2012 Wayne Invitational Preview - Girls

*Athletes and events entered for each athlete are subject to change at the discretion of their coaching staff.  This preview was written the weekend before by looking at teams entered and top athletes in each event from the various teams*

The Mason Girls DOMINATED the field last year and that doesn't seem to change this year.  A big challenge will come from Lebanon and host Wayne, as the two GWOC schools seem to be having a stellar year, too. But don't count out Reynoldsburg and Gahanna Lincoln, they have enough sprint points to relay make a run at a team title.  Let's take a look at the girls.
 

Sprints

Reynoldsburg's Destinee Gause is the state leader in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, running 11.59 and 24.39, respectively.  It is safe to say that the meet records of 11.96 and 24.90 are in jeopardy.  Defending champion in the 200 meter dash, Khara Walker of Mason (25.41 last year) returns to defend her title.   Daniella Johnson of Gahanna Lincoln was third last year at 25.82.  Wayne's Brianna Woods own a personal best of 25.11.  Other athletes to watch are Todda Norris of Troy, Aayliah Patton of Fairborn, Cayla Carey of Princeton, Justine Miller of Fairmont, Ashley Blake of Hilliard Davidson, and Devanae Mitchell of Chaminade Julienne.

In the short sprints, Gause will be the one to watch, however, Walker of Mason has gone 12.42 this year.  The GWOC conference will be represented strong by Wayne's Woods (12.64), Troy's Norris (12.61), Miller of Fairmont (12.60) and Northmont's Ashtyn Payne (12.84).  Tipp City's Ashley Badertscher has gone 12.78, Naz Brandon of Mason (12.84), Devanae Mitchell of Chaminade Julienne (12.84), Corrine Melvin of Miami East (12.85) and LaShanwda Dobbs of Mt. Healthy (12.94) round out an impressive lineup for the women.

Hannah Turpin of Lebanon was third last year in the 400 meters at this meet.  The senior comes back, along with Bellbrook's Brandi Thayer and Fairmont's Miller.  Other to watch in the 400 meter dash will be Darrea Ragland of Stivers, Ashley Rector of Troy, Samantha Shaw of Gahanna Lincoln, Cherese Nimmons of Reynoldsburg, Ivy Beddow and Emily Cavalin of Mason, Katie Scarpino and Alexa Jennings of Centerville, Jada Grant of Princeton, Aaliyah Patton of Fairborn, Preyunna Bryant of Trotwood Madison, Michaela Nelson of Xenia Christian and Sara Robinson of Lebanon.  
 

Hurdles

The hurdles should be a battle with Reynoldsburg's Faith Washington (14.26 /42.88 personal best, Vanderbilt bound),  Princeton's Claudia Saunders(14.29/42.54, indoor state champion 60 hurdles Division 1, 2011 State Champion CC Division 1, Stanford bound) and CJ's Cierra Brown (Purdue bound, 14.19/44.47 personal best).  But, that doesn't include the top 4 placers that are back from last year's 100 meter hurdles, including defending champion Taylor Reid of Mason, 2nd place finisher Chrishna Butler of Gahanna Lincoln, Hannah Turpin of Lebanon, and Caitlyn Schmiedebusch of Troy, and 7th place finisher from Mason's Jordan Horning.
 

In the 300 hurdles, Washington, Saunders and Brown will surely be the ones to watch, but returning from last year's top 8 are also Reid, Jackie Etson of Centerville, Schmiedebusch, Erika Davis of Lebanon, and Aunjuana Million of Middletown.  Also watch for Princeton's Akilii Barnes (46.42), Horning of Mason (47.37), Turpin of Lebanon (47.50), Ellie Weideman of Springboro (47.95), Miamisburg's Brooklynn Mikesell (48.44) and Wayne's Dre'Meerha Walker (48.84).
 

Distance

In the 3200, defending champion Rachel Mahle from Springboro is back, along with last year's 3rd place finisher Alex Greone of Alter.   Mason's Madalyn Baehre was 5th, and Northmont's Jessica Childers finished 6th.  Childers has already gone 11:07.80, Leah Wallace of Reynoldsburg has gone 11:22.19, Lindsey Myers of Princeton has gone 11:28.53, Lebanon's Jacquelyn Crow 11:31.85, Mason's Lauren Wood 11:33.98 and Tori Martin 11:39.54,  Caroline Hildebrand of Hilliard Davidson 11:45.55, Allison Roeth of Houston 11:30, and Beavercreek's Sydney Leiher (4:57.34/10:54.54/2:14.58).

The 1600 meter run also should be a great battle.  Returnees are Crow of Lebanon (5:05.44, was 2nd last year), Monica Lake of Mason (4th last year at 5:10.31, owns pr of 4:58.91), Olivia Albers of Alter (5:14.17, was 5th last year, owns pr of 5:07.55), Taylor O'Neil of Carroll (5:17.34, was 6th last year, owns pr of 5:11), and Bridget McElhenny of Mason (5:23.44, 8th last year).   Leiher should also be considered a favorite here, but don't overlook Lauren Hoover of Hilliard Davidson (5:11.41), too.  Also ones to watch, Childers, Wallace, and Hayley Stegemiller of Lebanon.

