'It feels amazing': Westerville North’s Ben Gabelman wins OHSAA cross country title
Since finishing fourth in the Division I state meet a season ago, Westerville North’s Ben Gabelman had set his sights on the boys cross country individual state championship.
The senior achieved that goal Saturday at Fortress Obetz, pulling away in the final 600 meters to win in 14:51.66.
“It feels amazing,” Gabelman said. “I’ve been visualizing this for a long time. I envisioned it to be more tight-packed. I was definitely ready to take off on my own if I needed to. ... This has been a dream of mine since freshman year. Knowing that I would have been so close, I don’t think I could have forgiven myself if I didn’t push all the way through.”
Competing against the top runners in the state, Gabelman finished ahead of local rivals Sam Ricchiuti of Dublin Jerome (fourth, 15:02.22), Thomas McMahon of Upper Arlington (fifth, 15:14.28), Saketh Rudraraju of Olentangy Orange (sixth, 15:17.93) and Mick Temple of Pickerington North (10th, 15:27.59).
Gabelman, who will compete at Syracuse along with Ricchiuti, became North’s first state champion since 1987, when future Olympic runner Bob Kennedy won the second of his two state titles.
The championship also was special for North coach Nick Horton, a 2014 graduate who ran for Warriors.
“This is probably the greatest feeling as a coach that you can have,” Horton said. “Seeing all the work that he’s put in the last three years and finally to get up at the top of the podium − we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task, but to come out here and actually do it was amazing to see. He’s one of the hardest working, great leaders for our team. He’s done amazing things for our program.”
McMahon, a senior, was pleased with his performance, especially after falling near the midway point.
“I fell out of that front pack, but I was able to find my spot in the race and hold on,” McMahon said. “Every step I tried to make it up a bit and it ended up working out. I couldn’t catch up to that front pack, but I ran well enough to get that fifth spot, which I was happy about.”
Orange was central Ohio’s top team, finishing third (172) behind champion Massillon Jackson (86). Dublin Coffman was eighth (252), Dublin Scioto was 12th (293), Lancaster was 13th (308) and Westerville North was 18th (368).
Hilliard Davidson girls finish second in Division I
Davidson’s dream of winning its first state title since 2002 came up one spot short, as the Wildcats were runners-up (124) to Perrysburg (102). Celia Schulte finished 23rd (18:39.29) to lead Davidson, which earned its second consecutive runner-up finish and fourth overall.
“It was an OK race,” coach Nate King said. “We were pretty good and we left the door open for a team that was running great to win it.”
Dublin Jerome sophomore Natalie Fouts led central Ohio runners, finishing third (17:59.11). She was 39th as a freshman.
“Last season, I was getting used to it and I was a little under-impressed with how my season went, but I’m so happy with how this year went,” Fouts said.
Fouts finished ahead of Orange’s Brooke Chapman (fourth, 18:10.46), Lancaster’s Marissa Heil (sixth, 18:12.57) and Jerome’s Helen Randolph (ninth, 18:21.75).
“I was trying to stick with the front pack, and for the last mile I was just trying to fight through the pain and stay where I was,” Chapman said.
Olentangy Liberty was seventh (230), Jerome was 13th (302), Marysville was 16th (362) and Gahanna Lincoln was 19th (416).
Fairfield Union’s Walton wins Division II boys race
Fairfield Union junior Andrew Walton used last season’s 14th-place state finish as motivation, winning Saturday in 15:00.17.
“I knew I was in the mix,” Walton said. “I felt a little pressure, but I just had to do what I usually do and just give it everything I have.”
The Falcons finished third (136) behind champion Alliance Marlington (108).
“We were looking for first,” Walton said. “It’s a lot better than (finishing fourth) last year.”
Bexley’s Holden Gohs finished 16th (16:05.76) as the Lions were ninth (250).
Jonathan Alder was 12th (283) and Granville was 16th (345).
Mount Gilead boys finish second in Division III
After winning the state championship last season and finishing second in 2021, Mount Gilead placed second (128) behind Columbus Grove (122).
“You can’t really be too disappointed with second,” coach Jake Hayes said. “Obviously, the guys are kind of bummed. It’s a good indicator to where the program is at where you can lose by a (few) points and be bummed out about it, but second place is nothing to hang your head about.”
Will Baker finished fourth (15:45.13) to lead the Indians.
Grandview Heights’ Denison Murphy finished 23rd (16:23.07).
Conrad leads Fairfield Union girls
Fairfield Union’s Anna Conrad was central Ohio’s top finisher in the Division II girls race, placing seventh (18:45.31). The Falcons finished 13th (302) behind champion Minerva (144).
Jonathan Alder finished 11th (275) and Granville was 12th (284).
Kira Bergeron was 12th (18:50.65) for Granville and Ella Luker was 22nd (19:12.43) for Jonathan Alder.
Worthington Christian’s Unger enjoys strong state meet
Competing in her first state meet, Worthington Christian's Emma Unger finished ninth (18:48.62) in the Division III girls race.
The senior missed her first three seasons as she recovered from the removal of a benign tumor from her right hip.
“It’s amazing to be here,” Unger said. “There’s so many people watching you. ... It was such a cool experience to be able to run with all of those girls who are amazing, the best in the state.”
Coach Michael Schaefer was impressed with Unger’s season.
“I was calling top 10 (at state), I knew she had it in her,” he said. “It’s amazing what she accomplished this season. I got emotional talking to her before the meet.”
Senior Mira Martin led Columbus School for Girls, finishing 15th (18:54.5) and eclipsing her own program record for the third time. CSG also finished 15th (327).
“It was fun,” Martin said. “It went by faster than I expected. We’re not surprised. This was our goal from the beginning. I know we’re all super happy that we got here and we just wanted to see what we could do today.”
Led by Madeline Palmisciano's 27th-place finish (19:20.83), Grandview finished ninth (300).
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Westerville North’s Ben Gabelman wins state cross country title
