2026 Division 3 Boys Cross Country Top 25

Podium Watch ranks the top 25 returning Division 3 boys for the upcoming Ohio high school cross country season.

Division 3 enters 2026 with an unusual mix of established state performers, major track breakouts, talented young runners, and athletes entering the division through the new OHSAA assignments. The top of the ranking includes two runners who have already broken 15 minutes for 5K, while the rest of the top 10 includes state placers and athletes who ran close to nine minutes in the 3200.

These are preseason rankings, not a prediction of the exact state championship finish. Cross country courses, weather, race tactics, and team goals can all affect a time. The purpose is to compare the strongest available evidence and identify the returning runners who enter the season with the best overall cases.

How the rankings were built

State championship cross country performance receives the most weight. Other verified 5K results come next, followed by 2026 track marks in the 1600 and 3200.

The list uses the OHSAA divisions for the 2026 season, so several runners competed in a different division during 2025.

Division 3 top 25 at a glance

The full countdown

25. Vincent Campbell

School: Meadowbrook

Class: Sophomore

2025 5K: 16:32.14

2026 track: 9:25.92 3200, 4:22.57 1600

Why he is ranked here

Campbell earns the final position because his spring track season showed ability far beyond his current cross country best. A 9:25.92 in the 3200 as a freshman is one of the strongest long distance track marks anywhere in the lower half of this list. The ranking stays conservative because his verified 2025 5K best was 16:32.14, but a normal conversion of his track fitness would move him much higher.

2026 outlook

The main question is not whether Campbell has the talent, it is how quickly that talent appears over 5,000 meters. He has one of the clearest breakout paths in Division 3.

24. Owen Russell

School: Logan Elm

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 16:17.53

2026 track: 4:23.05 1600, 9:45.65 3200

Why he is ranked here

Russell already owns a solid 16:17.53 cross country mark and followed it with a 4:23.05 in the 1600. That combination gives him a dependable base and enough speed to compete well when races become tactical. He sits here because several athletes ahead of him either produced faster championship 5K results or stronger 3200 performances.

2026 outlook

A move toward the low 16 minute range would make Russell a regular presence near the front of major Division 3 meets.

23. Anderson Scott

School: Minerva

Class: Sophomore

2025 5K: 15:46.94

2026 track: 10:02.77 3200, 4:38.02 1600

Why he is ranked here

Scott is one of the most difficult athletes to place. His 15:46.94 as a freshman is already an outstanding cross country result, but his spring marks did not yet match that level. Podium Watch kept him in a cautious position because the ranking weighs the full body of work, not one race alone.

2026 outlook

Scott may have more upward potential than almost anyone ranked in the twenties. If his track development catches up with his cross country result, this ranking will look far too low.

22. Eli White

School: Woodridge

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 16:09.80

2026 track: 9:55.21 3200, 4:36.00 1600

Why he is ranked here

White ran 16:09.80 and continued to build experience inside one of the deepest distance programs in the division. His 9:55.21 in the 3200 gives him a reasonable track foundation, while his cross country best shows that he can handle the full 5K distance. He remains behind several athletes with faster spring breakthroughs.

2026 outlook

Woodridge runners often improve through competition within their own team. White has a realistic chance to turn depth chart pressure into a major junior season.

21. Brayan Gullett

School: West Liberty Salem

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 16:15.48

2026 track: 4:22.73 1600, 9:50.35 3200

Why he is ranked here

Gullett receives a boost from his 4:22.73 in the 1600, which is considerably stronger than his current 16:15.48 cross country best may suggest. He has enough speed to close races and enough distance strength to remain competitive over 5,000 meters. The athletes ahead of him have slightly stronger 5K results, 3200 marks, or championship finishes.

2026 outlook

A cleaner conversion from 1600 speed to cross country could place Gullett well inside the top 20 before the postseason.

