The St. Xavier Bomber track and field team took second place at the 2026 GCL South Championships. Competing at home, the Bombers earned 83 points in a strong team effort. While Moeller won the title with 104 points, St. Xavier finished well ahead of rivals Elder and LaSalle to secure the runner-up spot.
The scoring effort was anchored by several individual champions who dominated their respective events. Dom Ellis secured a distance double by winning both the 1600-meter run in 4:20.98 and the 3200-meter run in 9:37.41. In that same 3200-meter race, William Louis delivered a standout performance by hitting a new personal record of 9:38.47 to finish directly behind Ellis for a spectacular one-two Bomber finish. James Tebbe showcased elite speed by winning the 200-meter dash in 22.30 while adding a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash in 11.00. Liam Holman took the top spot in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:56.16, and Beckett Stimson dominated the vertical jumps by winning the pole vault championship with a mark of 14-6.
St. Xavier's tradition of relay excellence continued at this year's championships as the team claimed victory in two of the four relay events. The squad set the tone early with a first-place finish in the 4x800 meter relay in 7:49.86 and followed up with a gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay in 43.50. The team also secured podium finishes in the 4x200 meter relay with a time of 1:34.32 and the 4x400 meter relay in 3:33.47, ensuring a consistent scoring presence across all relay units.
Beyond the track victories, the team relied on critical points from the field and hurdle events. Rylan Puryear provided a veteran presence by placing third in both the 110-meter hurdles in 15.95 and the 300-meter hurdles in 40.30. James Theobald earned a bronze medal in the high jump by clearing 6-2, while Aidan Dehring provided crucial support in the 1600m by finishing second in 4:23.02. Additional scoring came from Jack Gunn, who took third in the 400-meter dash in 51.19, and Julian Merrill, who placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 19-4.75.
With the GCL South Championships serving as a critical litmus test, the varsity team has positioned itself well heading into the postseason. The 83-point performance provides a solid blueprint for the coaching staff as they fine-tune their top performers for a potential run at the state level. While they did not take home the top trophy this year, the results from the meet confirm that the Long Blue Line remains a premier force in Ohio track and field.
