OBETZ, Ohio — Two of the most accomplished runners in Miami Valley Christian Academy cross country history will take center stage Saturday, November 7, as junior Jaxon League and sophomore Olivia O'Hare compete in the OHSAA Division IV State Cross Country Championships at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park.
Both Lions enter the season's final race following standout campaigns that have included school records, individual championships and top-10 regional finishes.
League earned his first career state championship berth after finishing ninth at the Southwest Regional Championships in 16:17.1, establishing a new MVCA boys 5K school record.
O'Hare secured her second consecutive state appearance with a 10th-place regional finish in 19:23.7, continuing a record-breaking sophomore season that has seen her lower the MVCA girls 5K record multiple times.
The Division IV girls championship race is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., followed by the boys at 4:10 p.m.
League Makes State Debut Following Historic Junior Season
Junior Jaxon League will make his first appearance at the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships following a remarkable 2026 campaign.
League punched his ticket to State at the October 31 Southwest Regional Championships in Troy, crossing the finish line ninth overall in a personal-best 16:17.1.
The performance established a new MVCA boys all-time 5K record, surpassing his previous best of 16:18.3 recorded at the Ross Invitational on October 3.
His regional performance came just one week after capturing the individual district championship at Voice of America MetroPark.
League finished first overall in 16:21.7, leading the Lions to their second consecutive OHSAA Division IV district team championship.
MVCA dominated the district competition with just 36 team points, finishing 47 points ahead of runner-up Dayton Christian.
Teammate Ezekiel Robinson followed League across the line in second place, giving the Lions the top two individual finishers. MVCA placed four runners inside the top 10 and all five scoring runners among the top 15.
The district championship continued an impressive season for the Lions, who opened the fall with team victories at the Clark Invitational and Cincinnati Country Day Invitational.
League also captured an individual championship at the Cedarville Friendship Invitational in September, adding to a season of consistent performances at the front of the field.
At regionals, MVCA finished 10th overall as a team, while League's ninth-place individual finish extended the boys program's streak of state qualifiers to three consecutive seasons.
He follows Joey Sandul, who advanced to State in 2024, and Will Sten, who qualified in 2025.
Now, League will look to cap his historic junior season with another strong performance against Ohio's top Division IV runners.
O'Hare Returns to State Following Record-Breaking Sophomore Campaign
For sophomore Olivia O'Hare, Saturday represents an opportunity to build on last year's state championship experience.
O'Hare returns to Fortress Obetz for the second consecutive season after securing another individual qualifying berth at the Southwest Regional Championships.
She finished 10th overall in the girls 5K with a time of 19:23.7, continuing an impressive sophomore campaign highlighted by multiple school records.
At the Miami Valley Conference Championships on October 15, O'Hare broke her own MVCA 5K record with a time of 19:35.
Just nine days later, she delivered another historic performance at the Southwest District Championships, placing third overall in 19:04.1 and lowering the school record by nearly 31 seconds.
Her record-breaking effort helped the Lady Lions finish third as a team with 93 points, securing a regional championship berth for all seven runners.
O'Hare's return to State follows an impressive freshman season in 2025.
In her first appearance at the OHSAA Division IV State Championships, she finished 33rd overall with a time of 19:39.02.
That performance stands among the strongest verified individual state championship finishes in MVCA program history.
Her school-record time of 19:04.1 this season is nearly 35 seconds faster than her mark at last year's state championships, demonstrating the progress she has made in her second high school season.
With another year of experience and a record-setting campaign behind her, O'Hare will look to improve upon last year's finish when she returns to the state championship course Saturday.
Continuing MVCA's State Championship History
The qualifications of League and O'Hare continue a strong stretch of postseason success for the MVCA cross country program.
The Lions have produced several notable individual performances at the OHSAA State Championships over the past decade.
In 2015, sophomore Laura Vilardo represented MVCA at the Division III State Championships, finishing 94th overall in 20:58.7.
Four years later, senior Will Stewart delivered a strong performance at the 2019 Division III State Championships, placing 39th overall in 16:53.9.
More recently, MVCA has established a consistent presence at State.
In 2024, senior Joey Sandul advanced to the Division III State Championships, finishing 84th overall in 16:55.30.
The following season, MVCA sent two athletes to the Division IV State Championships.
Senior Will Sten represented the boys program, placing 77th overall in 17:00.04, while O'Hare made her state championship debut with a 33rd-place finish in 19:39.02.
MVCA's Verified Previous State Championship Results
| Year |
Athlete |
Division |
Place |
Time |
| 2025 |
Olivia O'Hare |
IV Girls |
33rd |
19:39.02 |
| 2025 |
Will Sten |
IV Boys |
77th |
17:00.04 |
| 2024 |
Joey Sandul |
III Boys |
84th |
16:55.30 |
| 2019 |
Will Stewart |
III Boys |
39th |
16:53.9 |
| 2015 |
Laura Vilardo |
III Girls |
94th |
20:58.7 |
With League joining the program's list of state qualifiers and O'Hare making her second appearance, MVCA has now produced boys state qualifiers in three consecutive seasons and at least one individual state qualifier in each of the past three years.
The accomplishments come following another successful fall for both programs.
The boys captured their second consecutive district team championship, while the girls finished third at districts and advanced their entire seven-runner lineup to regionals.
Now, two school record holders will look to add another chapter to MVCA cross country's postseason history.
One Final Race
Saturday's state championships will bring together the top Division IV teams and individual qualifiers from across Ohio for the final competition of the 2026 high school cross country season.
For League, it represents an opportunity to complete a breakthrough junior season that has included a school record, an individual district championship, multiple victories and his first state championship qualification.
For O'Hare, it is an opportunity to build upon a successful freshman state appearance and a sophomore campaign that has seen her rewrite the MVCA record book.
Both runners have helped lead their respective programs through another successful postseason and will now have the opportunity to represent the Lions on Ohio's biggest cross country stage.
State Championship Information
Event: 2026 OHSAA Division IV State Cross Country Championships
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Location: Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park
Address: 4175 Alum Creek Drive, Obetz, OH 43207
MVCA Race Schedule:
MVCA State Qualifiers
State Championship Links
