Local track and field athletes secure bids for 2026 OHSAA State Championships
Student-athletes from local high schools have earned state titles through the revised qualifying format, with top five finishers at three regionals and three wild card spots determining the roster for the June championships.
Local high school track and field athletes from the Cambridge and Eastern District regions have secured bids for the 2026 Jesse Owens Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Track and Field Championships. The qualification process followed regional meets hosted across the region this past week, marking the final stage before the state competition. The introduction of fourth and fifth divisions to the rotation altered the qualifying structure, requiring the top five finishers in each event at three regionals to earn automatic state bids, supplemented by three statewide wild card spots.
The state championships are scheduled to take place from Thursday, June 4, to Sunday, June 7, at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus. The event schedule begins with running semifinals on Friday, June 5, at 10:00 a.m., with finals commencing on Saturday evening at 5:45 p.m. Additionally, the girls’ discus and pole vault events are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
A detailed roster of local qualifiers highlights student-athletes from various schools, including Cambridge, John Glenn, and Zanesville. Among the notable qualifiers is Braxton Barnett, a senior who swept all four of his regional events, including the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles, long jump, and high jump. A decorated state medalist from the previous year, Barnett finished third in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles last season.
Other significant individual achievements include Ashlynn Kuklica, a junior who completed a grueling track triple by competing in the 800-meter, 1600-meter, and 3200-meter events at regionals. Vincent Campbell, a freshman, set a school record in the 1600-meter with a time of 4:22.57, while Logan Gabel, a senior, broke the 50-second barrier in the 400-meter dash to secure a top-three auto-qualification.
The field also features freshman pole vaulter Paisley Williams, senior sprinter Audrina Gibson, and multi-event star Braxton Barnett. John Glenn’s track season concluded with a 26-win record following a loss to Licking Valley. The full schedule and ticket information are available on the Ohio High School Athletic Association webpage.
