Ian Res Wins Division II Boys State Cross Country

The West Geauga senior captured the first state cross country title in school history, finishing in 15:22.8.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Running

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a lone runner in a green singlet surging up a wooded autumn hill, trailing competitors far behind. — West Geauga senior Ian Res won the Division II boys state cross country title at Obetz, finishing in 15:22.8 for the school's first state championship. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Ian Res crossed the finish line in 15 minutes, 22.8 seconds to win the Division II boys cross country state championship at Obetz. He was clear of all competitors in the final 100 yards to claim the first state title in West Geauga history.

Why it matters

The win caps a season in which Res won all but one race and rebounds from a district loss to Nordonia's Anderson Seredick. It also reflects a year of progress for a runner who finished sixth at the state meet a year earlier.

Res won all but one race this season and finished 15:22.8 at the Division II state meet, a notable step up from his sixth-place finish a year earlier. The stub does not specify his full season race log or times at other meets.

The players

Ian Res

A senior at West Geauga who won the Division II boys state cross country championship and the first state title in his school's history.

Josh Boylan

The coach of West Geauga's cross country program who said Res's sixth-place finish a year earlier motivated him heading into the state meet.

The details

Res let other runners lead the early race, with Mount Vernon's Calvin Heithaus ahead by three seconds at the one-mile mark, before moving into the top 10 and making his decisive move on the hill in the back half of the final mile. He wanted to avoid repeating past mistakes of running with fear and having to chase back, and Coach Josh Boylan said the prior year's sixth-place finish was the motivator heading into the race.

Season prior to current season: Tallmadge's Dnoevan Noah took the regional title over Res.
A year before the state meet: Res finished sixth at the state meet.
Current season: Res lost the district meet to Nordonia's Anderson Seredick.
November 7, 2026: Res won the Division II boys state cross country championship.

Season Trajectory

Res's state title moves him from a sixth-place finish at the state meet a year earlier to the top of the Division II boys field, following a season in which he won all but one race. The win also marks the first state cross country championship in West Geauga history.

Res's state title and season record make him a strong contender in Ohio's fall cross country rankings and recruiting conversations. Fans tracking high school distance running can follow his results as he moves into the next phase of his career.

The takeaway

Res's path from a sixth-place finish to a state title shows how a clear race plan and a willingness to make a late move can convert a prior setback into a championship. Runners facing a similar gap can focus on controlling early pacing and preparing for decisive moves in the final mile.