Maranzana & Wood have impressive 2026 run to State

Chillicothe High School juniors Gabby Maranzana's and Levi Wood's final races were on the state stage: the Division II OHSAA State Cross Country Meet at Fortress Obetz on Saturday, November 7th, 2026.

Gabby finished 19:13 and 45th overall, while Levi ran 16:11 and 40th overall to both earn All-Ohio 2nd Team status.

This year, Gabby achieved a number of feats including: a PR, 4 first-place race finishes, 4 runner-up race finishes, 9th at Regionals, SEOTCA Runner of the Week, FAC Runner of the Year, District Runner-Up, and 2nd Team All-Ohio. Gabby said that getting faster was the highlight of her season.

"I'd say the most memorable moment was breaking 19 minutes," said Maranzana, who was referencing her regular-season race at the Bear Dash, where she ran a personal best 18:53.

Besides the standard warm-up and cool-down, Gabby has a race day tradition: she wears pink socks for every cross country race and has done so since she was in the 6th grade.

"Back in 6th grade, I did it so my grandpa could see where I am," Gabby said, "and it is good luck now."

Levi also had a PR, 3 first-place race finishes, 3 runner-up race finishes, was Podium Watch's Athlete of the Week, All-FAC, District Runner-Up (by 0.1 of a second), 10th at Regionals, and 2nd Team All-Ohio. Levi said his season highlight was winning Saturday Night Lights.

"It was just a great start to the season and the team," Levi said. "It gave us a good season to look forward to."

Levi's race day tradition started last season with a blue headband.

"Whenever I first bought it, it was sort of as a joke because only fast people wear them," Wood said, "but then I wore it and PR'd by 20 seconds so I kept wearing it."

Levi's season PR was 15:43, which he ran at the Bear Dash at Olentangy Berlin.

Both Gabby and Levi will compete in indoor track during the winter season.