2024 Dispatch All-Metro: Who are the best boys track and field athletes in central Ohio?

Ben Gabelman of Westerville North headlines the 2024 Dispatch All-Metro boys track and field team.

Gabelman was announced as Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 20 at the Mershon Auditorium . The show, which was produced with the support of Middlefield Bank and Ohio Athletic Performance, honored athletes from 30 sports .

Gabelman also earned Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year and overall Boys Athlete of the Year.

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Here are the boys track honorees:

Ben Gabelman, Westerville North

The senior won the 1,600 meters (4:08.75) and anchored the first-place 3,200 relay (7:39.91) in the Division I state meet, securing the relay title by rallying on the final lap. He finished first in the 1,600 (4:09.22) and second in the 3,200 (9:15.03) at regional after winning the 1,600 (4:06.88) and 3,200 (9:12.86) in the District 4 meet. He also swept the 1,600 (4:06.88) and 3,200 (9:04.05) titles at the OCC-Capital meet. The Syracuse commit won the Division I cross country state title (14:51.66) in the fall .

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Dawayne Galloway Jr., Marion-Franklin

A sprint specialist, the junior represented the Red Devils in the Division II state meet, finishing second in 100 (10.83) and running on the third-place 400 relay (42.2). Galloway, one of central Ohio's top football recruits in the class of 2025 , won 100 titles in the regional (10.56), District 2 (10.66) and City League (10.74) meets.

Nate Hollingsworth, Olentangy Liberty

In his first year in the sport , the senior won the high jump (6 feet, 11 inches) at the Division I state meet. He also won the event at the regional (6-8), District 3 (6-6) and OCC-Central (6-6) meets. Previously a baseball player, a shoulder injury as a junior led to Hollingsworth leaving that sport. His father, Jamie, was a high jumper at Ohio State. Hollingsworth is a Miami University commit.

Jack Gentile, Fisher Catholic

The senior led the Irish at the Division III state meet, winning the 800 (1:54.8) and anchoring the first-place 3,200 relay (8:00.5) . He also won the 800 at regional (1:55.14) and district (1.56.47) and finished second in the MSL-Cardinal meet (2:03.37).

Hugh Jacobsmeyer, Olentangy

A Purdue commit, this senior finished second in the 800 (1:52.39) and helped the 3,200 relay place fourth (7:42.46) at the Division I state meet, closing a strong postseason. At regional, Jacobsmeyer anchored the first-place 3,200 relay (7:44.49) and took second in the 800 (1:52.54). In the District 2 meet, he won the 800 (1.54.54) and ran on the winning 3,200 (7:46.33) and 1,600 (3:20.57) relays, duplicating his first-place finishes in the OCC-Cardinal meet – 800 (1:57.95), 3,200 relay (7:52.41) and 1,600 relay (3:25.97).

Nadir Langston, Hamilton Township

A hurdles specialist, this senior turned in a strong showing at the Division I state meet, finishing second in the 110 hurdles (14.25) and fifth in the 300 hurdles (37.49). At regional, he won the 110 hurdles (14.13) after sweeping the 110 hurdles (14.15) and 300 hurdles (38.17) at the District 1 meet. The Southern Illinois commit finished second in the 110 hurdles (14.47) and 300 hurdles (38.97) at the MSL-Buckeye meet.

Solomon McDow, Bexley

The senior capped his prep career by finishing third in the 1,600 (4:18.7) at the Division II state meet. The Middlebury College commit won the 1,600 at the regional (4:22.89), District 1 (4:21.56) and Central Buckeye League (4:32.62) meets.

Gabe Oppong, Tree of Life

Competing in his second Division III state meet, Oppong won the 100 (10.98) and finished second in the 200 (22.13). The junior won the 100 (10.95) and 200 (22.32) at regional after sweeping the 100 (10.94) and 200 (22.03) titles at district. He also won the 100 (11.34) and 200 (22.63) in the Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League meet.

Sam Ricchiuti, Dublin Jerome

A future Syracuse teammate of Gabelman's, this senior closed his high school career by winning the 3,200 in the Division I state meet (9:03.71) as four of the top six runners were from central Ohio . Ricchiuti advanced to state after finishing fourth at regional (9:15.84) and third in the District 2 meet (9:26.26). He finished second in the OCC-Cardinal meet (9:41.37).

C.J. Sanna, Olentangy

Sanna emerged as one of the state's top throwers this spring as a sophomore. He finished second in the discus (175-9) and 11th in the shot put (52-8) at the Division I state meet after winning the discus (171-10) and shot put (54-11 ½) at regional. He also swept the discus (196-6) and shot put (57-7) at the District 2 and OCC-Cardinal (178-7; 53-4 ¾) meets.

Richard Simpson, Pickerington North

Also a quarterback on the football team, the junior sprinter finished second in the 400 (46.71) and fourth in the 100 (11.0) in the Division I state meet after winning the 400 (46.91) and placing second in the 100 (10.82) at regional. He won the 100 (10.76) and 400 (46.97) at the District 1 meet and finished first in the 100 (10.89) and second in the 400 (47.45) at the OCC-Ohio meet.

Ryan Smith, Worthington Kilbourne

This senior distance specialist capped his prep career by finishing second in the 3,200 (9:04.83) at the Division I state meet. Smith was third at regional (9:15.71), first in District 1 (9:13.9) and second in the OCC-Capital (9:16.59). He will run at Furman.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2024 Dispatch All-Metro: Who are the best boys track and field athletes in central Ohio?