In the 800, Lauren Hoover of Hilliard Davidson has gone 2:18 this year already. Lebanon's Stegemiller has gone 2:15 (was 2nd last year), Wayne's Cidni Latimer (9th last year) has gone 2:17 and teammate Kiersten Hook (20th last year) has gone 2:22.  Lake of Mason also returns (6th last year).  Again, depending on what she does, Leiher of Beavercreek owns a pr of 2:14.58.  But, don't forget about Taylor O'Neil of Carroll, Jordan Townsley of Miamisburg and Heather Sandvik of Westerville North.
 

Relays

Reynoldsburg has the state leading time in the 4x100 relay, 46.66.   Gahanna Lincoln has gone 49.25; Mason 49.87, Chaminade Julienne 49.91, Troy 50.24 and Wayne 50.62 are the top teams.  
 

In the 4x200, top teams include Troy (1:43.34), CJ (1:43.42), Wayne (1:44.27), Stivers (1:44.99), Mason (1:45.03), Princeton (1:45.11), Gahanna Lincoln (1:45.86), Trotwood Madison (1:46.53) and Mt. Healthy 1:47.34.  
 

In the 4x400, Reynoldsburg is the state leader at 3:52.92.  Princeton has gone 3:59.46, Centerville has gone 4:04.42, Mason 4:05.30, Gahanna Lincoln 4:05.99, Lebanon 4:07.24 and Wayne 4:10.05 round out the top times coming in.   The meet records for two of the three events for sprints are in jeopardy of being broken (1:40.60/47.99/3:53.40) if conditions are right.
 

In the 4x800, Mason is the one to beat, already going 9:25.48.  Lebanon 9:35.13, Alter 9:40.18 and Wayne 9:43.22 are the teams that are sub 10 minutes.   Meet record is 9:29.85, by the way.
 

In the Distance medley relay, Mason is the state leader again, having run 12:23.69, and they are defending champs in the event.  Beavercreek has gone 12:40.19, Springboro has gone12:50.39, Westerville North 13:06.56, Centerville 13:11.69, and Northmont 13:27.45.  Watch out for the host Warriors, who return all 4 members of last year's squad that was second (they went 13:13 last year).  The meet record is clearly in danger here (set last year, 12:57.46, Mason).
 

As for the Shuttle Hurdles, Mason again is the state leader, having gone 1:03.86, but Wayne has gone 1:04.88.  Fairmont 1:05.17, Gahanna Lincoln 1:05.38, Lebanon 1:05.47, Centerville 1:08.81 and Troy 1:09.93 are the top teams.  Again, the meet record is in jeopardy, 1:06.32.
 

Field Events

In the pole vault, defending champion Wayne's Courtney Ballard (5th at indoor State meet, Division 1 2012) has already cleared 11 feet 3.  She'll be joined in the elite vault with Division 3 standout Samantha Shook of Ansonia, who's gone 11-6 this year (owns a pr of 11-9), as well as Sydney Kay of Centerville (10-6), Vicki Horton of Hilliard Bradley (10-0), Natalie Uy of Fairmont (10-0), Rachel Stein and Jenny Nelson of Mason (9-6), Erin Mueller of Springboro (9-3.5), Colette Telatko of Springboro (9-0), Sonia Helstad of Centerville (9-0), Megan Masingill of Lebanon (9-0), Abby Brinkman and Mariah Sano of Troy (9-0), Amber Blackmore of Centerville (9-0) and Lindsey Berger of Mason 9-0.

In the long jump, defending champion Chaminade Julienne's Devanae Mitchell is back, and has gone 17-5.75 already this year.  Teammate Camille Dickens (3rd last year) also returns, having gone 17-10.  Fairmont's Uy (4th last year) has a pr of 17-0.75.  Troy's Ashley Rector has gone 17-3, Gahanna Lincoln's Sydney Stokes 17-1 and Mason's Cc Wilson has gone 16-6.5.

The triple jump should be dominated by Chaminade Julienne with state leader Cierra Brown at 39-6, followed by her teammate Camille Dickens, whose gone 37-5.5, the second best in the state.  Troy's Rector has gone 33-1.75, which puts her 5th in the state.  Mason's Alyssa Marmora has gone 31-8.25, while Centerville's Larissa Johnson has gone 31-6.25.

In the High Jump, Natalie Uy of Fairmont has gone 5-6, Cierra Dubois of Mt. Healthy has gone 5-4, Chelsea Anderson of Trotwood, Maddie Gallagher of Hilliard Davidson, and Abbey Saurine of Carroll have all gone 5-2, while Hannah Turpin of Lebanon and Leah Duniven of Miami East have both gone 5-1.

And for the Throws, Wayne's Dajsha Avery owns a pr of 120 feet in the discus.  She, along with Centerville's Erionna Bush (pr of 126), Brianna Jumper of Troy (120-6 pr) and Tierra Stewart of Reynoldsburg (111-0) are the ones to watch.  Miami East's Leah Duniven is the top shot putter at 39-3, but defending champion Tia Jones (37-6.25 pr) of CJ returns, too.  Some others to watch are Reynoldsburg's Tonja Johnson and Britany Anderson, Wayne's Tereia Mackey and Avery and Dajsha Horne of Mt. Healthy.  In the Hammer throw, Wayne's Rachel Aikens (118-8) and Michaela Dramis (114-5) own 2 of the top 5 throws in the state.