Several area cross country teams opened their 2026 seasons Saturday with strong performances at the Bob Schul Invitational and Northwestern Classic, including multiple individual medalists and several top-five team finishes.
WEST LIBERTY-SALEM
High School Boys – Bob Schul Invitational
The West Liberty-Salem boys cross country team, ranked No. 6 in this week’s Division III OATCCC State Coaches Poll, finished third in the D1/D2 race at the Bob Schul Invitational.
Granville won with 58 points, followed by Lebanon with 59 and West Liberty-Salem with 92. Bellefontaine finished seventh with 174 points.
Junior Asher Cole led the Big Orange with a third-place finish in 16:19.1, while junior Brayan Gullett placed fourth in 16:19.4.
Owen Hardwick finished 20th in 17:24.7, followed by Gauge Lee in 31st at 17:41.2 with a PR.
Eric Hoover placed 34th in 17:48.6, while freshman Milo Matthews was 45th in 18:08.0 with a PR.
Zeke Lauck finished 61st in 18:34.1 with a PR, followed by Liam Harrington in 68th at 18:41.4 with a PR.
Raylan Wulf placed 78th in 18:55.5 with a PR.
Zeke Sidders, Zeke Longshore, Isaiah Barth, Daniel Erne, Connor Watson and Jude Roberts also competed, with Barth, Watson and Roberts recording PRs.
A total of 279 runners competed.
“This meet was definitely an ice breaker and learning experience for our younger less experienced squad, so to finish top three in our first outing is pretty solid. I’m really excited about watching this team’s progression as we gain valuable experience each and every week.”
— Head Coach Mike Louden
The Tigers will compete next at the Columbus Grove Invitational Saturday, September 5, at 8:30 a.m.
Middle School Girls – Bob Schul Invitational
The West Liberty-Salem middle school girls captured the team championship in a competitive field of 25 teams.
Nika Matthews led the Big Orange with a second-place finish in 12:24.4.
Elayna Hoover placed fourth in 12:44.6, while Paisley Strapp finished ninth in 13:10.4 and Iris Meister was 10th in 13:11.2.
Lilly Woodruff placed 12th in 13:12.5, followed by Neema Smucker in 41st at 14:03.5.
Ellie Louth and Kynslie McIntosh also competed.
A total of 350 girls competed in the middle school race.
Middle School Boys – Bob Schul Invitational
The Big Orange middle school boys finished runner-up in a field of 27 teams.
Caizen Anders captured the individual championship, tying his all-time personal best with a time of 11:19.
Joel Hoover finished 21st in 12:11.1, followed by Archer Anane-Sefah in 32nd at 12:20.8 and Ozzy Anders in 36th at 12:23.3.
Harrison Sutherin placed 38th in 12:26.0, while Cooper Thompson finished in 12:30.6 and Isaac Falloon was 44th in 12:36.3.
Braxton Louden, Jackson Barth, Jack Troyer, Mason Hinds, Jett Ziegler, Bryce Michael, Gabriel Wilson, Maddax Dobberstein, Jordan Griffith, Josey Fullenkamp and Ayden Henson also competed.
A total of 427 boys competed in the middle school race.
The Big Orange will compete at Columbus Grove next week.
BELLEFONTAINE
High School Girls – Bob Schul Invitational
The Bellefontaine Lady Chiefs opened the 2026 cross country season with a fourth-place finish in the D3-4 race at the Bob Schul Invitational, placing fourth out of 19 teams.
Senior Grace Brown led the way with a third-place finish in 19:42.
Cece Reier finished 37th in 22:20 with a PR, while Hannah Wilson placed 38th in 22:30.
Camila Cely-Hernandez finished 55th in 23:17, followed by Chloe O’Chocke in 67th at 23:49 and Cameo Greene in 69th at 23:51.
Leila Hammond placed 86th in 24:26, while Alivia Owens finished 142nd in 27:34.
The race featured 185 runners.
“The girls put in a lot of work during the offseason, and it’s exciting to see that work starting to show. We’re gaining confidence as a team, and we know there is still a lot of room to grow. This is just the beginning.”
