Division 3 Girls
Bold Prediction: Calista Manns Runs Stadium, All-Division Record In 100mH
Grove City Christian's Calista Manns is 0.8 seconds ahead of the next fastest 100 meter hurdler in the state in Division 3. She is the heavy favorite to win the event on Saturday.
The larger questions are: By how much, and how fast will she run?
Manns is not too far off the state meet and overall Division 3 record. In fact, she's already smashed it! All she has to do to immortalize her name in Division 3 is match the 13.99 mark she ran last Saturday.
So how do we make this prediction bold? How about a stadium record of 13.72?
Okay, now we're talking.
Calista Manns will run 13.70 to wipe the Division 3 state meet, Division 3 overall, and overall stadium records all off the board, solidifying herself as the best 100 meter hurdler in the state.
Races To Watch
1600 Meter Run
Top 5 Seeds:
1) Megan Adams, West Liberty-Salem - 4:59.08
2) Addie Engel, Springfield Catholic Central - 5:00.05
3) Raena Willett, Holgate - 5:11.12
4) Miranda Stanhope, Badger - 5:11.67
5) Katie Engle, Gilmour Academy - 5:12.14
Breakdown:
The proportion of sub-5:00 milers in Ohio is disproportionate among the divisions, but Division 3 at least boasts one girl in the club.
Freshman Megan Adams is the top seed in the 1600 at 4:59.08. She was eighth in Division 3 in cross country this fall and has translated that success on the grass to fast times on the oval. Her next closest challenger based on region times is Catholic Central's Addie Engel as both girls are only separated by less than a second.
Even though she ran 5:11.67 last weekend, Badger's Miranda Stanhope has run 5:04.70 this season and could make it a three horse race if the girls separate from the pack.
800 Meter Run
Top 5 Seeds:
1) Madeline Magoto, Minster - 2:16.51
2) Gwynne Riley, Archbold - 2:16.63
3) Allison Johnson, Mount Gilead - 2:17.04
4) Taylor Ward, Liberty-Benton - 2:17.21
5) Kylee Sauder, Archbold - 2:17.37
Breakdown:
The top seven region seeds in this race are separated by 1.2 seconds, making the Division 3 Girls 800 a very interesting contest to watch.
Minster's Madeline Magoto is the top seed. She ran 2:16.51 last weekend, but she is still well behind the top seed based on season bests. Yes, Mount Gilead's Allison Johnson is looking to dominate on Saturday as she enters with a 2:12.95 season best. Magoto, though, was third last season while Johnson did not compete in the 800.
Northwood's Trinity Fowler is one of the seven girls separated by 1.2 seconds, but her lifetime best 2:15.64 will surely be enough to keep her in consideration for the win. Once again, it's anyone's bet as this race will more than likely get the crowd roaring and on their feet as it comes down to the finish.
200 Meter Run
Top 5 Seeds:
1) Zoe Moser, Malvern - 25.09
2) Kennedi Gephart, Fort Loramie - 25.42
3) Dynesty Ervin, Labrae - 25.65
4) Rylee Sybert, Columbus Grove - 25.75
5) Hannah Berheide, Kalida - 25.92
Breakdown:
Malvern's Zoe Moser returns to the Division 3 state meet as the favorite to repeat in the Girls 200 Meter Dash. With a 25.09 season best, to go along with a 24.88 lifetime best, she enters with the top overall seed, even though there isn't much room between her and the top six seeds.
With six girls under 26 seconds, the 200 should be another barn-burner. Moser has yet to finish worse than second in any of her 26 100 or 200 meter races this season so she should be in the driver's seat. But watch for Labrae's Dynesty Ervin, who boasts a lifetime best of 25.02, and Fort Loramie's Kennedi Gephart to both make strong cases for the victory themselves.
Field Events To Watch
Pole Vault
The top athlete to watch in this one all boast season best marks of 12-0 or better. Leading the way is Maragaretta's Kenna Stimmel at 12-10. The freshman is having an incredible season in the pole vault after finishing 3rd at the indoor state meet and will look to follow in her older sister's footsteps after Kassidie won last year's competition.
Seneca East's Morgan England was the runner-up in 2018, but enters at 12-6 on the season. That mark also got her the victory at the D2/3 Indoor Championships. She is followed by Liberty-Benton's Alexis Rickenbacher at 12-4 and West Liberty-Salem's Lydia Moell at 12-0.
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Long Jump
Leipsic's Carlee Siefker enters as the heavy favorite in the girls long jump when glancing just at the regional seeds. Her 18-10.75 marks was 14 inches farther than any other competitors she will face this weekend and is a Division 3 No. 1 mark. She is now within striking distance of the Division 3 State Meet Record (18-11.5) and overall Division 3 record of 19-1.5.
Ridgewood's Alexis Prater is eyeing the upset, though, as she enters with a season best of 18-2.5.
While we have seen crazier things happen, it is hard to believe that the reigning indoor long and triple jump champion would have a hard time clearing the necessary distance to secure the win, but what we will really be watching is her attempt at the two afore-mentioned records.