Ohio's top high school boys track and field athletes: Meet the state’s best sprinters
By Owen Racer | Photo by Mike Cook
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a look at some of the top track and field athletes in Ohio.
We started with the top sprinters in the girls division, and now we'll focus on the top boys sprinters.
There are hundreds of standout sprinters in Ohio, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive! Tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @SBLiveOH and let us know about other athletes worthy of fans’ attention.
Note: We'll also be posting lists of the state's top hurdlers, jumpers, throwers and distance runners in the coming weeks. Many athletes excel in multiple events, but we won't do write-ups on the same athlete on multiple lists.
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Pawie Ault, Bay, junior
As a sophomore during the 2021 outdoor season, Ault clocked a 100-meter PR of 11.20 and 200 of 23.91. Look for the running back and linebacker on the football field to get faster as the season progresses.
Nick Biega, Mayfield, junior
At the D1 indoor state championship this year, Biega ran a 6.87 60 meters, a personal best. That same day, Biega timed a new PR in the 200 at 21.47. In the 2021 outdoor season, Biega had the sixth-fastest 100 meters (10.67).
Michael Bissler, St. Edward, junior
Bissler recently sprinted a 6.94 60 meters dash and 23.55 200. His 60 time was good enough for eighth in the 2022 indoor championship. Bissler reached the outdoor state championship last season after placing third in the 100 meters at regionals.
Justin Braun, Westerville Central, senior
The defending Division I state champ in the 100, 200 and 400, Braun carried his speed into the indoor season. The USC commit ran the 60 meters in 6.62 seconds, the fastest ever in Ohio.
Tennel Bryant, Archbishop Moeller, junior
In just his sophomore year, Bryant ran Ohio’s 15th-fastest 100 with a time of 10.84 at the D1 state championship. Bryant is already receiving football offers, with Austin Peay, Central Michigan, Air Force, Army and Navy all extending the wide receiver an offer.
Rich Clark, University School, senior
On Feb. 10, Clark clocked PRs in the 60 (7.33) and a 200 (23.37). Clark ran Ohio’s 12th-fastest 100 time of the 2021 outdoor season with a 10.8 at the Trinity Invitational.
Tristin Cook-Fisher, Gahanna Lincoln, senior
Cook-Fisher holds the early-season lead in the 200 and sits third in the 100 at a time of year that doesn't favor sprinters. He looks poised to build off a solid indoor season that included a 22.19 in the 200.
Markez Gillam, Reynoldsburg, senior
Prior to running a 7.09 (PR) 60-meter dash at a 2022 Kent State meet, Gillman ran the state of Ohio’s 13th-fastest 100 (10.82) of the 2021 outdoor season. At the 2021 Ohio Capital Conference in May, Gillam recorded a 200-meter PR of 21.87.
Evan Harper, Mentor, senior
Harper, who is sitting on two college football offers, ran a 7.4 60-meter dash on Jan. 6 and a 10.82 (PR) 100 in the spring of 2021. The high and long jumper also clocked a 22.84 (PR) 200 in 2021. Harper ran Ohio’s 14th-fastest 100 in 2021.
Rashid Harris, Sycamore, senior
At the D1 indoor state championship this year, Harris clocked a 6.98 60-meter dash and a 22.01 200, both PRs. Harris’ 10.83 100 meters was good for Ohio’s 14th-best in 2021’s outdoor season. The 5-foot-11 speedster is receiving attention at the next level for football.
Timiko Jackson, La Salle, junior
Jackson, who is receiving college football attention, recently clocked a 22.87 200 meters at the Upper Arlington Invitational. In the 2022 outdoor season, Jackson ran a 22.38 200 meters.
Colin Kaufmann, Avon, senior
An Ohio State football commit, Kaufmann finished the 2021 outdoor track season with the state's seventh-best 100-meter time (10.69). Kaufmann clocked a 60-meter PR of 6.91 in the D1 indoor state championship this year. Last spring, Kaufmann’s best 200 was a 22.65 finish at the D1 Northeast Districts.
Carlton Landingham, St. Edward, senior
Landinghan finished the 2021 outdoor season with the state's 10th-best 100-meter time of 10.73, a PR at the time. In his 2022 indoor season, he set two new PRs, a 60-meter time of 6.98 and a 200 of 21.72.
Troy Lane, Pickerington Central, junior
As a sophomore, Lane clocked a PR of 10.65 in the D1 Region 3 race. He shattered that mark last week, running a 10.37, which would have been the fastest time of 2021. Look for Lane to improve upon his third-place finish in the 100 in last year's D1 state meet.
Mason Louis, Bexley, junior
In his sophomore season, Louis clocked a 47.54 in the 400, good for third in the state during the outdoor season. In 2022 indoor season, Louis timed a 6.99 60 meters, 22.28 200 and a 48.45 in the 400.
Xavier Preston, Stow-Munroe Falls, senior
Preston remains one of the fastest high school athletes in Ohio. He finished the indoor season with the third-fastest 60 meters and second-fastest 200. He ran the state's fourth-fastest 200 as a junior during the outdoor season.
Dylan Randall, Canal Winchester, senior
Randall followed a stellar junior year with a solid indoor season this year. He was top five in the state in the 55- and 60-meter dash and top 10 in the 200.
KJ Upshaw, Shawnee, senior
After running Ohio’s 16th-best 100 (10.84) in 2021, Upshaw ran a 7.02 60-meter dash at the D1 indoor state championship this year. He also ran a 23.16 200 meters at Ashland University during the indoor season.
Brandon White, Archbishop Moeller, senior
The Kentucky football commit anchors a team loaded with speed. White had the fastest 100-meter time in the state last year at 10.46 seconds and kept his speed up during the indoor season.
Roosevelt Zeigler, Colerain, senior
In his junior season, Zeigler finished with the state's 11th-best 100-meter time (10.78). At the D1 Southwest Districts he clocked a 22.09 in the 200.
