After his 4×8 team placed 3rd at Indoor States last year, senior Jacob Ogilbee aims to get his sweet revenge this year.
Ohio’s 2026 Indoor Track and Field State Meet will be hosted at the Spire Academy on Friday, March 6th. A core member of the boys team has been senior Jacob Ogilbee, who will be competing at this meet.
“I’m very grateful to be participating at this meet yet again,” Ogilbee said. “It’s crazy how time flies.”
This is Ogilbee’s third straight year competing at the state meet. His 4×8 team placed 6th in 2024 and 3rd in 2025. Ogilbee plans to just run the open 800 meter-dash this time.
“My goal is to be the fastest 800m runner in the state,” Ogilbee said. “If I don’t prove that indoor I’ll do it during outdoor.”
Ogilbee has been running for a school track team since 7th grade. He ran at his first ever state meet as an 8th grader for Olentangy Liberty Middle School.
“The 8th grade state meet was awesome,” Ogilbee said. “I placed 11th and got ice cream after.”
Throughout his years of high school, Ogilbee has gotten the opportunity to train and compete with many other talented athletes, one of which has even left their own mark on him.
“My inspiration is Aadi Joshi,” Ogilbee said. “I owe it to him to do everything I can to be fast this season.”
Though he has his own person to influence him, Ogilbee is also an influence himself for many younger athletes. Members of the boys distance team are able to learn and better themselves from his successes and failures.
“Jacob is an awesome teammate to have around the team,” junior Espen Elfers said. “He is always so detail-oriented and looking to get better.”
Ogilbee was the varsity soccer team’s starting striker in the fall and currently an unofficial captain of the track team for the upcoming spring season.
“As of now I don’t plan on playing sports in college, however a D1 offer could definitely change things,” Ogilbee said.
Ogilbee’s event will take place at 4:15 pm eastern time. He believes he has a fairly good chance of bringing home gold.
“I run to prove to myself that I can accomplish difficult things both physically and mentally,” Ogilbee said. “But also because of the bag they give us at New Balance Nationals.”
