State Scoop: Ohio Leaderboards Get Re-Written Over Past Week


(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-Northwestsuccessfully 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

EventMarkName / TeamGrad YearMeetNational Rank
60m7.40MAIRA SCOTT Hol. Springfield2024University of Michigan High School Invitational1st FJan 21, 2024US No. 5
200m23.95MAIRA SCOTT Hol. Springfield2024University of Michigan High School Invitational1st FJan 21, 2024US No. 6
1600m5:04.48EVELYN PRODOEHL Lak. West2025Mount Saint Joseph Indoor 11st FJan 19, 2024US No. 47
4x800m9:54.94SalemYoungstown State High School Meet #22nd FJan 20, 2024US No. 84
High Jump5-4D'ASYIA COTTON Cin. Northwest2025Mount Saint Joseph Indoor 11st FJan 19, 2024US No. 53
Shot Put44-4GWYN LORI Caldwell2025Muskingum Mid-January High School Invite1st FJan 21, 2024US No. 10
300m39.65OLIVIA PACE Wester. Central2024CYUP Misfits Invite Presented by HOKA1st FJan 20, 2024US No. 25