consecutive OHSAA individual XC title. It's quite a high school career Snyder is putting together. In addition to his now two state meet triumphs, he has a runner-up finish, as a freshman, from the 2022 end-of-season showcase, on his stellar resume.

Snyder's mark is a new OHSAA Division III state meet record for competition taking place at the Obetz venue. He led the field through the 1st mile in just under 4:45, he crossed the 2-mile mat in 9:39 (a few seconds behind Andrew Rodhe, the leader at that stage) and closed out strong for his 14:58.13 finish.

Claiming runner-up honors was Will Baker (Mount Gilead), who secured the placement by running 15:06.23, a mark which narrowly held off 3rd place finisher Andrew Rodhe of Steubenville Catholic Central. Rodhe clocked 15:06.94, officially.

Landen Eyre and Connor Nolan were the next two through the line with Eyre going 15:12.54 for 4th and Nolan taking 5th in 15:26.18.

Girls Division III (Individuals)

In a thrilling final sequence, Caroline Hamilton broke the tape to win the Division III title, edging Rebecca Geiss over the last few strides.

Representing Legacy Christian, Hamilton produced a 17:43.25 mark to claim the win. Her time goes down as a Division III state meet record for the Obetz course.

Geiss, the 2023 state champion, took second in 17:44.44.

The leader at both the 1-mile and 2-mile markers, Caitlyn Carr (Smithville) secured 3rd overall in 17:49.86. Rounding out the top 5 were Naomi Sheesley and Tess Shultz. Sheesley (McDonald) finished 4th in 17:50.63 with Shultz running through the line in 5th at 18:18.65.

Boys Division III (Teams)

Scoring in positions 2-8-26-35-38, Mount Gilead hoists state meet gold following their 109-point 1st place showing.

The aforementioned Will Baker led the way for the squad with his 2nd place overall finish. This the second state meet win for Mount Gilead in the past three years. They posted a victory at Obetz in 2022 and then took second last year to the champions from Columbus Grove. It's been quite a 3-year run for the Indians, to say the least.

Convoy Crestview posted a runner-up effort, finishing with 131-points. Ottawa Hills took 3rd (172), Botkins was 4th (178) and the defending champs from Columbus Grove placed 5th, producing 195 points.

Girls Division III (Teams)

The Minster dynasty continues!

Once again, the Wildcats take top spot in Division III. A record 17 state titles (and now 4-consecutive), Minster went 2-8-29-46-49 for 134 points to outlast Summit Country Day and Rittman.

For the first time on the state meet podium, Summit Country Day placed 2nd (140) with Rittman going 144 for 3rd. West Liberty-Salem and Huron finished 4th and 5th with 164 and 197 points, respectively.

Minster was led by Maria Niekamp (the second scorer and 7th overall finisher), who clocked 18:31.99.

Boys Division II (Individuals)

Andrew Walton successfully executes the repeat!

The senior from Fairfield Union negotiated the Obetz 5-kilometer lay-out in 15:09.84 to collect his second consecutive OHSAA Division II individual state title. Walton led the field at both the 1-mile and 2-mile check-points with a 4:44.93 opening split and going through the next mat at 9:44.83.

Narrowly trailing Walton was the second place finisher, Latrell Hughes, from Lexington. Hughes secured his placement going through the finishing chute in 15:13.46.

Next in the standings was Ty Rosengarten (Ottawa-Glandorf), who claimed 3rd with a 15:18.81 mark. Owen Scott (Van Wert) and Brice Fuller (Fairless) produced 15:23.07 and 15:23.18 times for 4th and 5th overall, respectively.

Boys Division II (Teams)

For the first time in their program's history, Fairfield Union stands on top of the state meet podium.

Led by individual champion Andrew Walton the squad posted 88 points to secure the Division II victory. They scored at positions 1-7-12-23-45.

Lexington took the second spot by virtue of their 123-point performance and the perennial state meet contenders from Woodridge secured 3rd overall with 137-points.