20. Wade Manns

School: Kenton

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 16:22.00

2026 track: 9:45.35 3200, 4:33.45 1600

Why he is ranked here

Manns ran 16:22.00 during the 2025 season and then produced a 9:45.35 in the 3200. That spring result gives him a stronger distance profile than his 5K best alone would show. His ranking reflects steady strength across both seasons, even without one result that separates him from the group ahead.

2026 outlook

Manns is positioned to make a noticeable jump if he begins the season near his previous best rather than spending the early weeks rebuilding toward it.

19. Aaron Geswein

School: Valley View

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 16:10.55

2026 track: 9:34.38 3200, 4:25.35 1600

Why he is ranked here

Geswein combines a 16:10.55 cross country mark with an excellent 9:34.38 in the 3200. He also finished 11th at his 2025 regional, which shows that he was already close to the state qualifying level. The spring improvement is the main reason he moves ahead of several runners with similar 5K times.

2026 outlook

Geswein has the profile of a runner who can move from regional contender to clear state qualifier with another consistent summer.

18. John Deitemeyer

School: Bryan

Class: Sophomore

2025 5K: 16:07.63

2026 track: 10:09.82 3200, 4:55.73 1600

Why he is ranked here

Deitemeyer ran 16:07.63 as a freshman, which gives him one of the best age adjusted cross country results in the ranking. His track marks were more modest, so he does not move higher yet. The placement rewards what he already accomplished over 5,000 meters while leaving room for the spring results to catch up.

2026 outlook

A sophomore with a 16:07 best does not need a dramatic jump to become a major name in the division. Even ordinary year to year growth could push Deitemeyer toward the top 10.

17. Remington Griffiths

School: Woodridge

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 16:04.69

2026 track: 9:38.29 3200, 4:30.56 1600

Why he is ranked here

Griffiths brings a balanced resume, with a 16:04.69 5K and a 9:38.29 in the 3200. Neither result is based only on projection, since both show that he can sustain a strong pace across longer races. He lands just outside the top 15 because the next group has a small advantage in either championship experience or peak track performance.

2026 outlook

Griffiths should benefit from Woodridge's team depth and could become one of the largest movers in the ranking.

16. Colin Hinkelman

School: Milton Union

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 16:05.60

2026 track: 9:31.23 3200, 4:32.85 1600

Why he is ranked here

Hinkelman won his conference cross country race in 16:05.60 and later ran 9:31.23 in the 3200. The 3200 time is the strongest part of his case because it suggests that a much faster 5K is possible. He is ranked behind a few athletes with stronger state or regional cross country evidence.

2026 outlook

As a senior, Hinkelman has the experience and distance strength to challenge for a place much closer to the top 10.

15. Logan Howard

School: Canton South

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 16:03.90

2026 track: 9:31.25 3200, 4:30.39 1600

Why he is ranked here

Howard is separated from Hinkelman by almost nothing on the track, but his 16:03.90 cross country best gives him a slight edge. His 9:31.25 in the 3200 confirms that the 5K result was not an isolated performance. He begins the season as a strong all around distance runner with no major weakness in the data.

2026 outlook

Breaking 16 minutes early would give Howard a strong argument to move several places higher.

14. Jamie Yuronich

School: Keystone

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 15:59.01

2026 track: 9:39.72 3200, 4:26.31 1600

Why he is ranked here

Yuronich broke 16 minutes and placed 21st at the 2025 Division 3 state championship. That state performance carries meaningful weight in this ranking because it came on the championship course against the full division. His 4:26.31 in the 1600 adds useful speed, even though his 3200 mark trails several runners directly ahead.

2026 outlook

Yuronich enters the season with proven state experience, which should matter when the fields become crowded and tactical in October.

13. Owen Thomas

School: Garrettsville Garfield

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 15:54

2026 track: 9:35 3200

Why he is ranked here

Thomas is the most unusual evaluation in the top 25 because he sat out the 2025 cross country season. His established 15:54 ability and 9:35 track strength still belong in this field, but the lack of a recent championship cross country result keeps the ranking measured. This position balances proven talent with a smaller amount of current cross country evidence.

