D2 Girls State Preview - Event by Event

OHSAA State Championship
Mark Stonecipher


A preview, event by event of the Girls D2 State meet.

OHSAA Link for Participants, Heat/flight Assignments



4x800 Meter Relay  

Chagrin Falls comes in with the fastest time in Regionals of 9:26.85.  They have run 9:20.79 and are ranked D2 #1.  Cloverleaf comes in with the #2 time of 9:26.32 in their winning effort at Lexington.  Liberty-Benton was just behind them in the Lexington Regional with a time of 9:27.05.  Two other teams ran under 9:30:  The Carrollton girls ran 9:27.67 and Unioto went 9:28.32.  The Chagrin Falls girls are all underclassmen.  Jr. Hailey Lowe, Fr. Catherine Coffey, So. Annie Zimmer and Jr. Halle McClintock.  The Chagrin girl's are the team to beat.  They are inexperienced at State, six seconds however,  is a lot to make up.


100m Hurdles  


Two girls return from last year's finals.  Orange Jr. Jasmine Harris leads the State with a non- wind aided 14.20.  She is also the fastest Regional qualifier winning the Youngstown Region in 14.02.  She was 3rd last year with a 14.29.    So.  Ellie Ruby of Wheelersburg is OH #3 with a 14.69. She won the Plains Region with a 14.72 and was 5th last year in 14.95.  Two other girls, Fr. Lea King Of Perry an Sr. Elise Watts of Steubenville qualified with times under 15.  King ran 14.91.  Watts 14.82.  Hard not to go with Harris in this one.


100m Dash  


Four girls return from last years finals including the defending champion and D2 State Record holder (11.67), Sr. Michaela Butler of Liberty-Benton (11.68).  Joining her from last year are Stuebenville Sr. Lysaih Rice (4th, 12.17) and Jr. Jamari McDavid of Kenton Ridge (2nd, 12.08).  Butler is the only one under 12.  Expect Rossford Jr. Regan Clay to challenge Butler. Clay is OH #2 with an 11.90.  West Geauga Sr. Brittni Mason should be in the mix as well.  She has run 12.07. Butler should defend her title and may break her own State record.


4x200 Meter Relay  

The Youngstown Region saw OH #1 and 2 times last weekend.  Beaumont ran 1:42.93 and Buchtel was just behind them in a 1:43.63.  The Lexington Regional winner, the Columbus School for Girls ran an OH #3 1:43.77 and the Dunbar girls won the Dayton Region in the exact same time. These are the only four times under 1:44. This one will be close and like the 4x100, just may come down to exchanges.  The Beaumont girls are: Jr. Mariah Benson, Sr. Caitlyn Lux, Jr. Reba Bartram and Sr. Mia Cannata.


1600m Run  


Only four girls return from last year.  The defending Champion, Sr. Dominique Clairmonte of Lexington, is out with an injury.  The other three girls are Sr. Abby Nichols of Archbishop Alter, Sr. Shannon Wargo of Keystone and So. Grace Steimle of Grand Valley.  Abby Nichols was 2nd to Clarimonte last year in a very close race.  She ran 4:53.29 to Clairmonte's 4:53.08.  She is the D2 State XC Champion and comes in as the only D2 girl with a sub- 5:00, 4:59.98  D2 #1 ranking. This just may be her championship to win, but she will be challenged by So. Sydnee Mangette of Liberty Union, who has run 5:00.61, and went 5:02.20 in winning the Lexington Region to bring the fastest Regional qualifying time the Finals and Sr. Andra Lehotay of Sandy Valley who ran a 5:03.51 in the West Holmes District.  Mangette is the 2016 OATCCC D2/3 1,600 champion with a time of 5:19.37 and was the 800m runner-up. Lehotay is the 2015 and 2016 OATCCC 800m champion and was 4th in the 2014 OHSAA D2 1,600 with a time of 4:55.04.  