Girls Division II (Individuals)

Never in doubt!

It was an emphatic winning performance from Sophia Szolosi, as she captured the Division II crown in 17:39.61. Her mark being a decisive 29-seconds clear of her nearest opposition.

Szolosi, representing Athens, led through the 1st mile in 5:27.97 and the 2nd mile in 11:07.67.

Mercy McAuley's Abby Sewell earned runner-up honors in 18:08.28 and Anna Prusak (Hathaway Brown) collected the 3rd placement in 18:14.83.

In 4th was Ashlynn Kuklica in 18:24.17 and rounding out the top 5 was Leah Emch (Eastwood), who ran a time of 18:24.57.

Girls Division II (Teams)

For the second consecutive year and for the third time in their program's history, Minerva are the state champions!

The Lions went 7-12-22-26-33 for 100-points and were led by Gabby Lupshu and Makenzie Beavers, who placed 13th and 23rd overall with marks of 18:31.13 and 18:47.35.

Hathaway Brown finished second on the heels of their 110-point effort. Guided by the 3rd place overall individual finisher Anna Prusak at 18:14.83, this is the first time the team has made it to the state meet podium.

Boys Division I (Individuals)

In a new state meet record time of 14:33.81, Landon Kimmel wins the OHSAA Division I title!

Amongst a tight-knit group of leaders through the first 2-miles, Kimmel had splits of 4:35.62 and 4:46.04 (9:21.66). He poured it on late going 5:12.15 over the final 1.1 miles to secure the victory.

The junior from Tippecanoe was 3rd at the '23 state meet and now has an opportunity to return next year in search of the repeat.

Running virtually shoulder-to-shoulder with Kimmel for the first two check-points were fellow sub 15-minute finishers Alex Bruns and Eli Ilg.

Bruns of St. Xavier went 14:47.19 for second and Massillon Jackson's Ilg took 3rd in 14:57.03.

Girls Division I (Individuals)

The state meet records continue to drop on Saturday at Obetz.

In the day's finale, Daniela Scheffler etched her name in the records books with a state meet record time of 17:01.28, as she cruised through the line for the Division I victory.

Scheffler, a senior at Uniontown-Lake, took the field through 1-mile in 5:22.31 and 2-miles in 10:45.80 and then found further separation during her final mile and change to punctuate the win.

A close battle ensued for the runner-up spot as Brooke Chapman (Olentangy Orange) edged 3rd place finisher Marisa Heil (Lancaster) 17:12.12 to 17:12.46.

Elena Aldrink (Olentangy Liberty) took 4th in 17:23.51 and 2023 state champion Evelyn Prodoehl (Lakota West) secured the 5th spot in 17:35.10.

The top 13 finishing athletes broke the 18-minute barrier to close out an outstanding overall day at the 2024 OHSAA State Championships.

Boys Division I (Teams)

The Mason Comets, with 111-points, earn the 2024 OHSAA Division I team title.

This the 5th championship for Mason to go along with four other runner-up trips to the state meet podium. They scored at positions 5-21-25-28-32 and were led, individually, by 6th place overall finisher Caden Winship (15:09.39).

Two more Southwest Region teams were next in line with St. Xavier taking second with 180 points and Little Miami close behind in 3rd with 183 points. For St. X, it's their 4th time as the runner-up team to go along with six occasions where they occupied the state's top spot in Division I.

Girls Division I (Teams)

In their first ever trip to the podium, Lancaster took it all the way to the top, as the Golden Gales won the DI state title, scoring 114-points.

The aforementioned Marissa Heil led the charge finishing 3rd overall. The scored at placements 2-14-19-33-46.

Joining Lancaster on the podium was fellow Central Region squad Hilliard Davidson, who recorded 132 points for their second place showing.

A program rich in history, the Wildcats have made the state meet podium half a dozen times over the years with a victory and five runner-up performances.