PODIUM WATCH | 2026 PRESEASON RANKINGS
RETURNING STRENGTH | SIMULATED CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD | PRESEASON STARTING POINT
The opening view
Mount Gilead enters Division IV and immediately changes the preseason conversation. Mount Gilead scores 99 points in the simulation, the only boys Division IV team under 100, and it does so without depending on one isolated front runner. Five scorers finish inside the first 29 places. Convoy Crestview is only 12 points back at 111, making the top of the classification much closer than the gap between second and third.
Russia holds third at 180. Tinora is fourth at 196, Columbus Grove is fifth at 197, and those neighboring scores create another important race. St. Henry, Botkins, Legacy Christian, and Maplewood occupy sixth through ninth within 18 points. Cedarville rounds out the Top 10, but the lineup battles do not stop there.
This division offers a clean lesson in team cross country. Mount Gilead's value is its full scoring pack. Convoy Crestview answers with stronger early places. Russia and Columbus Grove bring runners at the very front. Tinora, St. Henry, and Botkins show what a controlled spread can do. The classification will be shaped by how those different strengths hold up in the same race.
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 | Mount Gilead | 99 | Leader | 16:35.03 | 35.43s | 29th | 36th |
| 2 | Con. Crestview | 111 | +12 | 16:38.16 | 64.20s | 45th | 71st |
| 3 | Russia | 180 | +69 | 16:51.61 | 106.33s | 83rd | 114th |
| 4 | Tinora | 196 | +16 | 16:58.09 | 66.33s | 69th | 77th |
| 5 | Columbus Grove | 197 | +1 | 16:53.81 | 128.38s | 100th | 124th |
| 6 | St. Henry | 208 | +11 | 17:03.27 | 50.75s | 60th | 94th |
| 7 | Botkins | 215 | +7 | 17:07.82 | 46.00s | 53rd | 119th |
| 8 | Legacy Christian | 222 | +7 | 17:02.19 | 93.20s | 92nd | 132nd |
| 9 | Maplewood | 226 | +4 | 17:05.30 | 79.07s | 76th | 78th |
| 10 | Cedarville | 297 | +71 | 17:18.57 | 91.30s | 91st | 126th |
| 11 | Tri-Village | 340 | +43 | 17:30.58 | 106.80s | 139th | None |
| 12 | Lehman Cath. | 358 | +18 | 17:32.24 | 72.40s | 102nd | 120th |
| 13 | Minster | 372 | +14 | 17:34.03 | 106.62s | 107th | 131st |
| 14 | Ash. Crestview | 421 | +49 | 17:43.91 | 80.18s | 115th | 156th |
| 15 | New Riegel | 428 | +7 | 17:47.93 | 53.06s | 113th | 150th |
| 16 | New Bremen | 429 | +1 | 17:46.94 | 79.13s | 109th | 116th |
| 17 | Rittman | 435 | +6 | 17:44.81 | 96.30s | 138th | None |
| 18 | Fayette | 453 | +18 | 17:47.39 | 163.87s | 147th | 167th |
| 19 | McDonald | 464 | +11 | 17:49.44 | 120.06s | 136th | 146th |
| 20 | Rac. Southern | 469 | +5 | 17:54.48 | 55.21s | 130th | 162nd |
The championship favorite
Mount Gilead owns the opening lead because every scorer contributes a manageable number. Its first runner gives the team a base, while the third through fifth runners finish in a four place window that prevents a late scoring spike.
Mount Gilead scores 99 points from places 5, 14, 25, 26, and 29. Henry Bartlett leads the returners at 16:11.14. Brycen Gabriel completes the scoring five at 16:46.57 and 29th in the simulation. The five runner average is 16:35.03, and the first to fifth spread is 35.43 seconds.
The depth continues because sixth runner Liam Stalnaker places 36th and seventh runner Aiden McLain places 46th. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Gilead | 5 | 19 | 44 | 70 | 99 |
| Con. Crestview | 4 | 16 | 32 | 66 | 111 |
| Russia | 1 | 11 | 49 | 97 | 180 |
| Tinora | 13 | 40 | 68 | 127 | 196 |
| Columbus Grove | 2 | 20 | 40 | 97 | 197 |
Among the current top five, the scoring lead develops this way: after scorer 1, Russia leads at 1; after scorer 2, Russia leads at 11; after scorer 3, Con. Crestview leads at 32; after scorer 4, Con. Crestview leads at 66; after scorer 5, Mount Gilead leads at 99. The second ranked team is 4 points ahead after four scorers, and the fifth scorer adds another 16 points to the final margin.
The closest challengers
Convoy Crestview is the immediate threat, while Russia, Tinora, and Columbus Grove offer three different ways to pressure the favorite: front running, pack scoring, and a combination of both.
Con. Crestview is number 2 with 111 points, 12 behind the leader. It gains 3 points across the first two scorers, recovers 1 through scorers three and four, and then gives away 16 at the fifth position. Ian Owens is the fifth returner and scores 45th. The five runner spread is 64.20 seconds. Caleb Thomas is the sixth runner at 71st.
