If you were standing near the finish line at Fortress Obetz this past November, you felt it. That specific, vibrating energy that only happens when a year’s worth of 6:00 AM runs and shin splints finally collides with a 5,000-meter grass strip. The OHSAA cross country state meet 2024 wasn't just another race; it was a total masterclass in grit. Honestly, if you aren't obsessed with Ohio distance running, it's hard to explain why thousands of people stand in a dusty field in Obetz to watch teenagers run themselves into exhaustion. But for those of us there, the 2024 championships delivered some of the most "did that actually just happen?" moments in recent memory.
Basically, the day was a blur of neon singlets and heartbreak. We saw dynasties like Minster continue their reign—shocking absolutely no one—while new kings were crowned in Division I.
The Division I Heavyweights: Mason's Dominance and Kimmel's Speed
Most people expected a dogfight in the Boys Division I race, but Landon Kimmel from Tippecanoe had other plans. He didn't just win; he dismantled the field. Clocking a 14:33.81, Kimmel looked like he was playing a different sport than everyone else. It’s one of those times where you're looking at your stopwatch thinking, "Wait, is this thing broken?"
Behind him, the team battle was where the real drama lived. Mason took the gold with 111 points. They’ve been so consistent for so long that it's easy to take them for granted, but putting together a spread like that at the state level is incredibly difficult. St. Xavier (180) and Little Miami (183) were fighting for the scraps, but Mason had already slammed the door shut.
On the girls' side, the narrative was all about Lancaster. They finished with 114 points to hold off a very dangerous Hilliard Davidson squad (132). If you want to talk about individual brilliance, Daniela Scheffler from Uniontown Lake was the story. She posted a 17:01.29 to take the individual crown. To run that fast on the Obetz course, you have to be fearless in the second mile, and she absolutely was.
✨ Don't miss: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
Division II: The Return of the Repeat Kings
If you like consistency, Division II was your favorite part of the day. Andrew Walton from Fairfield Union did exactly what he set out to do: he repeated. Winning one state title is a dream; winning two back-to-back makes you a legend in your hometown. He finished in 15:09.84, fending off Latrell Hughes from Lexington.
Fairfield Union didn't just celebrate Walton's win, though. They took the team title too, finishing with 88 points. Lexington (123) and Woodridge (136) are perennial powerhouses, but they just couldn't match Fairfield's depth this year.
Division II Team Results (Top 3)
- Fairfield Union: 88 points
- Lexington: 123 points
- Woodridge: 136 points
The girls' Division II race was a bit of a nail-biter. Minerva managed to scrape together 100 points to beat out Hathaway Brown (110). It’s kind of wild how much a single runner can change a score in DII. One person passes two girls in the final 100 meters, and suddenly the trophy changes hands.
Division III: Where Dynasties Live
You can't talk about the OHSAA cross country state meet 2024 without mentioning Minster. It’s a law or something. The Minster girls won their 17th state title. Seventeen. That is not a typo. They scored 135 points, narrowly beating Summit Country Day (140) and Rittman (144).
🔗 Read more: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
It wasn't easy, though. Caroline Hamilton from Legacy Christian stole the show individually, running a 17:43.25 to set a new Division III course record for Obetz. She edged out the 2023 champ, Rebecca Geiss, in a finish that had people screaming so loud you could probably hear it in downtown Columbus.
On the boys' side, Luke Snyder from Rittman is becoming a household name. He repeated as the DIII individual champion with a 14:58.13. Seeing a sub-15:00 time in Division III is always a treat, especially at the state meet where the pressure is usually a suffocating weight. Mount Gilead took home the team trophy with 109 points, proving that their program is currently the gold standard for small-school running in Ohio.
What Most People Get Wrong About Obetz
A common misconception is that the Fortress Obetz course is "easy" because it looks flat. Kinda wrong. While it doesn't have the monster hills of the old Scioto Downs course, it’s a "rhythm breaker." The turns and the varying grass surfaces can eat your legs up if you go out too fast.
In 2024, the weather was actually pretty decent for running—cool enough to keep the core temp down but not so windy that it felt like running into a wall. However, the lead-up to the meet had been dry, meaning the ground was hard. Hard ground equals fast times but also more impact on the joints. You could see the fatigue in the later races as the dust started to kick up.
💡 You might also like: LeBron James Without Beard: Why the King Rarely Goes Clean Shaven Anymore
Actionable Insights for Next Season
If you’re a runner or a coach looking at these 2024 results and wondering how to get on that podium in 2025 or 2026, here is the reality:
- The Second Mile is the Grave: In almost every race at the 2024 meet, the people who moved up between the 1-mile and 2-mile marks were the ones who earned All-Ohio honors. Don't sell your soul in the first 800 meters.
- Course Familiarity: If your team didn't run the Early Season Invitational at Obetz in August, you started at a disadvantage. You need to know where those turns feel sharpest.
- Depth Wins Titles: Look at Mason or Minster. They didn't always have the #1 individual, but their #4 and #5 runners were consistently beating other teams' #2 or #3.
If you want to dive deeper into the specific splits or see the full 150+ runner results for each division, you should head over to the OHSAA official site or MileSplit Ohio. They have the raw data that shows exactly where the moves were made.
The 2024 season is in the books, but the work for next November has already started in the freezing rain of January. Get those base miles in.
Next Steps for You: - Review the official 2024 podium photos on the OHSAA gallery to study the finishing form of the top ten.
- Map out your 2025 summer training block to peak specifically for the first weekend of November.
- Check the 2025 divisional breakdowns to see if your school has moved up or down in classification.