4x100 Meter Relay  


12 Teams come in under 50. and are separated by .09 seconds.  Beaumont won the Youngstown Region with a time of 49.11.  Chaminade Julienne won the Dayton Regional and has the 2nd fastest time of 49.25 and is the defending champion.  Beachwood is #3 and finished 2nd to Beaumont in the Youngstown Region with a time of 49.33.  This race is up for grabs and will come down to the exchanges.  Too close to pick a winner.  The Beaumont girls are: Sr. Caitlyn Lux, Jr. Mariah Benson, Sr. Courtney Tyree and Sr. Mia Cannata.


400 Meter Dash  


Of the 8 underclassman in last year's final, only three return this year:  Defending Champion Jr. Regan Clay of Rossford, runner-up Sr. Tiona Lattimore of Hughes Center and Jr. Maquila Norman who was 4th.  Clay won last year in a time of 55.29 and ran 54.77 in winning the Lexington Region. She is ranked OH #1 All Divisions.   Lattimore won the Dayton Region in 55.09.  Lattimore is OH #3 All Divisions.  The only other girl under 56 is Sr. Alexa Peoples of Columbus East.  Peoples was 2nd to Clay in Lexington, running a 55.94.  Clay should win her 2nd D2 400m Title, but she will have to go under 55 again to do it.


300 Meter Hurdles  


Defending Champion Sr. Jasmine Harris of Orange leads a field that returns 6 of the last year's 9 finalists.  Harris set a new State Meet Record last year of 42.55 and should challenge the D2 State record of 42.24 held by Chelseas Scott of Bishop Hartley set in 2010.  She is ranked OH #3 with a 42.77 that she ran in the Regional prelims.The other returners are:  Sr. Jessica Eby of Orrville 3rd, 44.57), So. Karlie Zumbro of John Glen (4th,45.16), Jr. Madi Oiler of Gallia Academy (6th, 45.38), Jr. Carson Fields of Mariemont (7th, 45.87) and So. Ellie Ruby of Wheelersburg (8th, 46.01).


800 Meter Run  


Sandy Valley St. Andra Lehotay is the defending champion (2:13.76).  So. Leah Recker of Liberty-Benton was 2nd in 2:14.39.  Jr. Aziza Ayoub of Johnathan Alder has the fastest qualifying time and is D2 #1 with a 2:11.12 that she ran in winning the Lexington Region.  Recker is D2 #2 with a 2:12.12 that she ran as runner-up at Lexington.  Lehotay is D2 #6 and won the Plains Region in 2:16.23.  Two other girls have run under 2:14:  Jr.. Halle McClintock of Chagrin Falls (2:13.18) and So. Sydnee Mangette of Liberty-Union (2:14.23).  It's going to be a challenge for Lehotay to repeat as champion, expecially if she doubles.  Look for Ayoub to win this one and go under 2:10.


200 Meter Dash  


Sr. Michaela Butler  of Liberty-Benton is the defending champion (24.27).  So. Regan Clay of Rossford was runner-up to Butler (24.89).  They are ranked D2 1 & 2 this year with Clay taking the top spot in winning the Lexington Regional with a 24.12 and edging Butler who went 24.35.  Brittni Mason of West Geauga holds the other sub-25 time of 24.64 that she ran in winning the Youngstown Regional.  Mason's time however had a 3.2 wind.  Clay and Butler will go at it again in the Finals.   Will the Sr. defend or will the So. begin her reign.  The winner just may break the 2004 D2 State record of 24.05 held by Cachet Murray of Girard. 


3200 Meter Run  


One thing is for sure, we will see a new 3,200 champion this year.  Dominique Clarimonte won the double last year but is out with an injury.  Jr. Emma Hoellrich has the only Regional time that is ranked in the D2 top 10.  She won the Plains Region in 11:03.12 which placed her D2 #4.  It is the fastest State qualifying time.  Throw these out.  Alter Sr. Abby Nichols is doubling, but has the State's fastest time of 10:48.61.  She didn't run the 3,200 last year at State.  Jr. Michelle Hostettler of West Holmes was 5th last year in 11:07.45, but has run a D2 #2 10:51.30 this year.  In addition to these three, Jr. Maddie Dunlap of Carrollton is the only other girl under 11:05.  She has run 11:03.01.    A lot in this race nay depend on who is doubling, but these four girls should make it a very competitive race.  If Nichols doubles, Hostettler should win.


