Two powerhouse programs have once again proven why they're the teams to beat in the Greater Western Ohio Conference. At the 2026 GWOC Track and Field Championships, hosted by Beavercreek, Centerville's girls and Wayne's boys secured their third consecutive conference titles, further cementing their dominance over the competition.
For the Wayne boys, the victory was especially hard-fought. Head coach Mike Fernandez praised his team's depth and resilience, noting a key moment when senior hurdler Keng Martin, battling leg soreness, stepped aside to let Sean Heisle win the event. "When you see people step up like that, it just makes you smile," Fernandez said. The Warriors outscored Beavercreek 150-141, winning eight of 17 events and claiming their seventh GWOC title in the last eight league meets.
On the girls' side, Centerville was equally impressive, topping Beavercreek 169.5-143.5 and becoming the only team to score in every event. Head coach Mike Somerlot acknowledged the pressure of maintaining the school's winning tradition across multiple sports this spring. "We told the girls, you gotta be able to compete. The conference is really good, it's balanced, there's a ton of state contenders. We knew we had to really take advantage of our spots," he said.
The meet wasn't just about team titles—it was a showcase of individual excellence. Six league records fell on a chilly, windy evening. Wayne senior Key'Shawn Garrett was the standout star, breaking a 20-year-old record in the 100-meter dash with a blistering 10.56 seconds, besting Piqua's Brandon Saine's mark from 2006. Garrett also won the 200 meters and long jump, and anchored the winning 400-meter relay team.
Beavercreek sophomore Enora McEllroy was a force in the seated division, breaking her own records in the 100-meter dash and 400-meter dash, and setting a new mark in the shot put alongside senior Zoe Roll. Centerville freshman Ellie Davenport also joined McEllroy in breaking the 400-meter seated record. Additional meet records were set by the Centerville girls' 800-meter relay team and senior Ethan Ireland in the boys' pole vault.
Beavercreek junior Faith Brown nearly matched Garrett's performance on the girls' side, winning three races: the 100 meters, 100-meter hurdles, and 300-meter hurdles.
With the conference championships in the rearview mirror, attention now turns to the Division I Super Regional meet, which begins Tuesday with prelims. Regional competition resumes May 28 and concludes May 30. Teams like Beavercreek, Fairmont, Miamisburg, Northmont, and Springfield will look to challenge the reigning champs as the postseason heats up.