Cross Country: Gabelman’s state title highlights area strength
Saturday, November 4, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Westerville North’s Ben Gabelman celebrates his win in the Division I boys state cross country meet Nov. 4 at Fortress Obetz. Gabelman finished in 14:51.70. Photo: John Hulkenberg
When he saw the opportunity, Westerville North senior Ben Gabelman didn’t hold back Saturday during the Division I state boys cross country meet.
Gabelman was in the front pack throughout the race at Fortress Obetz and kicked into another gear about two-thirds of the way through, pulling away to capture the program’s first championship since Bob Kennedy won his second consecutive title in 1987.
“I envisioned it to be a more tight pack, but I was ready to take it all on my own if I had to,” Gabelman said. “Down the hill, I just full-on sprinted and separated myself from everyone else. I think it was just adrenaline. Winning a state championship has been a dream of mine since my freshman year, and knowing that I would have been so close, I don’t think I could have forgiven myself if I hadn’t pulled all the way through.”
Gabelman finished in 14 minutes, 51.7 seconds, and was one of eight boys from central Ohio to reach the Division I awards podium by placing in the top 20.
Also leaving with hardware from the big-school division was the Hilliard Davidson girls team, which scored 124 points to earn a runner-up finish for the second consecutive season despite having two new runners leading the way this fall. Perrysburg scored 102 to win its second title in three seasons.
“It was an OK race,” said Davidson coach Nate King, whose team had three runners in the top 31 including Celia Schulte (23rd, 18:39.29). “We did pretty well, but we left the door open for another team to win it, and that’s what happened. It was a good pack. We needed to put four around the top 30 and have our four and five in the 40s and 50s, but it was still OK. We’re only graduating one out of our top nine.”
There were six girls among the top 20 individually, with Dublin Jerome’s Natalie Fouts finishing third (17:59.11).
“I was a lot off of that last year when I got 40th, but I’ve worked really hard this year and was hoping to be in the top five,” Fouts said. “So I was super happy about it.”
Olentangy Orange’s Brooke Chapman finished fourth (18:10.46) after placing 30th a year ago.
“We’re all pretty consistent with our teams in central Ohio and they’ve all been good competition,” Chapman said. “Every race is super fast. I’m really happy with how I did today. I was trying to get at least in the top 15 and I think I competed well even when it hurt. I pushed through the pain.”
Dublin Jerome’s Natalie Fouts is all smiles following her third-place finish – tops among central Ohioans – in the Division I state girls cross country meet Nov. 4, 2023, at Fortress Obetz. Fouts finished in 17:59.11. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Lancaster’s Marisa Heil finished sixth (18:12.57) despite being in her first season competing in cross country.
“I’d just done soccer my whole life and did really well in the 800 (meters in track last spring), so I tried to up the distance and see how it went,” Heil said. “I love running.”
Also in the girls race, Jerome’s Helen Randolph was ninth (18:21.75), Olentangy Liberty’s Julia Bockenstette placed 13th (18:27.66) and Olentangy Berlin’s Grace Heitkamp placed 16th (18:32.33).
Liberty finished seventh (230) and Jerome (13th, 302), Marysville (15th, 362) and Gahanna Lincoln (19th, 462) also competed.
In the boys race, Orange finished a program-best third (172), with Dublin Coffman (eighth, 252), Dublin Scioto (12th, 293), Lancaster (13th, 308) and Westerville North (18th, 368) also scoring. Massillon Jackson (86) won the title.
Jerome senior Sam Ricchiuti, who was state runner-up a year ago, finished fourth (15:02.3).
Upper Arlington senior Thomas McMahon fell down a little more halfway through the race but recovered well enough to finish fifth (15:14.3).
“I fell over and kind of fell out of that top front pack, but I was able to find myself in the race and hold on,” McMahon said. “I kind of tripped over a hill and also got spiked as well. It took me out of it for a little bit, but then I just had to win my race and it ended up working out. I was pretty happy with getting fifth.”
Orange senior Saketh Rudraraju, who was all-state as a sophomore before struggling to a 44th-place finish a year ago, turned in a sixth-place finish (15:18.0).
“I felt really good about it,” Rudraraju said. “I led our team to a third-place finish, and our highest finish as a team before this was 17th so I’m just really happy for the team. Today I just felt engaged, and in the last 600 my coach yelled at me that we were in the top five, so I caught two to three people right there. It feels good to be all-state again.”
Bexley’s Holden Gohs (right) crosses the finish line in 16th place in the Division II state cross country meet Nov. 4 at Fortress Obetz. Gohs finished in 16:05.76. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Bexley boys lead area pack in Division II
The Bexley boys team finished ninth with 250 in Division II as Alliance Marlington (108) won the title. Jonathan Alder was 12th (283) and Granville placed 16th (345).
Holden Gohs led Bexley with a 16th-place finish (16:05.76).
“I did not expect to run that well,” Gohs said. “It was just a nice pack, and I run best when I can sit back in the pack and hang. Last year I did not run very well at this course. Most of our varsity is seniors this year, so there was a lot of pressure to make it to state because it’s our last year.”
Heath’s Tucker See finished 11th (15:59.93) to also earn all-state honors. Hartley’s Connor Caltrider placed 21st (16:14.27).
“Last year I had a disappointing race (placing 62nd), so it feels amazing,” See said. “I’ve been progressing my whole career, and I think I can still get better.”
In the girls meet, Jonathan Alder was 11th (275), Granville placed 12th (284) as Minerva won the title (144).
Kara Bergeron turned in a 12th-place finish (18:50.65) to lead the Blue Aces after she helped them win the state title a year ago.
“I’m pretty happy with it,” Bergeron said. “I’m just really thankful I was able to compete with my team and the energy was really good.”
Worthington Christian’s Unger shines in Division III
In her first state appearance, Worthington Christian senior Emma Unger finished ninth (18:48.62) to lead area girls in Division III.
“About 500 meters in, I tripped and caught myself,” Unger said. “The start was really hard. I didn’t think everyone was going to get out that fast, and they all sprinting. It’s amazing to be here. There’s so many people watching you, it’s crazy. It was such a cool experience.”
Columbus School for Girls’ Mira Martin finished 15th (18:54.5).
“I sort of planned to go out slower, but everyone wasn’t doing that,” Martin said. “It was more of a mental toughness race more than a testament to my physical abilities. I started just trusting my training.”
Grandview finished ninth (300) as Minster (62) won the title. CSG was making its first appearance as a team since 2013 and placed 15th (327).
Senior Madeline Palmiisciano led the Bobcats with a 27th-place finish (19:20.83).
“We have a great team, and we have half of them coming back,” Bobcats coach Chris Szabo said. “They’re very young, and it was great exposure.”
Mount Gilead scored 128 to earn a runner-up finish in the boys race behind Columbus Grove (122). Marion Pleasant was 11th (278), Fredericktown was 18th (358) and Fisher Catholic placed 20th (428).
Will Baker led Mount Gilead with a fourth-place finish (15:45.13) and teammate Parker Bartlett was 17th (16:14.83).
“I’m happy about it, definitely,” Baker said. “I wanted to get out there hard because I knew there’d be great competition. Our guys put in a lot of work and are going to run to the best of their ability.”