4x400 Meter Relay


The Columbus School for Girls has the only D2 time in the State under 4:00 with a 3:59.88.  The top 12 times in the State were all run in the Regionals.  Aside from the CSG girls time, the next 11 are separated by 2.99 seconds.  This is any ones race and will be one of the most competitive 4x4 finals of the day.  The CSG girls are:  Sr. Isabella Pesavento, Jr. Ayla Kazemi, Fr. Alicia Donley and Sr. Eleanor Smith.


Discus Throw  


Jr. Lauren Jones of Garrettsville-Garfield is OH #1 with a throw of 160-11.  She threw this last week in winning the Youngstown Regional.  The next farthest throw is 145-08 by Jr. Kayla Barreca of Newton Falls.  Jones is the defending champion with a throw last year of 141-01.  Barreca was 6th with a throw of 128-01.  Only two other girls have thrown over 140 this year:  so. Beyonce Bobbitt of Milton-Union has thrown 144-2 and Trinity Sr. Daija Young has thrown 143-6.  Jones will win her 2nd State Championship in the Discus.


High Jump 


Jr. Paula Wollenslegel of Clyde is the defending Champion with a jump of 5-7.  So. Marissa Gwinner of Galion was 3rd with a jump of 5-5. Two girls come out of Regionals with jumps of 5-7 or better.  Akron Manchester Jr. Alyssa Matheny jumped 5-07.25 to win the Youngstown Regional and Paula Wollenslegel went 5-7 to win the Lexington Regional.  Jr. Regan Clay of Rossford joins them with a jump this year of 5-7.  Fr. Allie Marshall of Fairland, Lilly Ritz of Cambridge and So. Marissa Gwinner of Galion have all gone 5-6.    Will we see a jump of 5-8 or higher?  It may take that to win.


Long Jump  


Four D2 girls went over 18-00 this season.  One over 19.  Only two will be at State.  Last year's runner-up, Jr. Jamari McDavid of Kenton Ridge (17-08.50) and 8th place Sr. Elise Watts of Steubenville (16-08).  McDavid went 18-11.75 to win the Dayton Regional and Watts won the Plains Regional with a leap of 18-01.  Freshman Kassidy Betzig of Pomeroy Meigs went 17-10.25, finishing 2nd at Dayton.  If McDavid is on, this is her competition to win.


Shot Put  


Port Clinton Sr. Morrisa Mallory was 2nd last year with a toss of 43-02.  She comes in with a D2 leading 44-04 that she threw in her Lexington Regional win.  #2 at Lexington was Triway Jr. Kaitlyn Merwin with a throw of 43-07.25.  the other two girls with throws over 40' are Trinity Sr. Daija Young with a throw of 41-10.50 and Garrettsville Garfield Jr. Lauren Jones at 41-05.00.  Mallory and Merwin should go at it again in the finals to determine who get the title.


Pole Vault  

Sr. Tori Bowden of Elida won the Dayton Region with a vault of 11-06.  She joins 6 others who are over 11'.  She was 4th last year with a vault of 11-00.  Here are your 11-00 vaulters:  Sr. Alyssa Tabler of Morgan (11-03), Sr. Beth Plas of Keystone (11-02), So. Alex Eby of Orrville (11-02), Jr. Allison D'Alessandro of West Geauga (11-00), Jr. Olivia Pflaumer of Zane Trace (11-00) and Sr. Grace Dima of Valley View (11-00).  Not sure if we will see a 12' vault.  Bowdens experience at State may get he atop the podium.