(Olivia Pace doing Olivia Pace-like things, winning the 300 and the 60 in Chicago)
Interview conducted by Tony Jones - MileSplit Illinois
Michigan & Mount Saint Joseph
Maira Scott collected a pair of victories at the Wolverines Invite and in doing so, continued to place herself in historical context within the state's record book.
She won the 60 in a time of 7.40, an Ohio tie for No. 1 and a US tie for No. 5. She and Olivia Pace, who shares a matching 7.40 this season, are tantalizingly close to the 7.36 all-time Ohio best delivered by Abby Steiner during the 2018 season. Pace threatened this number last year, as well, running 7.38 en route to capturing her OATCCC Division I state meet title.
With the record on the line for the future University of Southern California teammates, just imagining what the 2024 OATCCC Division I 60m finals could resemble builds major anticipation. That said, both line-up at elite invitationals from now until then, so this event is officially on record watch each time they step on the track.
Scott's work in the 200, a 23.95 mark, puts her at Ohio No. 3 all-time trailing only Destinee Gause (Reynoldsburg) at 23.82 and the aforementioned (and legendary) Steiner at 23.51.
What a week it's been for Evelyn Prodoehl.
First, on Friday, she debuted at Mount Saint Joseph winning the 1600 meter contest in a state best 5:04.48 and then, on Monday, she was named Ohio Gatorade Girls Cross Country Player of the Year following her OHSAA Division I and RunningLane National Championship winning performances this past fall.
While she'll no doubt run effectively each time she steps to the line, during our recent feature interview, Prodoehl indicated that a limited indoor schedule was in her plans.
D'Asyia Cotton, Cincinnati-Northwest, successfully cleared 5-4 to tie the state best and capture the meet title at Mount Saint Joseph.
Misfits, Muskingum, Youngstown State, Tiffin University
Olivia Pace continues to rack up the travel miles.
In Virginia Beach at the VA Showcase two weeks ago, she took her talents to the Windy City this past week for the CYUP Misfits Invitational.
'Scrappy' decisively won her 60m prelims and finals races with marks of 7.56 and 7.42, respectively, and earned the 300 meter win in what represented her first ever attempt in the event, where she went 39.65 for a US No. 25 and a tie for Ohio No. 1 with Kadia Rock (SPIRE Academy).
Among her upcoming appearances will be the revered Millrose Games.
At Muskingum, Caldwell's Gwyn Lori tossed 44-4 for the shot put triumph and a new state lead while over in Youngstown, the 4x800 team from Salem placed second to national contenders Mount Lebanon (PA) and secured Ohio's top spot on the leaderboard with their 9:54.94 showing.
The Quakers were represented by Maggie Hall, Maggie Hopple, Laura Hovorka and Megan Stafford.
On the middle school front, Avon Lake's Rileigh Scarvelli continued her torrid campaign winning at Tiffin, where she threw 39-8.5 for the shot put victory and a remarkable 51-11 mark for weight throw honors.
New State Leaders
Event | Mark | Name / Team | Grad Year | Meet | National Rank |
60m | 7.40 | MAIRA SCOTT Hol. Springfield | 2024 | University of Michigan High School Invitational1st FJan 21, 2024 | US No. 5 |
200m | 23.95 | MAIRA SCOTT Hol. Springfield | 2024 | University of Michigan High School Invitational1st FJan 21, 2024 | US No. 6 |
1600m | 5:04.48 | EVELYN PRODOEHL Lak. West | 2025 | Mount Saint Joseph Indoor 11st FJan 19, 2024 | US No. 47 |
4x800m | 9:54.94 | Salem | Youngstown State High School Meet #22nd FJan 20, 2024 | US No. 84 | |
High Jump | 5-4 | D'ASYIA COTTON Cin. Northwest | 2025 | Mount Saint Joseph Indoor 11st FJan 19, 2024 | US No. 53 |
Shot Put | 44-4 | GWYN LORI Caldwell | 2025 | Muskingum Mid-January High School Invite1st FJan 21, 2024 | US No. 10 |
300m | 39.65 | OLIVIA PACE Wester. Central | 2024 | CYUP Misfits Invite Presented by HOKA1st FJan 20, 2024 | US No. 25 |