PODIUM WATCH | 2026 PRESEASON RANKINGS
RETURNING STRENGTH | SIMULATED CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD | PRESEASON STARTING POINT
The opening view
CVCA arrives at the top of the Division II preseason board with 181 points and a lineup that makes sense in a championship style field. Its first three scorers are firmly placed, its fourth and fifth keep the total controlled, and its sixth runner lands only two places behind the fifth. That is the kind of structure coaches trust because it offers more than one way to survive a difficult race.
Lexington follows at 229, and its story is impossible to miss: four scorers are inside the first 30 places before the fifth arrives at 143. Massillon Perry is five points behind Lexington at 234, but it gets there with a much tighter five runner spread. Hoover and Bowling Green are separated by a single point for fourth and fifth. Hudson and Granville are also one point apart. Even before the season begins, the standings show multiple races inside the race.
This division rewards teams that can finish the lineup. A fast first runner matters, but the biggest preseason opportunities belong to teams that already have three or four strong pieces and can bring the final scorer closer to them.
How the rankings were created
These rankings use returning runners and recorded 2025 5K performances. Teams were placed in their official 2026 OHSAA divisions. The twenty five fastest eligible teams by five runner average formed each simulated field, with up to seven returners entered per team.
Five runners scored. Sixth and seventh runners displaced opponents and decided ties. The lowest score won, with ties settled by the sixth runner and then the seventh. The number beside a team is its simulated cross country score, not its total time or five runner average.
The recorded performances came from different courses, meets, weather conditions, and points in the 2025 season. No course adjustment was applied. The result measures returning strength through one consistent scoring model, but it does not guarantee what will happen when teams race in 2026.
Official Podium Watch Top 20: The Race Board
The Race Board keeps the official order while showing what creates it. Gap is the number of points separating a team from the team directly ahead. The fifth and sixth columns show scoring place, not runner time. Lower numbers are better.
| Rank | Team | Score | Gap | 5K Avg | Spread | 5th | 6th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CVCA | 181 | Leader | 16:19.72 | 54.95s | 66th | 68th |
| 2 | Lexington | 229 | +48 | 16:29.52 | 130.74s | 143rd | 148th |
| 3 | Mass. Perry | 234 | +5 | 16:32.72 | 59.70s | 67th | 96th |
| 4 | Hoover | 255 | +21 | 16:33.34 | 70.82s | 99th | 102nd |
| 5 | Bowling Green | 256 | +1 | 16:32.46 | 81.00s | 103rd | 113th |
| 6 | Hudson | 298 | +42 | 16:41.54 | 66.00s | 94th | 122nd |
| 7 | Granville | 299 | +1 | 16:40.02 | 80.16s | 97th | 105th |
| 8 | Unioto | 309 | +10 | 16:45.35 | 65.10s | 112th | 130th |
| 9 | Big Walnut | 316 | +7 | 16:47.65 | 23.93s | 77th | 84th |
| 10 | Med Highland | 317 | +1 | 16:49.66 | 28.02s | 87th | 119th |
| 11 | Loveland | 317 | +0 | 16:43.38 | 109.80s | 121st | 142nd |
| 12 | Chardon | 327 | +10 | 16:51.02 | 185.82s | 168th | 171st |
| 13 | Kenston | 330 | +3 | 16:48.92 | 92.82s | 138th | 156th |
| 14 | Revere | 344 | +14 | 16:49.92 | 89.44s | 128th | 131st |
| 15 | Salem | 345 | +1 | 16:50.97 | 113.60s | 149th | 169th |
| 16 | Turpin | 358 | +13 | 16:48.93 | 119.26s | 134th | 136th |
| 17 | Walsh Jesuit | 364 | +6 | 16:52.23 | 95.10s | 118th | 140th |
| 18 | Boardman | 387 | +23 | 16:54.70 | 117.02s | 137th | 153rd |
| 19 | Rocky River | 401 | +14 | 16:55.30 | 99.98s | 110th | 135th |
| 20 | Dub. Scioto | 401 | +0 | 16:59.04 | 95.65s | 129th | 174th |
The championship favorite
CVCA leads because its scoring profile avoids a major late gap. The front three establish position, the fifth remains connected to the race, and the sixth gives the lineup protection and displacement value.
CVCA scores 181 points from places 11, 16, 29, 59, and 66. Zac Andamasaris leads the returners at 15:54.04. Will Hyatt completes the scoring five at 16:48.99 and 66th in the simulation. The five runner average is 16:19.72, and the first to fifth spread is 54.95 seconds.