2026 outlook

Thomas could rise quickly once he records a strong result against the leading Division 3 field. He may be one of the hardest athletes to evaluate before the first major invitationals.

12. Kelan Byrne

School: Chagrin Falls

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 15:42.82

2026 track: 9:30.92 3200, 4:20.01 1600

Why he is ranked here

Byrne ran 15:42.82 at the RunningLane championship and then produced 4:20.01 and 9:30.92 during track. The combination of cross country speed and track range makes him one of the most complete runners outside the top 10. He remains here because the next group owns either faster championship 5K results or more significant spring performances.

2026 outlook

Byrne has enough speed to be dangerous in a close finish and enough strength to stay involved when the pace is honest from the start.

11. Wyatt Gockerman

School: Cincinnati CHCA

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 15:25.80

2026 track: 9:13.00 3200, 4:17.97 1600

Why he is ranked here

Gockerman has top 10 ability by almost every numerical measure. His 15:25.80 5K, 9:13.00 3200, and 4:17.97 1600 form one of the strongest three race profiles in Division 3. He sits at 11 only because the established ranking gives extra weight to direct state championship cross country results and the group ahead is exceptionally deep.

2026 outlook

Gockerman is a clear candidate to outperform this position. A strong early result against the top runners could move him into the first five.

10. Connor Runkle

School: Fairfield Union

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 15:27.46

2026 track: 4:18.80 1600

Why he is ranked here

Runkle opens the top 10 with a 15:27.46 5K and a 4:18.80 performance at the state track championship. The 1600 result shows that he has the speed to respond to surges and finish well. His ranking also reflects the consistency of being near the front in both cross country and track.

2026 outlook

A stronger 3200 or an early season 5K near 15:20 would make Runkle a serious contender for a top five position.

9. Luca Novakovic

School: CF Northwest

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 15:41.80

2026 track: 9:26.16 3200, 4:21.39 1600

Why he is ranked here

Novakovic is placed above several runners with faster 5K bests because his 9:26.16 in the 3200 provides strong evidence of current distance fitness. He also ran 4:21.39 in the 1600, giving him useful range. The ranking expects his spring improvement to translate into a faster senior cross country season.

2026 outlook

Novakovic is a projection based on track development, but it is a well supported projection. He has the tools to run much faster than 15:41.80.

8. Asher Cole

School: West Liberty Salem

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 15:31.50

2026 track: 9:25.58 3200, 4:20.34 1600

Why he is ranked here

Cole ran 15:31.50 as a sophomore and followed it with 9:25.58 and 4:20.34 during track. His age, balanced range, and already strong cross country result make him one of the safest long term picks in the top 10. He is behind the next group because they have stronger state finishes or faster peak marks.

2026 outlook

Cole could be one of the leading juniors in Ohio, not just in Division 3. His progression suggests that another major step is realistic.

7. Cole Zang

School: Margaretta

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 16:00.12

2026 track: 9:13.64 3200, 4:16.22 1600

Why he is ranked here

Zang is the clearest example of a ranking driven upward by track improvement. He placed sixth at the 2025 Division 4 state cross country championship in 16:00.12, then ran 9:13.64 and 4:16.22 at the state track meet. Those spring marks indicate a level far beyond his previous 5K best.

2026 outlook

With Margaretta moving into Division 3, Zang immediately becomes one of the division's most important additions. His next cross country personal best could be a large one.

6. Landen Perdue

School: Bellaire

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 15:44.93

2026 track: 9:22.48 3200, 4:19.43 1600

Why he is ranked here

Perdue placed fourth at the 2025 Division 4 state championship and backed that performance with 9:22.48 and 4:19.43 during track. The state finish matters because it proves that he can race well when placement is more important than a personal best. His cross country mark is not as fast as several others, but his championship resume is stronger.

