Bull Dogs Run in a Pack, Olympians Keep Pushing in Cross Country Showdown

It was a much cooler August evening at CERA Sports Park, and the weather seemed to spark fast feet and personal bests as Columbus North and Columbus East clashed in their annual cross-country dual. After last year’s meet was canceled due to the heat, both teams relished the chance to compete again.

For the Bull Dogs, it was a pack-running masterpiece. Joseph Day blazed the trail with a personal-record time of 16:03.91, leading a tight group of teammates who finished like a six-headed machine. Graham Pumphrey, Sam Steinmetz, Justin Reckers, Jace Works, and Denton Sluder crossed within seconds of one another, sealing a 15-50 sweep and proving North’s bite is as strong as ever. Depth didn’t stop there — Rohan Norris, Logan Vanzant, and Leyton Hottell were right behind to round out the top 10.

For Columbus East, it was about grit and growth. Norman Dickson led the Olympians with an 11th-place finish in 17:03.06, while Elijah Clore and Maddox Hult added steady efforts. The Olympians’ young roster gained valuable racing experience as they work to “reload, not rebuild.”

The girls’ race mirrored the boys’, with Columbus North once again running away with the victory. Emma Lowther and Tristan Works crossed almost in unison around the 20-minute mark, while Kodi Smith, Kylie Brinksneader, and Adira Sluder filled in right behind them. The Bull Dogs swept the top 16 spots, a true showcase of their depth.

Columbus East’s best came from Ainslee Shaw and Elizabeth Sztaba, who ran side-by-side into the top 20. Their pack showed promise as they continue to build cohesion. The Olympians may not have brought home the team win, but they walked away with momentum — proving that both teams are training hard toward big fall goals.