Division 1 Girls
Bold Prediction: Thomas Worthington Breaks State Meet Record, Smashes US No. 1 in 4x800
We discuss the Girls Division 1 distance events below, but before that, our bold prediction involves the young ladies from Thomas Worthington.
In 2018, they finished fifth in 9:02.26. This indoor season, though, they exacted revenge running an eye-popping US No. 2 indoor mark of 9:03.08. They would go on to run 9:09.21 and finish 3rd in the championship race at New Balance Nationals Indoor.
This spring, we have seen some fantastic performances from the Lady Cardinals, and this weekend we will see at least one more. The team of Gia and Carina Napoleon, Lydia Miller, and Morgan Edwards will smash the current US No. 1 (Union Catholic (NJ)'s 9:00.36), become the first sub-9:00 team in the nation, and win the state title. Final time prediction: 8:52.85
Races To Watch
The Distance Events
Featured Athletes:
Taylor Ewert, Beavercreek - 4x800 (9:00.46), 3200 (10:30.09)
Samantha Bush, Turpin - 4x800 (9:11.22), 1600 (4:47.23), 3200 (10:44.46)
Gia Napoleon, Thomas Worthington - 4x800 (9:03.05), 800 (2:08.65), 4x400 (3:57.42)
Madison Martinez, Gahanna Lincoln - 4x800 (9:10.71), 800 (2:09.41), 4x400 (3:49.40)
Kaylie Kenne, Medina Highland - 1600 (4:55.08), 3200 (10:32.59)
Breakdown:
Where to begin...
Let's start with the 4x800. Beavercreek, Thomas Worthington, and Gahanna Lincoln seem to be locked in for a battle for the ages as both squads come in looking to be the first in the country to break 9:00. Last year, it was Lincoln with Madison Martinez on the anchor who snagged the eight-second victory, running 8:53.49. In an absurd turn of events, it took a sub-9:10 mark to earn a top-8 spot.
Beavercreek is the top seed with a 9:00.46 from last week led by Taylor Ewert, Jodie Pierce, and Juliann Williams. Worthington is second with their 9:03.05 mark. They have the dynamic Napoleon sisters on their side. Then there's Mason and Medina, as a matter of fact, before you get to the defending champs, Gahanna Lincoln. Nothing from this season has indicated that anything has changed from last year so it will probably take another 9:10 or better to get on the medal stand this weekend.
The 800 is similarly stacked. Shocked? You shouldn't be.
Gia Napoleon will enter as the top seed at 2:08.65, but Madison Martinez will enter as the defending champion. Her seed, 2:09.41 is third behind Solon's Olivia Howell (2:09.34), but her 2:08.89 personal best from last year's meet will put her in as one of the favorites. Mason's Maddie Ullom comes in as the fourth fastest seed at 2:10.96 and fifth is Beavercreek's Jodie Pierce at 2:11.17. With 14 of the 18 girls between 2:08-2:14, and 4 more faster than 2:17, it could be anyone's call on Saturday.
In the 1600, it is wholly reasonable that a sub-5:00 miler is left off the medal stand.
The top eight seeds in this one come in under 5:00 from last weekend (14 girls have gone under 5:00 in total this spring in Division 1). Leading the way with her 4:47.23 US No. 16 mark is Turpin's Samantha Bush. She finished third in this race in 2018. Next is Centerville sophomore Emma Bucher, whose 4:48.75 from last weekend is seventh in the country among sophomores. Medina's Juliette Keller (4:54.07), Highland's Kaylie Kenne (4:55.08), and West Clermont's Maddie Walker (4:56.17) round out the top 5 seeds. This isn't to mention Hilliard Davidson's Lindsay Stull (4:52.81 on May 3rd) or Gia Napoleon (4:55.46 on May 11th) or the myriad others under or near 5:00.
In the 3200, it seems to be cross country All-American Taylor Ewert's race to lose. With only the 4x800 to keep her from being totally fresh, the Beavercreek junior appears ready to throw down something truly filthy this weekend. Her 10:30.09 from last weekend was still well off her 10:17.85 mark earlier this month. Fifteen of the eighteen competitors registered sub-11:00 marks last weekend in preparation, with the other three running 11:00.17, 11:00.80, and 11:01.95. This weekend's girls distance events in Division 1 will truly be fun to watch.
400 Meter Dash
Top 5 Seeds:
1) Jaydan Wood, Pickerington Central - 53.80
2) Nia Robinson, Twinsburg - 54.89
3) Alexis Cain, Euclid - 55.97
4) Kristan Ross, Euclid - 55.98
5) Jenna Oriani, Chardon - 56.30
Breakdown:
Jaydan Wood is the returning champ in this one and has shown no signs of relenting her title to anyone.
Wood's season best of 53.80 is a US No. 20 and sits a full second ahead of the next closest runner, Nia Robinson. Robinson has been coming on strong late in the season, in her own right, but will have to really dig deep to catch up to Wood.
Two Euclid teammates come in at 55.97 and 55.98 as Alexis Cain and Kristan Ross look to score big for their squad and potentially seek out their own upset. Chardon's Jenna Oriani is the next closest seed at 56.30. Sixteen of the eighteen entrants are under 58 seconds with the other two at 58.13 and 58.17.
200 Meter Dash
Top 5 Seeds:
1) Serena Clark, Lakota East - 24.10
2) Paige Floriea, Mentor - 24.25
3) Jemeila Hunter, Pickerington North - 24.41
4) Jaydan Wood, Pickerington Central - 24.45
5) Nya Bussey, Twinsburg - 24.48
After missing out on finals last year, Lakota East's Serena Clark has bounced back just fine in the 200. This weekend, she enters as the top seed at 24.10 and is closing in on her lifetime best of 23.97.
Mentor's Paige Floriea continues to drop time at an alarming rate. She went 24.25 last weekend (and 24.21 earlier this month) and is now on the cusp of claiming her first state championship in a sprint event after dominating the long jump. The field really tightens up after these top two seeds as the next three enter within .07 seconds of each other. Seven more girls enter under 25.10 as it seems that it may take a sub-25 mark to make it to finals this weekend.
Field Events To Watch
Long Jump
All eyes will be on Mentor's Paige Floriea as she takes a run at the stadium, state meet, and overall record in the long jump. Entering with a 20-2.5 mark from her conference meet, she only needs to improve by 3.25 inches to tie the 16-year old state meet and overall record. The stadium record sits at 19-9.5 and could be easy pickings for the sophomore. She finished third here last year, but is the favorite to win this year.
The next fourteen girls enter with a mark over 17-0 in a logjam of competitors. Canal Winchester's Ariana Coleman seems to be the next closest competitor to Floriea as she has cleared 18-6 this spring.
Pole Vault
Much like the Division 1 boys competition, the girls pole vault will be one to watch this weekend.
Greenville's Riley Hunt is the top seed with her 13-3 mark from last weekend. The junior, though, has cleared 13-6.5, a US No. 6 mark. Hunt already owns the state record, but will be eyeing the state meet and stadium record of 13-6 this weekend.
Hunt sits a full foot ahead of the next closest competitor in Division 1 right now with Strongsville's Erin Sievers, Mason's Haleigh Eckert, and Brunswick's Angelina Lotarski all at 12-6 on the season.