2026 outlook

Perdue should adapt well to the new Division 3 field because he has already shown that he can handle high pressure state competition.

5. Jackson Spitzer

School: Versailles

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 15:10.10

2026 track: 9:16.92 3200, 4:26.21 1600

Why he is ranked here

Spitzer's 15:10.10 is one of the fastest returning 5K marks in the division. His 9:16.92 in the 3200 confirms that he has the distance strength to support that cross country performance. He is fifth because the four runners ahead combine elite times with either stronger state evidence or even faster spring marks.

2026 outlook

Spitzer has a realistic path to the podium and should be part of any serious discussion about the front group.

4. Connor Bendo

School: Union Local

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 15:34.25

2026 track: 9:08.79 3200, 4:18.34 1600

Why he is ranked here

Bendo placed seventh at the 2025 Division 3 state championship and then ran 9:08.79 at the state track meet. His 15:34.25 personal best does not tell the entire story because his championship placing and spring breakthrough are both stronger indicators. Few runners in the division can match his combination of state experience and 3200 strength.

2026 outlook

Bendo is built for championship racing. A faster regular season 5K would strengthen an already convincing case near the top.

3. Joel Smelcer

School: Perkins

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 15:13.35

2026 track: 9:15.08 3200, 4:19.28 1600

Why he is ranked here

Smelcer won his 2025 regional in 15:13.35 and later ran 9:15.08 and 4:19.28 at the state track meet. He owns one of the strongest complete resumes in the division, with speed, endurance, and success in tournament competition. The top two remain ahead because their peak 5K and 3200 marks are at another level.

2026 outlook

Smelcer should enter the season as a clear podium contender and one of the runners most capable of challenging the top pair.

2. Nathaniel Gockerman

School: Cincinnati CHCA

Class: Senior

2025 5K: 14:53.10

2026 track: 9:04.50 3200

Why he is ranked here

Gockerman is the only returning runner besides Fuller with a verified 5K under 15 minutes. His 14:53.10 cross country mark and 9:04.50 in the 3200 give him a championship level profile in both seasons. He is ranked second because Fuller's best marks are slightly faster in every major comparison.

2026 outlook

Gockerman is not a distant second. He has the ability to turn the top of Division 3 into a genuine race rather than a foregone conclusion.

1. Brice Fuller

School: Fairless

Class: Junior

2025 5K: 14:49.06

2026 track: 8:56.36 3200, 4:12.69 1600

Why he is ranked here

Fuller begins at number one because he owns the strongest collection of marks in the division. He ran 14:49.06 at the NXR Midwest Regional, then produced 8:56.36 in the 3200 and 4:12.69 in the 1600. No other returning Division 3 runner matches that combination of cross country performance, track strength, and remaining development time.

2026 outlook

Fuller enters the season with the clearest statistical case for the top position. The challenge will be carrying that advantage through the tournament and against a deep group of experienced seniors.

What could change this ranking

The largest early season questions surround track standouts who are ready to lower their 5K bests, young runners who already produced advanced cross country times, and athletes entering Division 3 through realignment.

Head to head invitationals will matter more than isolated times because they allow the leading runners to compete on the same course under the same conditions.

Brice Fuller begins at number one, but Nathaniel Gockerman, Joel Smelcer, Connor Bendo, Jackson Spitzer, Landen Perdue, Cole Zang, Asher Cole, Luca Novakovic, Connor Runkle, and Wyatt Gockerman all have evidence that supports a place near the front.

Division 3 should have one of the deepest individual races in Ohio when the postseason arrives.

Data note

Cross country marks are verified 2025 bests available to Podium Watch. Track marks are from the 2026 outdoor season.

Owen Thomas is evaluated using his established 15:54 5K and 9:35 3200 because he sat out the 2025 cross country season.

Rankings may be updated when new verified results become available.