Athena Welch - Your 2016 Ohio MileSplit Female Athlete of the Year!

Mark Stonecipher


Congratulations to Athena Welch , 2016 St. Thomas Aquinas graduate and now running for the University of Toledo, was voted the 2016 Ohio MileSplit Female Athlete of the Year!  (photo M. Stonecipher)



2015 Cross Country

Welsh had an outstanding 2015 Cross Country and  2016 Track season.  She won the D3 OHSAA State Cross Country Championship with an 18:17.60, leading the Aquinas girls to the D3 Team Title.  

2016 Indoors

She was 2nd in the MileSplit Scholastic Showcase 1,600 with a 4:56.36  and 5th in the OATCCC D2/3 1,600, running 5:12.16.  She ran the lead off leg of the Aquinas girl's winning 4x800m relay at the OATCCC State Indoor Championships.

2016 Outdoors

Outdoors she was undefeated in the 1,600 and the 3,200.  In the 1,600, she won her 3rd straight D3 1,600m State title with a 4:49.06.  In the 3,200, she won the State title with a 10:56.80 after back to back 2nd place finishes in 2014 and 2015.  She helped the Aquinas girls set a new D3 and D3 State Meet records in the 4x8 with a 9:05.84, winning their 3rd straight D3 4x8 title.   In addition, she was a crucial member of the Aquinas team, helping lead them to their 2nd straight D3 Team Title. 


2015 CROSS COUNTRY


GLEN OAK GOLDEN EAGLE INVITATIONAL


Aquinas girl's at Glean Oak.  (photo Christian Lisle)

  1st place at Glen Oak (photo Dushan Bouchek)


TIFFIN


Up the hill at Tiffin.  (photo Christian Lisle)


First place finish at Tiffin.  (photo Christian Lisle)


BOARDMAN SPARTAN INVITATIONAL


(photo Dushan Bouchek)


(photo Dushan Bouchek)


1st at Boardman  (photo Dushan Bouchek)


THE LEGENDS




3rd at The Legends (photo Dushan Bouchek


OHSAA 2015 D3 STATE 

Around 400m, after the start of D3 girl's race.  Welsh was back in 3rd following Kyleigh Edward of Farifield Academy and Chloe Flora of Botkins.  (photo M. Stonecipher)

Nearing the 1st Mile.  (photo Christian Lisle)

Down the hill off of the field with Flora in pursuit.  (photo Christian Lisle)

Through 2,800m with Flora at her side.  (photo M. Stonecipher)

2-Mile.  Starting to pull away.  (photo Chris Greene)

With 400m to go.  (photo Chris Greene)


Winning the D3 girl's race.  (photo Christian Lisle)


2016 INDOORS

MILESPLIT SCHOLASTIC SHOWCASE

Welsh #5 with the lead pack in the 1,600m.  (photo Shawn Conlon)


With winner, Madeleine Davison of North Allegheny, PA.  2nd in 4:56.36. (photo Shawn Conlon)

OATCCC STATE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP D2/3  4x800m 

Lead off for the Aquinas girl's winning 4x800m.  (photo Shawn Conlon)

OATCCC STATE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP D2/3 1,600


5th in the D2/3 Gril's 1,600m.  (photo Shawn Conlon)



2016 OUTDOORS

OHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP D3 1,600M


Through the 1st 400m in the D3 1,600 finals.  (photo Chris Greene)


Through the 800m in the 1,600 with Chloe Flora of Botkins, Kyleigh Edwards of Fairfield Christian and Olivia Kundo of Liberty Center.  (photo Chris Greene)


Through the 3/4 battling Chloe Flora of Botkins.  (photo Chris Greene)


Battling with Flora down the back stretch with around 300m to go.  (photo Shawn Conlon)


Getting the 1,600m D3 win in 4:49.06.  (photo Chris Greene)


OHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP D3 3,200M


Leading the 3,200.  (photo Chris Greene)


Winning the D3 3,200 in 10:56.80  (photo Chris Greene)

OHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP D3 4X800M


(photo Shawn Conlon)


Leading off the D3 Girl's 4x800m for the St. Thomas Aquinas girls who won their 3rd straight 4x800 title with new D3 and D# State Meet Record of 9:05.84