OBETZ, Ohio — November 7, 2026 — The Tinora Rams closed out an outstanding 2026 cross country season Saturday at the OHSAA Division IV Cross Country Championships at Fortress Obetz in Obetz, Ohio. The boys team turned in a fifth-place state finish, while the girls team placed 24th, capping a memorable season for both programs, the first time both boys and girls teams reached state in school history.

The boys’ fifth-place finish highlighted the day for Tinora, as the Rams totaled 214 points against Ohio’s top Division IV competition. Mount Gilead captured the state championship with 84 points, followed by Russia with 99, Botkins with 155 and Legacy Christian with 158.

The Lady Rams also earned a place among the state’s top 24 teams, finishing with 522 points. Liberty Center won the girls state championship with 112 points, followed by Minster with 145 and Grandview Heights with 149.

Meyer Leads Rams with 12th-Place State Finish

Senior Noah Meyer led the Tinora boys with an outstanding 12th-place individual finish, crossing the line in 16:14.30. His performance placed him among the top runners in the Division IV state championship field.

Senior Nolan Rittenhouse followed with a 38th-place finish in 16:39.30. Junior Gavin Rittenhouse finished 94th in 17:17.10, followed by senior Jared Neff in 104th place with a time of 17:23.50.

Junior JT Zolman crossed the finish line in 114th place in 17:28.50, while junior Graham Hammon finished 126th in 17:38.30. Senior Wesley Maxwell rounded out the Tinora lineup, placing 138th in 17:46.30.

The Rams’ top five finishers combined for 214 points, securing the program’s impressive fifth-place finish at state.

The boys lineup featured four seniors and three juniors, providing a strong combination of experience and depth throughout the championship season.

Lady Rams Finish 24th at State

The Tinora girls were led by senior Cheyenne Myers, who finished 105th overall in 20:39.20.

Freshman Lauren Rittenhouse delivered a strong performance, placing 149th in 21:27.10. Senior India Okuley followed in 155th place with a time of 21:37.30.

Sophomore Caroline Vance crossed the line in 171st place in 22:04.30, followed closely by freshman Hartley Waltmire, who finished 173rd in 22:08.70.

Freshmen Harper Spieth and Myah Dominique completed the seven-runner lineup. Spieth placed 211th in 24:28.30, while Dominique finished 215th in 25:55.90.

The Lady Rams’ state lineup featured two seniors, one sophomore and four freshmen, giving the program a promising foundation of young talent and valuable championship experience for the future.

ALL RESULTS:
https://oh.milesplit.com/meets/783630-ohsaa-cross-country-championship-2026/results

Rams Well Represented on GMC All-Conference Teams

Tinora’s success extended beyond the state championship, as numerous Rams earned recognition on the 2026 Green Meadows Conference (GMC) All-Conference Cross Country Teams.

The boys were represented by six athletes across the three all-conference categories.

Boys First Team

• Noah Meyer
• Nolan Rittenhouse
• Wesley Maxwell

Boys Second Team

• Gavin Rittenhouse
• JT Zolman

Boys Honorable Mention

• Jared Neff

The Lady Rams also placed five athletes on the GMC All-Conference teams.

Girls First Team

• Lauren Rittenhouse
• Cheyenne Myers
• India Okuley

Girls Second Team

• Caroline Vance
• Hartley Waltmire

The conference’s individual champions were Malaki Neilson of Fairview on the boys side and Meredith Alvarez of Fairview on the girls side.

Tinora’s 11 all-conference selections demonstrated the depth and consistency of both programs throughout the conference season.

Seven Rams Earn All-GMC Scholar Team Recognition

In addition to their athletic accomplishments, seven Tinora runners earned recognition on the All-GMC Scholar Team, highlighting their achievements both in the classroom and on the course.

Boys All-GMC Scholar Team

• Noah Meyer
• Nolan Rittenhouse
• Jared Neff
• Wesley Maxwell
• Grayson Askins

Girls All-GMC Scholar Team

• Cheyenne Myers
• India Okuley

The recognition provided another highlight for the Rams, celebrating the importance of academic achievement alongside athletic competition.

A Memorable Season for Tinora Cross Country

The 2026 season provided plenty of accomplishments for Tinora, highlighted by a top-five state finish for the boys, a state championship appearance for the girls, and numerous conference and academic honors.

Meyer’s top-15 state performance, the boys team’s fifth-place finish and the strong contributions from both the senior and younger runners provided a memorable conclusion to the season.

For the Lady Rams, competing at the state championship level and gaining experience with a predominantly young lineup offers plenty of optimism for the years ahead.

With state-level success, 11 GMC All-Conference selections and seven All-GMC Scholar Team honorees, Tinora Cross Country had plenty of reasons to celebrate Saturday at Fortress Obetz.

Both the boys’ and girls’ programs represented Tinora High School and their community with pride, bringing the 2026 season to a successful close on Ohio’s biggest cross-country stage.

PICS courtesy: Tinora Distance Squad