Teays Valley's Galinger takes cross country crown; Watterson, Upper Arlington girls fall just short of team titles
Saturday, November 7, 2026
By Steve Blackledge
sblackledge@cbussports.com
Teays Valley senior Reese Gallinger, an Ohio University commit, beams after capturing the girls Division I state title at Fortress Obetz. Photo: Kevin Rouch
OBETZ – In the old days of high school cross country – before high-tech timing technology and web sites devoted to the sport – runners, coaches and fans were put through the wringer waiting at least 30-minutes for officials to calculate and sort out results.
Now, anyone with a smart phone can rejoice and agonize in real time as video and live results are continually updated on-line and flashed on two Jumbotrons in the packed stadium at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park, site of Saturday’s state championship meets.
So, it was a bit anticlimactic when Bishop Watterson coach Steve Taliaferro and his girls runners officially learned that the Eagles had lost a back-and-forth tussle with Aurora for the Division II championship. Aurora (80 points) and top-ranked defending champ Watterson (99) left the rest of the field in the dust. Third-place Big Walnut scored 192 points.
“Overall, I thought we threw our best punch, but unlike last year when we won by a close margin (158-161 over Hathaway Brown), we came up on the short end against a great team this time around,” Taliaferro said.
“I’m not sure how I feel at this moment because we were favored to win. We’ve never really had projections out there until recent years. I’ll never really know what, if any, pressure the kids felt to live up to that ranking and our achievements from last year.”
Kaitlyn Van Zant placed seventh in 18 minutes, 1.2 seconds on the 5,000-meter course to pace both Watterson and the central Ohio contingent. The outcome ultimately swung on the disparity between Aurora’s and Watterson’s fifth scorers.
“One of our top runners was sick today and we dealt with what we could,” Van Zandt said. “We fought hard and did our very best and that’s all you can ask.”
Upper Arlington’s girls faced a similar fate in Division I. The Golden Bears entered the meet ranked No. 1, just ahead of Milford. UA led through two miles, but faltered badly down the stretch and settled for third (159 points) as Milford (111) and Mason (145) took home the respective championship and runner-up trophies. Hilliard Davidson was fifth (187).
Grandview Heights senior Julia Albright (9202) led the Bobcats to a third-place team finish at the OHSAA girls Division IV cross country championships in Obetz Saturday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The outcome swung when UA sophomore standout Beth Baker, who placed fourth overall in the Golden Bears’ regional title race a week earlier, slid from ninth at the two-mile mark to 89th by race’s end. She was seen receiving medical attention afterward.
Teays Valley senior Reese Galinger, an Ohio University. commit, captured the individual title in 17:51, climbing 14 spots from her 2025 finish.
“I really went into today trying to be smart and run a controlled pace,” she said. “My goal was to sit with the front pack as long as I could and not let them get away.
“The past couple weeks I had seen this coming and had my goals set on being top-five, but deep down I knew I had it in me to be state champ. Even so, I could not believe I was leading with 600 meters to go. It was surreal coming down the stretch.”
Mackenzie Kline of Hilliard Davidson took fourth (18:00.9), helping her team finish fifth. Kline, who won the regional crown, had the phrase “Finish On Empty” written in ink on her hand.
“I came in hoping for top three, but all the work I put in I’m happy with fourth,” she said.
Dayton Oakwood edged Huron 119-125 for the Division III crown. Sadie Schultz of Fairfield Union (sixth in 18:28.9), was the top central Ohio finisher.
In Division IV, regional champ Grandview turned in a strong performance but narrowly missed a trophy and podium appearance. Liberty Center prevailed (112), followed by Minster (145) and Grandview (149).
Senior Julia Albright paced the Bobcats’ charge, placing 13th in 18:48.7.
“To be honest, we’re a little disappointed because we had our eyes on a win today,” she said. “We beat Liberty Center in a meet earlier in the meet this year. Every race plays out different, though, and, overall, we’re really proud of what we did this year.”
New Albany junior Austin Benedict (center) finished third in the boys Division I state title race in Obetz on Saturday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
On the boys side, only one Central Ohio team was able to take home hardware and that was perennial power Mount Gilead in Division IV. The top-ranked Indians outscored Russia 84-99 for their third title. They previously won championships in 2022 and 2024 after claiming runner-up in 2019 and 2021.
Brycen Gabriel took 15th (16:16.6) to lead Mount Gilead, which featured a strong pack approach.
In Division I, Springboro (107) topped Beavercreek (128) and Mason (146) for the team title. Dublin Jerome took fourth (175) and Gahanna Lincoln fifth (189).
While Little Miami claimed a rare feat with a one-two finish from Ryne Reynolds (15:01.4) and Ian Patrick (15:10.7), Central Ohio individuals emerged with seven of the top 14 places.
Austin Benedict of New Albany was third (15:11.6), Logan Behm of Hilliard Darby fourth (15:17.9) and Calvin Watson of Thomas Worthington sixth (15:22.7) to lead the area contingent.
“None of us central Ohio guys would be here without each other,” Benedict said. “We’re always competing against each other and making each other better. We’ve pushed each other all year, some of us even longer than that, and we’re very competitive but we’re also extremely happy to have each others’ backs.”
Bowling Green edged Lexington 181-182 for the Division II title.
Leading the way for central Ohio was Big Walnut’s Ethan Shultz, who took fourth in 15:30.1. He led his team to sixth place.
Shultz was leading the race at the two-mile mark, but a collision with eventual winner Ian Res of West Geauga knocked him off stride.
“It was the most physical race I’ve ever been in,” Shultz said. “It’s not a non-contact sport so I’m not complaining. People bump into each other all the time and jostle for positions. But going up the hill on a turn at about 2.5 miles, I collided with Ian and got tripped up. I didn’t fall, but I went from first to fifth and had to fight my way back up to fourth. It’s a disappointing way to finish because going in I thought I had a shot.”
Peninsula Woodridge cruised to the Division III title with 65 points.
Fifth-place Fairfield Union produced the area’s top finisher, seventh-place Connor Runkle (15:22).
Saturday’s Ohio High School Athletic Association championships marked the 98th annual event for boys and 49th for girls.
The Division I girls cross country race kicked off the OHSAA cross country championships at Fortress Obetz on Saturday. Teays Valley’s Reese Galinger, the eventual winner, is on the left side of the pack planning her kick. Photo: Kevin Rouch