By Roger Gordon

Correspondent

The future looks mighty bright for the Aurora girls cross country team.

The present isn’t too shabby either.

The Greenmen not only captured the school’s first-ever OHSAA Division II state championship last Saturday at Fort Obetz, they did it with — get this — five sophomores and two freshmen, bettering last year’s sixth-place finish.

The team’s 80 points outdistanced runner-up Columbus Bishop Watterson by a hefty 19 points and third-place Sunbury Big Walnut by a whopping 112 points. Twenty-four teams competed.

“Running success doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes it takes years to reach those next levels, but the girls were eager to return to Fort Obetz and do better than they did in 2025 with that longterm goal of being state champions,” head coach Laura Bell said. “They set the tone right from the beginning of the season. In four of six invitationals, they placed first out of 11 to 51 teams. Every girl who ran last year at Fort Obetz, ran faster this year on the same course.”

The team’s youth might actually work to its advantage.

“Five of our top seven ran at states last year and did well,” said Bell. “They knew the course, they had good self-confidence and they wanted to perform better than they did the previous year, and that rubbed off on the two freshmen. They are not an easily intimidated group and they don’t get rattled easily. They know what they want to achieve, and they just show up with that mindset that it is going to happen.”

The coach believes that, in the past, just getting to the state meet was the win.

“There have been years where we have thought, this is going to be the year,” she said.

“Things happen, though, that you just can’t control like moving from Division II to Division I, athletes getting quarantined the day before districts, a realignment of district assignment or simply athletes waking up sick and just not able to compete. There is just so much that has to come together with all of the athletes being physically and mentally ready to compete that day.

“Then to win the title is just crazy.”

After winning both their district and regional meets, Bell and her bunch knew they could very well bring the state title trophy back to Aurora.

“If any year, this was going to be the year. This group is beyond special,” she said, adding that six of her runners hold a place among the 20 fastest times in school history. “We also knew we needed six or seven of the athletes to have great races. If they didn’t have great starts, could they stay relaxed to make a move to get out and keep moving up, having to stay mentally tough? We knew it was going to be close and could very well come down to the sixth runner.”

Although the Greenmen were looked at as a state power, they were not favored to win the championship.

“The team that was favored to win was the state champion from 2025, and they are a top-performing program and had a very successful season,” said Bell. “I think what I appreciate most is that our girls didn’t get caught up in who was favored or what other teams had accomplished. We always tell the kids not to get too caught up in the stats because it is apples to oranges. What was the course like? Was it flat, hilly, muddy? Was it a hot day or cold day or perfect conditions? We always stress that on race day it is the same course with the same conditions. You just have to get out there and compete. Anything can happen on race day.”

And on race day, sophomore Audrey Miller was Aurora’s highest finisher, placing fourth out of 215 runners with a time of 17 minutes, 49.50 seconds, achieving First Team All-Ohio status and a place on the podium. She was less than 4 seconds behind the third-place runner, 5 seconds in back of the runner-up and fewer than 12 seconds in arrears of state champion Julia Bocik from Sylvania Southview, whose winning time was 17:37.70.

“The amount of growth Audrey achieved in one year is unbelievable,” Bell said. “That is a reflection of her commitment and dedication and her family support and involvement. She is extremely focused and has a great mindset. She knows what she wants to accomplish, and she shows up on race day determined to achieve it. Audrey is both physically and mentally tough. The pack was tight, and it never separated out until the last stretch on the track.”

Sophomore twins Claire Jenkins and Audrey Jenkins finished 12th (18:22) and 14th (18:28.20), respectively, earning First Team All-Ohio status and podium spots. This was Claire’s second time on the podium.

“Claire and Evelyn’s mother was also a talented distance runner. She has shared her love and knowledge for the sport with her girls, and the girls love this sport,” said the coach. “Not everyone enjoys running, but they actually enjoy it. They are very competitive, committed and. extremely hard working. They push each other to be better.”

Sophomore Mia Paech finished 40th with a personal-best time of 19:10.40, earning Second Team All-Ohio honors. Freshman Makayla Cicero placed 60th, clocking in at 19:25.20.

Freshman Audra Leigh finished 123rd with a time of 20:10.90, and sophomore Haley Koch was 139th with a time of 20:18.30.

“Those four girls were definitely critical in securing the title. They made strong moves that made all the difference,” said Bell. “All season, they rotated who was four through nine (including the alternates). They didn’t focus on who beat each other on their own team but, more importantly, they realized that it was okay if their teammate passed them because that just meant they were going to pass other teams. That is what makes the girls a better team, working together. They didn’t win because of just one great performance. We have nine extremely hard working and talented young ladies, and every place mattered. Stealthy moves made by Mia and Makayla sealed the victory.

“This group of young ladies simply made this championship win look easy. They are extremely talented and they back it up with grit and determination. We had a group of girls who understood the assignment. They are calm, humble and they run with a stealthy fierce determination. They showed up on race day, they cooked, they ate and left no crumbs.” The team members support each other in their successes.

“When their teammates do well, the team does well,” Bell said. “It’s not about your teammate beating you but your team getting better each day because they hold each other accountable. Not only do they want personal success, more importantly they want their team to be successful.

“The girls are a fun group, too. They are all easy going, always smiling, have positive attitudes and have unique personalities but for the most part are all very quiet. When they get out on that course, it is like the light switch flips and they become these fierce competitors.”

According to the coach, the seeds that produced this state championship actually were planted two years ago.

“The girls were in seventh/eighth grades and attended the league meet to cheer on the high-school team,” she said. “They, too, were coming off a successful season and looking forward to joining the high-school team. I met with several of them the following summer to see exactly what their goals were. Let me tell you, they had a short-term goal of winning the conference and a long-term goal of winning that state championship! They said they wanted one of those banners for their school and community.”

And that is precisely what happened.

“The girls should be so proud of themselves for the hard work they have put into the summer and fall season,” continued Bell. “They all have accomplished so much this season, it has been an amazing journey. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to help them reach their goals and dreams. Getting to work with student athletes who are coachable and talented but also extremely hard working is a privilege. Then to have the depth of dedication and talent that this team had this year is amazing. The work they put in over the summer speaks for itself. I am not even sure they really realize what they have accomplished together.”

As for next year’s team, Bell is not predicting a third straight trip to the state meet or a second consecutive state championship. To her, each season is a new chapter.

“We start fresh next June and we go from there,” she said. “This team definitely has a lot of potential, and the current middle school team also had a very successful season this past year; if those kids choose to run next year, that could add additional depth to the program. Our season is long and the training is long. However, we have a very driven group, and I’m sure they’ll continue to have big goals for themselves and the team. It has been an honor and a privilege to be on this incredible journey with them.”