Ohio's Next Wave Is Already Here: The Boys Setting the Pace in Every Grade and Division

From a freshman breaking 16 minutes to juniors challenging the state's fastest seniors, a look at the top 10 boys in each grade across Ohio's four cross country divisions.

Brice Fuller has run 14:54.1. Ian Patrick has run 15:02.1. Calvin Watson has run 15:06.3.

Two juniors and a sophomore. Three performances that make it difficult to talk about Ohio's future without talking about its present.

The seniors have plenty to say, too. Versailles' Jackson Spitzer has a 14:54.9 beside his name. Little Miami's Ryne Reynolds has gone 14:57.7. In Division 4, Ansonia's Bennett Lehman leads a senior group that includes Russia's Samuel Phlipot and Sherwood Fairview's Malaki Neilson.

Then there is Lucas Thomas. The Garfield freshman has already broken 16 minutes, giving the youngest class in this feature a headliner of its own.

Looking only at one statewide list can hide some of the most interesting stories. Break the performances down by grade and division, and a different picture emerges: teammates developing together, freshmen arriving with immediate impact, and runners separated by fractions of a second around the top 10 cutoff.

Here is how those groups stack up as September comes to a close.

About these rankings: This feature uses the fastest reported 5K performances in the Athletic.net and MileSplit lists supplied to Podium Watch, covering results through September 26. Times are displayed to the nearest tenth. These are performance rankings, not championship predictions. Courses, weather, and race conditions differ.

Freshmen: The first chapter is moving fast

Division 1: Maxwell Frasure leads, and Lakota West brings a pair

Sycamore's Maxwell Frasure owns the fastest reported Division 1 freshman mark in this collection at 16:17.2, recorded at the Sycamore Stoneberger Invitational on September 24. That puts him 7.2 seconds ahead of the next runner on this list, Lakota West's Samuel McAfee.

McAfee is part of a particularly interesting pairing. His 16:24.4 puts him second, while teammate Dylan Chisanga sits fifth at 16:36.2. Two freshmen among the division's first five gives Lakota West a promising pair to watch as this class develops.

Between them are Beavercreek's James Piper, third at 16:31.4, and Mentor's Isaac Bogner, fourth at 16:35.1. Mentor also places Brady Dennison ninth. The group ends with Mason's Benjamin Goebel at 16:57.3, meaning every runner in this top 10 has already posted a sub-17 performance.

Division 2: Two tenths at the top

Nordonia's Collin Melvin and Watterson's Thomas King sit almost together on the performance list: 16:20.3 and 16:20.5. Those marks came from different meets, so the two tenths are a ranking margin rather than a finish line margin. Still, they give this class two closely matched names to follow.

Cloverleaf's Evan Riegler holds third at 16:36.8, followed by Green's Dane Whittaker at 16:51.2. A performance found in the MileSplit comparison adds another name to the first five: Sylvania Southview's Gabe Duran, whose 16:54.1 at the Liberty Center Extravaganza earns fifth.

Behind Duran, Thane Snyder, Bennett Johnson, and Gavin Brown are separated by just 1.1 seconds in reported bests. Johnson and Brown are only a tenth apart. With eight runners under 17 minutes, this is a group where a modest improvement can change several positions.

Division 3: Lucas Thomas has already crossed a major threshold

Garfield's Lucas Thomas is the only freshman in the supplied lists with a sub-16 performance. His 15:52.3 at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational on September 19 gives him the fastest freshman mark across all four divisions in this feature.

It also puts him 40.2 seconds ahead of the next Division 3 freshman, Chagrin Falls' Jameson Byrne, who has run 16:32.5. Fairless' Cohen Amos follows at 16:44.2, and Worthington Christian's Lucas Jolliff completes the group's sub-17 runners at 16:59.3.

Thomas provides the headline, but the cutoff deserves attention as well. Triway's Emory Sherrick is ninth at 17:21.1, just four tenths ahead of Oakwood's Landon Ford.

Division 4: Luke Brickner sets the pace

Miller City's Luke Brickner leads the working Division 4 freshman list with 16:24.9, recorded at the Obie Mouser Defiance Early Bird on August 29.

The next three reported bests are tightly grouped. South Webster's Luke Yarnell has run 16:46.6, South Range's Ryan Fieldhouse has gone 16:49.0, and Pettisville's Jalen Thompson follows at 16:49.6. Just three seconds separate those performances.

Independence has two representatives: Jayden Musni, fifth at 16:56.5, and Archer Dlugolinski, seventh at 17:09.8. Wellington School's Ben Austin sits between them at 17:04.5.

Sophomores: Already running like established contenders

Division 1: Calvin Watson opens a substantial gap

Thomas Worthington's Calvin Watson delivered one of the standout performances in this entire collection with 15:06.3 at the Neal Charske Fairmont Firebird Invitational on September 26.