Russia is number 3 with 180 points, 81 behind the leader. It gains 8 points across the first two scorers, concedes another 35 through scorers three and four, and then gives away 54 at the fifth position. Eli Schmitmeyer is the fifth returner and scores 83rd. The five runner spread is 106.33 seconds. Keagan Baldridge is the sixth runner at 114th.
Tinora is number 4 with 196 points, 97 behind the leader. It gives away 21 points across the first two scorers, concedes another 36 through scorers three and four, and then gives away 40 at the fifth position. Graham Hammon is the fifth returner and scores 69th. The five runner spread is 66.33 seconds. Jared Neff is the sixth runner at 77th.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Gilead | Brycen Gabriel | 16:46.57 | 26th | 29th | 3 |
| Con. Crestview | Ian Owens | 17:14.70 | 34th | 45th | 11 |
| Russia | Eli Schmitmeyer | 17:40.63 | 48th | 83rd | 35 |
| Tinora | Graham Hammon | 17:31.89 | 59th | 69th | 10 |
| Columbus Grove | Joel Schumacher | 18:03.83 | 57th | 100th | 43 |
Mount Gilead has the smallest fourth to fifth place gap among the first five teams at 3. Columbus Grove has the largest at 43, 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 Russia at 180, Tinora at 196, and Columbus Grove at 197. Only 17 points cover the teams. Their fifth scoring places are Russia at 83rd, Tinora at 69th, and Columbus Grove at 100th. One move from a fifth scorer could change the entire group.
The next scoring cluster is St. Henry at 208, Botkins at 215, Legacy Christian at 222, and Maplewood at 226. Only 18 points cover the teams. Their fifth scoring places are St. Henry at 60th, Botkins at 53rd, Legacy Christian at 92nd, and Maplewood at 76th. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Gilead | Liam Stalnaker | 36th | Aiden McLain | 46th |
| Con. Crestview | Caleb Thomas | 71st | Luke Sawmiller | 85th |
| Tinora | Jared Neff | 77th | Jonah Meyer | 141st |
| Maplewood | Zach Suba | 78th | Caleb Morrison | 87th |
| St. Henry | Jack Fullenkamp | 94th | Clayton Koesters | 103rd |
| Russia | Keagan Baldridge | 114th | Lucas Borchers | 143rd |
The tiebreaks matter here. Seneca East ranks ahead at the shared score of 486 because its sixth runner places 154th, ahead of Dalton at 160th.
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 12 Lehman Cath. scores 358, which is 61 points from the current tenth place total. The first four scorers combine for 256 points before the fifth is added, leaving a specific closing target. The average is 17:32.24, the spread is 72.40 seconds, and the fifth scorer lands 102nd. Leopold Schmiesing is the sixth runner at 120th.
Number 15 New Riegel scores 428, which is 131 points from the current tenth place total. The scoring five stays within 57 places from first runner to fifth runner, creating a usable pack foundation. The average is 17:47.93, the spread is 53.06 seconds, and the fifth scorer lands 113th. Jaren Popenberg is the sixth runner at 150th.
Number 16 New Bremen scores 429, which is 132 points from the current tenth place total. The first four scorers combine for 320 points before the fifth is added, leaving a specific closing target. The average is 17:46.94, the spread is 79.13 seconds, and the fifth scorer lands 109th. Jett Jellison is the sixth runner at 116th.
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 | MVCA | 476 |
| 22 | Newton Local | 484 |
| 23 | Seneca East | 486 |
| 24 | Dalton | 486 |
| 25 | Troy Christian | 528 |
The cutoff is close. MVCA is only 7 points behind number 20 Rac. Southern. Its fifth scorer places 128th, so even a modest move at the end of the scoring five can cross the line. Newton Local follows with a fifth score of 155th and a five runner spread of 131.00 seconds.
Seneca East, Dalton, and Troy Christian 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: Con. Crestview currently has a 64.20 second spread and a fifth score of 45th, St. Henry currently has a 50.75 second spread and a fifth score of 60th, and Maplewood currently has a 79.07 second spread and a fifth score of 76th. 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? | Mount Gilead (99), Con. Crestview (111), Russia (180), Tinora (196) |
| Which sleeper rises the most? | Lehman Cath. (No. 12), New Riegel (No. 15), New Bremen (No. 16) |
| Which honorable mention enters the Top 20 first? | MVCA (No. 21), Newton Local (No. 22), Seneca East (No. 23), Dalton (No. 24), Troy Christian (No. 25) |
Vote, share the article, and explain which part of the lineup makes your choice possible.
Final outlook
Mount Gilead's move into Division IV produces an immediate number one, but Convoy Crestview is only 12 points away and has enough early scoring to challenge the order. Russia, Tinora, and Columbus Grove make the next podium places anything but settled. Farther down, narrow spreads and improving fifth runners can create rapid movement. Division IV starts with a favorite and several distinct plans for chasing it. Share the article with your team community and tell us which boys Division IV lineup can make the biggest leap.
