Jamier Brown Steers Big Walnut to Historic OHSAA State Championship

In a remarkable finale to what is expected to be his sole season with the Big Walnut track and field team, junior Jamier Brown played a pivotal role in elevating the Golden Eagles to unprecedented success on June 7 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. A highly sought-after football prospect who has pledged to Ohio State as a wide receiver, Brown delivered three outstanding performances, two of which set new records, at the Division II state meet, leading his team to share the championship title with New Philadelphia, both scoring 41 points.

“We thought we had the right pieces,” remarked coach Ryan Borland. “Moving to Division II from Division I, we believed we could excel. The message to our kids was to aim high, and having Jamier was the icing on the cake. Football is calling, and I was just trying to help him make it through track. Our goal was for him to carve out his own narrative in track and field, and I think he accomplished that well.”

Brown, who previously claimed the Division I state title in the 100 meters for Huber Heights Wayne, triumphed in both the 100 meters (10.42 seconds) and 200 meters (20.91 seconds), in addition to anchoring the first-place 400 relay (41.53 seconds) alongside teammates Braydan Giesler, Jaxen Elliott, and Dexter Chhuom. His time in the 200 meters along with the relay performance established new OHSAA Division II and state meet records.

Despite nursing a groin injury throughout much of the season, Brown managed to compete at approximately 90% health at the state meet. Before the event, the OHSAA confirmed that he qualified for a full season under their transfer rules. Brown plans to graduate early and join Ohio State in early 2027. “A lot of people doubted me early in the year,” he commented. “Many were unaware of my injury struggles. I continue to push myself while taking care of my body, which is a significant reason for my success.”

Additionally, sophomore Chase Bergsten secured a victory in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.39 seconds. Fremont Ross’ Mason Englund initially finished first but was disqualified for a violation, while Oregon Clay’s Barack James faced disqualification for a false start.

In another highlight, Beechcroft junior Nehemiah Mills achieved a record-setting trifecta in the 400 meters, clocking in at 46.91 seconds, which set new benchmarks for OHSAA Division II, the Division II state meet, and Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Mills expressed his relief and excitement, stating, “Words can’t describe how good I feel. It’s amazing.”

Overall, Central Ohio athletes showcased impressive performances across the Division I state meet, with notable victories from Olentangy Liberty's TJ Lichter in the 110 hurdles and Olentangy Berlin's Miles King in the 300 hurdles. Gahanna's Ronald Neal won the long jump, helping his team finish second overall in the standings, just behind Wayne.