Derrick Webb, Managing Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
PHOTO CREDIT: Karla DePugh/KDepughPhotography
GENEVA — The Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches held its 2026 Indoor State Championship Meet this past weekend and a number of area athletes traveled back home with hardware.
In fact, nine athletes took home state championships.
To exactly nobody’s surprise, Athens’ Sophia Szolosi took home two state championships — running a 4:49.81 in the Division II 1600-meter run and a 10:18.43 in the 3200 run.
Also in DII, Logan’s Talen Alford won the weight throw with a showing of 58-foot-4.75. Meanwhile, Logan’s Sam Pennington was first in the triple jump with a mark of 37-foot-8, and also took sixth place in the long jump at 17-4.
In Division III, River Valley’s Jansyn Smith, Chesapeake’s Corey Davis, Adena’s Katie Burns and Gallia Academy’s Cory Mock enjoyed superior performances.
Smith won the 800 run with a finish time of 1:56.67 while Davis posted a height of 16-foot-6 in the pole vault event. Burns won the high jump with a best of 5-foot-3 and Mock won the weight throw at 74-3.25.
In Division IV, North Adams’ Beau Hesler took home the state’s top honors in the 400-meter dash with a time of 47.93 seconds. He also finished second in the 200 dash with a mark of 22.34.
Meanwhile, Federal Hocking’s Annamarie Montle won the pole vault with a best height of 12-8 and finished the 60-meter hurdles in 9.28 seconds, which was good enough for second place.
Here’s a full look at the area’s top finishers, separated by divisions.
DIVISION II
Logan’s Braden Shriner finished third in the 60-meter dash (6.92) and seventh in the 200 dash (22.33) while teammate Daniel Bauers placed eighth in the triple jump (39-4).
Unioto’s Adeline Lloyd turned in a third place showing in the high jump (5-2) while teammate Makinley Haynes was eighth in the weight throw (37-11).
CREDIT: Raymond Gleadle/SOSA
DIVISION III
In Division III, Washington’s Avery Wightman was second in the 800 run (1:57.23), Portsmouth’s JJ Purcell was seventh in the 1600 run (4:29.89), Unioto’s Caleb Caplinger was eighth in the 3200 run (9:48.33).
In the 60-meter hurdles, Alexander’s Jake Roush took seventh (8.48) while Unioto’s 4×800-meter relay finished third with a time of 8:10.11.
Wheelersburg’s Kenyon Evans earned a trio of podium finishes, taking third in the high jump (6-5), second in the long jump (22-7.75) and second in the triple jump (43-1.75). In the pole vault event, Zane Trace’s Hudson Williams was fourth (15-0) and Unioto’s Levi Beam was sixth (14-4).
On the girls side of the spectrum in Division III, Ironton’s Addi Davis finished third (2:21.93) and Alexander’s Meena Juedes took eighth in the 800 run (2:27.28) while Adena’s Vanessa Conley was sixth in the 3200 run (11:42.52).
Fairland’s Molly Dunlap also placed in the long jump, taking eighth with a mark of 15-3.75.
DIVISION IV
Rock Hill’s Nixon Snavely and South Webster’s Braden Mantell took home second (4:19.64) and fourth (4:25.58) in the 1600 run while Snavely added a second place finish in the 3200 run (9:54.07).
Federal Hocking’s Denise Stokes was eighth in the 200 dash (26.51) while the Lancers’ 4×200 relay took home a sixth place finish with a finish time of 1:54.05.
In the high jump, Fairfield’s Remi Moon was second (5-1) while Eastern Meigs’ Lily Simpson was sixth (4-10).
To see statewide results from this past weekend’s OATCCC Indoor State Championship Meet, click here.
SPONSORED BY NORTH FORK ANIMAL CLINIC
