OBETZ, Ohio -- Friday afternoon, we celebrate something special (sendoff event at the close of the school day) at LMHS as our boys' cross country team and two Lady Panthers are State Qualifiers! They're preparing to compete at the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships this Saturday at 10 AM (D-I Girls' 5000) and 10:40 (D-I Boys' 5000)! For the third consecutive year, our boys' team has qualified, and joining them on the state stage are two outstanding individual qualifiers, Ellie Meade and Lexi Healy. And make no mistake, these Panthers aren't just happy to be there. They've earned their place among Ohio's best.
The Little Miami boys have put together an incredible season, highlighted by two of Ohio's top distance runners. According to the 2026 Podium Watch Division I state rankings, Ryne Reynolds entered the postseason ranked No. 1 in Ohio, with teammate Ian Patrick right behind him at No. 2.
The two Panthers backed up those rankings at the Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championships, delivering an impressive 1–2 finish. Ryne captured the individual ECC championship in 15:29.9, while Ian followed in second place in 15:41.1.
However, they weren't finished making their mark. At the OHSAA Division I Troy Regional, Ryne captured the regional championship in 15:02.3, with Ian finishing as regional runner-up in 15:12.4. Leading the way, the Panthers finished fifth as a team, punching their ticket to State for the third consecutive season.
Our 2026 State Qualifiers
Boys Cross Country Team
- Ryne Reynolds
- Ian Patrick
- Declan Fitzpatrick
- Noah Orr
- Levi Alexander
- Nickita Onipko
- Dimitri Akmolin
- Nathan Dozier
- Collin Brown
Girls Individual State Qualifiers
The journey to Fortress Obetz led by their incredible coaches Jim and Lynn Brant, has been filled with early mornings, challenging workouts, many miles, sacrifices, and countless moments when the easy choice would have been to quit. But these Panthers kept showing up, kept believing, and kept pushing forward. Now, they have earned the opportunity to compete among Ohio's best.
When these Panthers step to the starting line Saturday, they won't be running alone. They'll carry the pride of their teammates, coaches, families, and an entire Little Miami community. They'll carry every mile that nobody saw, every tough workout, and every moment that brought them to this opportunity. And know, PantherNation supports you!
A link to: 2026 OHSAA Cross Country State Championship Information
Tickets
Athletic.net Meet Page
Athletic.net Live Results