— Head Coach Stacey Wilson
High School Boys – Bob Schul Invitational
The Bellefontaine boys finished seventh out of 17 teams in the D1/D2 race.
Oliver Grandstaff led the Chiefs with an eighth-place finish in 16:36, recording a PR.
Jake Moreland and Will Myers finished 35th and 36th, respectively, both running 17:49.
Brenden Murray placed 42nd in 18:07, while Aiden Fout finished 51st in 18:21 with a PR.
Jackson Maus was 53rd in 18:26 with a PR, followed by Andrew Myers in 58th at 18:28.
Landon Gerwels finished 85th in 19:06.
Lucas Linn placed 135th in 20:02 with a PR, while Charlie Moreland, Bennett Lang, Andy McDonald, Tristyn Wilson, Marcus Frazier, Brayten Swisher and Dalton Frazier also competed.
Charlie Moreland, Bennett Lang, Andy McDonald, Marcus Frazier and Dalton Frazier each recorded PRs.
A total of 279 runners competed.
Middle School Girls – Northwestern Classic
The Bellefontaine Middle School girls finished fourth out of 20 teams at the Northwestern Classic.
Kylie Lowe won the individual race in 13:16, finishing first in a field of 109 runners.
Emma Smith placed fourth in 13:56.
Willow Rupp finished 29th in 17:03, while Danica Engle placed 37th in 17:32.
Emily Escue finished 70th in 19:40, and Rosie Moreland placed 109th in 32:45.
Middle School Boys – Northwestern Classic
The Bellefontaine Middle School boys finished fifth out of 20 teams.
Camden Vollrath led the Chiefs with a 10th-place finish in 12:34, earning a medal in a field of 149 runners.
Daniel Campbell finished 26th in 13:46, followed by Anthony Carter in 35th at 14:08 and Owen Smith in 38th at 14:14.
Jayden Lambert placed 91st in 16:31, while Malek Alhaj finished 105th in 17:20.
The Chiefs will run next at the Logan County Meet Tuesday night at Southview Park.
INDIAN LAKE
High School Girls – Northwestern Warrior Invitational
The Indian Lake girls cross country team finished eighth at the Northwestern Warrior Invitational in its season opener.
Laura Metzger led the Lakers with a 17th-place finish in 22:55, while Alicia Brielmaier was 18th in 22:57.
Kayleigh Taylor finished 50th in 25:21, followed by Abby Arnett in 60th at 26:28 and Haley Metzger in 78th at 27:54.
High School Boys – Northwestern Warrior Invitational
Hayden Kuhlke led Indian Lake in the high school boys 5K, placing 29th in 19:34.
Dalton Young finished 79th in 22:09.
Middle School Boys – Northwestern Warrior Invitational
The Indian Lake Middle School boys finished 11th.
Hayden Thompson led the Lakers in 41st at 14:20, followed by Isaac King in 54th at 14:39.
Lincoln Halterman, Lincoln Nielsen, Carter Flory and Owen Flory also competed.
Middle School Girls – Northwestern Warrior Invitational
The middle school girls finished ninth.
Taylor Alltop led the Lakers in 54th at 18:27, followed by Serenity Albert in 55th at 18:32.
Aubrey Hoffman, Makenna Gibbons, Kaylyn Warren, Cheyenne Pender, Kenzie Arnett and Raelyn Hoge also competed.
The Lakers will compete Tuesday at the Kiwanis Logan County Championships at Bellefontaine Southview Park.
BENJAMIN LOGAN
Boys – Northwestern Invitational
The Benjamin Logan boys finished seventh out of 17 teams at the Northwestern Invitational.
Junior Greyson Butler led the Raiders with a 20th-place finish in 19:12.
Senior Gavin Jordan placed 24th in 19:16, followed by senior Oliver Morse in 33rd at 19:40.
Senior Cason Lacher finished 48th in 20:34, while senior Maxwell Troth placed 60th in 20:57.
Freshman John Tingley finished 82nd in 22:14, followed by junior Michael Berry in 99th at 24:01.
Senior Gabe Elsasser, freshman Hunter Winnen and sophomore Miles Grandbois also competed.
The Raiders will return to action Tuesday, September 1, at the Logan County Meet at Southview Park.
