The St. Xavier track and field team packed up their gear at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium with a massive achievement to celebrate, capturing an impressive eighth-place overall team finish at the 2026 OHSAA Division 1 State Championships.
In a meet where every single point required battling through the absolute best talent in Ohio, the Long Blue Line proved its depth early on. Before the spotlight shifted to individual distance dominance, the weekend was defined by a total team effort. Bomber athletes across the board fought through grueling heats, high-pressure field events, and highly competitive sprint relays to chip away at the leaderboard, ensuring St. Xavier maintained a constant scoring presence inside the state's top ten.
Among the standout individual efforts for the Bombers was junior Liam Holman, who carried his postseason momentum right onto the state stage. Competing in a blistering Mens Division 1 800-Meter field, Holman ran a courageous, tactical race against the top middle-distance runners in Ohio. Pushing through a punishing second lap, Holman crossed the finish line to secure a stellar 12th-place finish overall with a time of 1:55.42. His ability to qualify and hold his own on the state's biggest stage bodes incredibly well for the future of the Bombers' middle-distance program.
While the underclassmen and depth chart laid the foundation, senior superstar Dom Ellis put on a legendary, career-defining performance that will be talked about in St. Xavier lore for years to come. Serving as the ultimate point-cow for the Bombers, Ellis put the state on notice across three grueling distance events.
The weekend's success began with the 4x800-meter relay, where Ellis anchored a relentless Bomber squad. Facing heavy traffic and elite closing speed, the relay unit executed their handoffs perfectly, leaning on Ellis' explosive final leg to secure a podium finish and put St. Xavier on the scoreboard early.
Ellis' crowning achievement came in the 1600-Meter Final. Running with tactical perfection, Ellis bided his time in the lead pack before launching a ferocious kick on the final straightaway. In a thrilling, shoulder-to-shoulder battle with Beavercreek's Jackson Davis, Ellis found an extra gear to cross the line in a personal-best 4:10.37—narrowly edging out Davis (4:10.95) to officially claim the OHSAA State Title and a massive 10 points for the team.
Refusing to let up, Ellis returned to the track for the brutal 3200-Meter run. Despite the heavy mileage already in his legs, the senior put on a clinic in grit and endurance. He battled standard-bearer pace-setters the entire way, executing a brilliant strategy to secure a runner-up finish on the podium with a time of 9:02.15, adding another crucial layer of points to cement St. Xavier's top-eight team placement.
With a state championship ring, multiple podium appearances, and a top-ten team trophy heading back to Cincinnati, the 2026 state tournament marks the perfect exclamation point on the senior class's legacy—while leaving the baton in incredibly capable hands.