That is the fastest sophomore mark in the supplied data, and it leads this Division 1 list by 42.7 seconds. Watson also sits just 6.3 seconds above the 15-minute barrier, making that threshold an obvious number to watch without treating it as a promise.

Mentor's Corbin Ott is next at 15:49.0. Mason's Thomas Moran follows at 15:55.1, with Beavercreek's Lucas Kappel fourth at 15:59.1. Four sophomores under 16 minutes gives the group strength beyond its leader.

Division 2: Calvin Heithaus leads a crowded chase group

Mount Vernon's Calvin Heithaus tops Division 2 sophomores with 15:24.4 from the Newark Invitational on September 19. His nearest listed challenger is Buckeye's Joseph Stahl at 16:06.8.

After Heithaus, the gaps shrink dramatically. Stahl, Norton's Max Goldy, Hudson's Liam Knuth, and Unioto's Corbin Scott have reported bests between 16:06.8 and 16:08.2. That is four athletes within 1.4 seconds on the list.

Bowling Green's Rece Simon provides a meaningful update from the MileSplit comparison. His 16:17.7 at the Liberty Center Extravaganza moves him into seventh, behind Lakewood's Will Schuldt. Bellbrook's Lucas Fair takes the final spot at 16:24.7.

Division 3: Vincent Campbell raises the standard

Meadowbrook's Vincent Campbell leads with 15:25.4, a mark from the Claymont Early Bird Invitational that improved the best time available in the original list. It puts him 30.8 seconds ahead of Milton-Union's Grant Hinkelman, second at 15:56.2.

Milton-Union has another reason to follow this class closely: Finn Hinkelman also appears, sixth at 16:34.3. Elmwood's Henry Good takes third at 16:13.8.

The middle of this list offers one of the closest clusters in the feature. Minerva's Anderson Scott, Finn Hinkelman, Akron Springfield's Willard Kunkler, and Marlington's Brady Griggs occupy fifth through eighth with displayed bests from 16:33.2 to 16:35.0. Small gains could mean several places in this group.

Division 4: Paxson Bixler leads, with two Botkins runners in pursuit

Russia's Paxson Bixler leads Division 4 sophomores at 15:41.3, recorded at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational on September 19. He is the only runner in this group with a supplied best below 16 minutes.

McDonald's Owen Cappuzello is second at 16:04.1, followed by Shenandoah's Joel Tewksbary at 16:13.7.

Botkins contributes two athletes: Liam Schumann, fifth at 16:33.6, and Sawyer Braun, eighth at 16:46.1. Sherwood Fairview's Cael Neilson and Mount Gilead's Aiden McLain are separated by three tenths in sixth and seventh. At the cutoff, Cedarville's Isaac Sultan keeps 10th at 16:55.1.

Juniors: The future is already in the front group

Division 1: Ian Patrick gives Little Miami another headline

Little Miami has the Division 1 senior leader in Ryne Reynolds. It also has the junior leader in Ian Patrick, whose 15:02.1 came at the Neal Charske Fairmont Firebird Invitational on September 26.

Those two reported bests are separated by just 4.4 seconds. For a program looking for strength at the front, having the leaders of two different grade lists is a notable combination.

New Albany's Austin Benedict holds second among juniors at 15:39.1. Massillon Jackson's Liam Barry is third at 15:47.4, followed by Springboro's Joshua Linde at 15:49.7 and Milford's Chase Vincent at 15:49.9. Springboro places a second runner, Gavin Harty, ninth. Jackson also doubles up with Nathan Huzyak in 10th.

Division 2: Anderson Seredick leads a deep list

Nordonia's Anderson Seredick leads Division 2 juniors at 15:34.5, recorded at the Wooster Invitational on September 12. Anderson's Elijah Trickey follows at 15:43.8, with Toledo St. Francis' Brennan Higgins third at 15:51.3.

Seven runners in this group have supplied bests under 16 minutes. Hoover's Samuel Baker and Big Walnut's Ethan Shultz are only three tenths apart in fourth and fifth, while Orange's Griffin Berlin and Turpin's Carson Spencer are separated by two tenths in sixth and seventh.

Bowling Green's Lloyd Waldron changes the lower end of the list with 16:02.6 from Liberty Center. That places him eighth, ahead of Revere's John Owens and Chillicothe's Levi Wood.

Division 3: Brice Fuller headlines, Logan Howard makes a move

Fairless' Brice Fuller has the fastest reported mark of any athlete in this compilation: 14:54.1, run at Wooster on September 12.

That time leads a Division 3 junior group with eight runners below 16 minutes. Margaretta's Cole Zang is second at 15:16.3, followed by Garfield's Owen Thomas at 15:32.7 and Woodridge's Remington Griffiths at 15:39.5.

Canton South's Logan Howard supplies the biggest positional change within this top 10. His 15:45.5 at the Sandy Valley Invitational moves him from ninth in the original compilation to fifth. Woodridge also places Eli White ninth at 16:03.9.