The depth continues because sixth runner Preston Rostedt places 68th and seventh runner Caleb Knobloch places 160th. They can displace opposing scorers and give the lineup protection if its order changes.
How the Race Was Won
This view follows the current top five teams as each scorer is added. It is not a prediction of race order at every moment. It shows which part of the lineup creates the final simulated advantage.
| Team | After 1 | After 2 | After 3 | After 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVCA | 11 | 27 | 56 | 115 | 181 |
| Lexington | 9 | 31 | 56 | 86 | 229 |
| Mass. Perry | 7 | 54 | 106 | 167 | 234 |
| Hoover | 17 | 38 | 81 | 156 | 255 |
| Bowling Green | 10 | 29 | 68 | 153 | 256 |
Among the current top five, the scoring lead develops this way: after scorer 1, Mass. Perry leads at 7; after scorer 2, CVCA leads at 27; after scorer 3, CVCA and Lexington share the lead at 56; after scorer 4, Lexington leads at 86; after scorer 5, CVCA leads at 181. The second ranked team is 29 points ahead after four scorers, and the fifth scorer adds another 77 points to the final margin.
The closest challengers
Lexington and Massillon Perry are the closest teams on the scoreboard, but they present very different challenges to CVCA. Hoover and Bowling Green are nearly inseparable behind them and have enough structure to enter the podium discussion.
Lexington is number 2 with 229 points, 48 behind the leader. It gives away 4 points across the first two scorers, recovers 33 through scorers three and four, and then gives away 77 at the fifth position. Mathias Bender is the fifth returner and scores 143rd. The five runner spread is 130.74 seconds. Jace Dawson is the sixth runner at 148th.
Mass. Perry is number 3 with 234 points, 53 behind the leader. It gives away 27 points across the first two scorers, concedes another 25 through scorers three and four, and then gives away 1 at the fifth position. Noah Dostal is the fifth returner and scores 67th. The five runner spread is 59.70 seconds. Ryan Leszynski is the sixth runner at 96th.
Hoover is number 4 with 255 points, 74 behind the leader. It gives away 11 points across the first two scorers, concedes another 30 through scorers three and four, and then gives away 33 at the fifth position. Broderick Grimm is the fifth returner and scores 99th. The five runner spread is 70.82 seconds. Jacob Plazak is the sixth runner at 102nd.
The Fifth Runner Factor
The fifth scorer is where a strong front group becomes a complete team score. The place gap below compares each contender's fourth and fifth scorers. A smaller gap usually gives the lineup a steadier championship shape.
| Team | Fifth Returner | 2025 5K | 4th Place | 5th Place | Place Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVCA | Will Hyatt | 16:48.99 | 59th | 66th | 7 |
| Lexington | Mathias Bender | 18:01.34 | 30th | 143rd | 113 |
| Mass. Perry | Noah Dostal | 16:49.00 | 61st | 67th | 6 |
| Hoover | Broderick Grimm | 17:10.02 | 75th | 99th | 24 |
| Bowling Green | Ashton Loomis | 17:14.00 | 85th | 103rd | 18 |
Mass. Perry has the smallest fourth to fifth place gap among the first five teams at 6. Lexington has the largest at 113, which identifies the clearest place where one advancing runner could reshape the top of the standings.
The battle inside the Top 10
Several teams inside the Top 10 are separated by only a handful of points. These are the groups most likely to change when one scorer moves through a pack.
The first close group is Hoover at 255 and Bowling Green at 256. Only 1 points cover the teams. Their fifth scoring places are Hoover at 99th and Bowling Green at 103rd. One move from a fifth scorer could change the entire group.
The next scoring cluster is Hudson at 298 and Granville at 299. Only 1 points cover the teams. Their fifth scoring places are Hudson at 94th and Granville at 97th. One move from a fifth scorer could change the entire group.
Another narrow band contains Unioto at 309, Big Walnut at 316, and Med Highland at 317. Only 8 points cover the teams. Their fifth scoring places are Unioto at 112th, Big Walnut at 77th, and Med Highland at 87th. One move from a fifth scorer could change the entire group.
The Displacement Report
Sixth and seventh runners do not score when the first five finish, but they still occupy places in the field. That can push an opponent's scorer backward, protect a team when its order changes, and decide a tie. These are the earliest sixth runners in the simulated field.
| Team | Sixth Runner | 6th Place | Seventh Runner | 7th Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVCA | Preston Rostedt | 68th | Caleb Knobloch | 160th |
| Big Walnut | Jason Shady | 84th | Liam Stiffler | 93rd |
| Mass. Perry | Ryan Leszynski | 96th | Liam Hogan | 124th |
| Hoover | Jacob Plazak | 102nd | Joshua Blake | 104th |
| Granville | Connor Boissy | 105th | Nathan Kirkham | 166th |
| Bowling Green | Levi Bateson | 113th | Mason Naus | 133rd |
The tiebreaks matter here. Med Highland ranks ahead at the shared score of 317 because its sixth runner places 119th, ahead of Loveland at 142nd. Rocky River ranks ahead at the shared score of 401 because its sixth runner places 135th, ahead of Dub. Scioto at 174th. Nordonia ranks ahead at the shared score of 405 because its sixth runner places 157th, ahead of Howland at 158th.
Sleepers outside the Top 10
These sleepers are selected from returning lineup evidence rather than reputation. Each has a visible route toward the Top 10.
Number 11 Loveland scores 317, which is 0 points from the current tenth place total. It begins with a scorer in 4th, so the clearest opportunity is reducing the 121st fifth score. The average is 16:43.38, the spread is 109.80 seconds, and the fifth scorer lands 121st. Bret Gleason is the sixth runner at 142nd.
Number 12 Chardon scores 327, which is 10 points from the current tenth place total. It begins with a scorer in 2nd, so the clearest opportunity is reducing the 168th fifth score. The average is 16:51.02, the spread is 185.82 seconds, and the fifth scorer lands 168th. Ashton Ryan is the sixth runner at 171st.
Number 19 Rocky River scores 401, which is 84 points from the current tenth place total. It begins with a scorer in 3rd, so the clearest opportunity is reducing the 110th fifth score. The average is 16:55.30, the spread is 99.98 seconds, and the fifth scorer lands 110th. Charlie Ridgeway is the sixth runner at 135th.
Honorable mentions
The honorable mentions are the next five teams in the same simulated standings. They are not selected separately. They finish from twenty first through twenty fifth after all scoring and displacement are complete.
| Rank | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Nordonia | 405 |
| 22 | Howland | 405 |
| 23 | Bellbrook | 414 |
| 24 | Hartley | 415 |
| 25 | Lakewood | 422 |
The cutoff is close. Nordonia is only 4 points behind number 20 Dub. Scioto. Its fifth scorer places 151st, so even a modest move at the end of the scoring five can cross the line. Howland follows with a fifth score of 114th and a five runner spread of 57.02 seconds.
Bellbrook, Hartley, and Lakewood complete the honorable mention group. Their fastest route into the Top 20 is the same one visible throughout the standings: preserve the front, reduce the fifth score, and bring the sixth runner close enough to displace opponents or protect against a changed lineup.
What could change
Summer development, health, race execution, and normal improvement can change this order. One runner moving through a crowded pack can lower a team score while also displacing rival scorers.
The current lineups show several specific opportunities: Lexington currently has a 130.74 second spread and a fifth score of 143rd, Big Walnut currently has a 23.93 second spread and a fifth score of 77th, and Loveland currently has a 109.80 second spread and a fifth score of 121st. A tighter fifth position or a stronger sixth runner could produce an immediate reward. The raw times still require context because courses, weather, meets, and timing within the season differed. No course adjustment was applied.
Podium Watch Reader Predictions
The preseason numbers create the starting point. Now the Ohio cross country community gets a vote. The website version of this article can display live results after each reader makes a selection.
| Prediction | Choices |
|---|---|
| Who finishes first? | CVCA (181), Lexington (229), Mass. Perry (234), Hoover (255) |
| Which sleeper rises the most? | Loveland (No. 11), Chardon (No. 12), Rocky River (No. 19) |
| Which honorable mention enters the Top 20 first? | Nordonia (No. 21), Howland (No. 22), Bellbrook (No. 23), Hartley (No. 24), Lakewood (No. 25) |
Vote, share the article, and explain which part of the lineup makes your choice possible.
Final outlook
CVCA owns the most complete preseason scoring profile in Division II, and that makes CVCA the correct number one. Lexington has four scorers capable of putting enormous pressure on the field if its fifth closes. Massillon Perry offers a tighter route, while Hoover and Bowling Green are already separated by almost nothing. The best August ranking is still only an opening measurement. Share the article, compare the lineups, and let Podium Watch know which Division II boys team can make the largest move before the championship season.