Division 4: Nigel Wenger leads, with a narrow break at 16 minutes

Smithville's Nigel Wenger leads Division 4 juniors at 15:29.7, set at the Seneca East Tiger Classic on August 29. Convoy Crestview's Derek Young follows at 15:45.9 after his Ohio Health Invitational performance.

Ridgedale's Elliot Weston sits third at 16:00.1, only a tenth above the 16-minute threshold on the displayed list. Independence's Mitchell Creel and Maplewood's Micah Sparks follow at 16:07.7 and 16:09.3.

There is another close pairing further down: Tinora's Graham Hammon at 16:28.8 and Mount Gilead's Henry Bartlett at 16:29.4. Russia's Evan Smith is ninth at 16:31.5, followed by Springfield Emmanuel Christian Academy's Elijah Scales at 16:34.0.

Seniors: One more fall to leave their mark

Division 1: Ryne Reynolds breaks 15, Springboro places two

Little Miami's Ryne Reynolds leads Division 1 seniors with 14:57.7, recorded at the Neal Charske Fairmont Firebird Invitational on September 26. He is the only senior in this division's supplied top 10 below 15 minutes.

Milford's Henry Newman follows at 15:31.6, just ahead of Springboro's Nicholas Beatty at 15:33.4. Beavercreek's Nick Szymanski is fourth at 15:35.4, and Springboro places another senior in the first five through Nolan Hicks, who has run 15:40.1.

The depth is impressive. From Newman in second to Mentor's Gabe Tulenson in 10th, the displayed bests span only 15.9 seconds. St. Xavier's Liam Holman, Solon's Matthew Scipione, and Dublin Coffman's Benjamin Canales are all part of that group.

Division 2: Ian Res leads a top 10 entirely under 16

West Geauga's Ian Res leads Division 2 seniors at 15:20.3, recorded at the Cardinal Invitational on September 26. Findlay's Russell Stine holds second at 15:37.7, followed by Nordonia's Aiden Flynn at 15:41.0 and Sylvania Southview's Steven Owen at 15:42.9.

Findlay and Troy both belong in Division 2 in the supplied 2026 OHSAA alignment, placing Troy's Zadok Reeves fifth at 15:46.5.

Hoover's Alex Hobe and Walsh Jesuit's Caleb Hamilton sit a tenth apart at 15:49.8 and 15:49.9. Rocky River's Ryan Stirm closes the group at 15:58.3. Every athlete in this top 10 has a supplied performance under 16 minutes.

Division 3: Jackson Spitzer leads, and the cutoff gets faster

Versailles' Jackson Spitzer leads Division 3 seniors with 14:54.9, recorded at Piqua Under the Lights on September 12. Perkins' Joel Smelcer follows at 15:08.8, using his faster Battle of Turtle Creek performance from the original data.

Bellaire's Landen Perdue, Portsmouth's Ian Putnam, and Chagrin Falls' Kelan Byrne occupy third through fifth with displayed bests between 15:32.8 and 15:34.9. Woodridge's John Brock is immediately behind at 15:35.5.

The significant change comes at 10th. Canal Fulton Northwest's Luca Novakovic has a 15:54.1 from Claymont, faster than the mark in the original list. Like Division 2, this senior top 10 is entirely under 16 minutes.

Division 4: Bennett Lehman leads a competitive senior group

Ansonia's Bennett Lehman leads Division 4 seniors at 15:21.1, recorded at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational on September 19. Russia's Samuel Phlipot is second at 15:43.1, with Sherwood Fairview's Malaki Neilson close behind at 15:44.8.

Grand Valley's Sam Steimle gives the group a fourth sub-16 runner at 15:57.3. Legacy Christian's Stephen Wojtowicz is fifth at 16:01.7, followed by Anna's Titus Young and Fort Loramie's Ean Grillot.

Tinora places two seniors in the top 10: Noah Meyer, eighth at 16:19.9, and Nolan Rittenhouse, 10th at 16:23.0. Columbus Grove's Caiden Squillante sits between them at 16:22.1.

What to watch next

The youngest runners have already made this more than a senior showcase. Thomas has broken 16 as a freshman. Watson has brought the sophomore standard close to 15. Fuller and Patrick have produced marks that sit near the very top of the entire collection.

There are also promising combinations inside individual programs. Lakota West has two of the first five Division 1 freshmen. Milton-Union has two Division 3 sophomores. Springboro places pairs in both its junior and senior Division 1 lists. Russia has a grade leader in Bixler and additional representation through Smith and Phlipot.

None of those observations decides a championship. These lists do not show every runner on a team, and a season best from one course cannot tell us exactly what will happen on another.

They do give us names to follow. Watch the athletes approaching 16 minutes. Watch the tightly packed groups where a few seconds could move a runner several places. And watch how the runners who have already posted exceptional times respond when the next race asks something different of them.

Ohio has plenty of established talent. Judging by these lists, it also has plenty more arriving.