Here are 12 Greater Columbus high school girls track athletes to watch in 2024 season
Several central Ohio girls track and field programs hope this is the season one of them catches up to Gahanna Lincoln at the regional and state levels.
Chief among them is Westerville Central, which returns several key athletes from a team that finished third (31) in the Division I state meet last season behind champion Gahanna (50). It was the Lions’ second consecutive state championship under coach Roger Whittaker, who is in his 35th season.
Central should be led by senior Olivia Pace, who won the long jump (19-2 ¾) and finished second in the 100 meters (11.54) last season at state. She will compete at Southern California.
“I feel we can compete with the top teams in the area,” fourth-year Central coach David Mentlow said. “Having Olivia certainly makes things a lot better. She makes the team better. She’s a hard worker. She practices well and she has a good focus and determination, which carries over to the rest of the group. She’s always been that way. A lot of the younger kids see that and follow that. She's a generational talent.”
Other key contributors should be senior Taryn Stills (high jump), juniors Alyvia Mentlow (400), Angel Ward (400) and Tiffany Zuehlke (800) and freshman Skylar Brittman (hurdles).
Gahanna is led by senior Keena Sanders, a Miami University commit who specializes in the 400. The Lions graduated hurdler Camden Bentley, who won seven individual state titles during her prep career and now is at Kentucky.
Since 2013, Gahanna has won four outdoor state titles and six indoor state championships, along with 11 consecutive district and league titles and eight consecutive regional championships.
“Gahanna has lost quite a bit, but it’s a good program,” Mentlow said.
According to Whittaker, fans also should watch out for Hilliard Davidson, Lancaster, Olentangy Orange and Pickerington Central at the regional level.
“Other teams have nice pieces and individuals, but these are more of the total team-type squads which probably have more depth at multiple events,” he said.
Here are 12 girls track athletes to watch this season:
Grace Alls, Pickerington Central
A sprinter, the junior is looking to build on a strong 2023 season in which she finished sixth in the 200 (24.92) in the Division I state meet. Alls was third at district (25.4) and fourth at regional (24.6).
Brooke Chapman, Olentangy Orange
The sophomore entered the season with momentum, having finished first in the 1,600 (4:57.51) and second in the 800 (2:12.81) in the Division I indoor state meet in March. Last spring, Chapman was sixth in the 800 (2:13.13) at state after finishing second at regional (2:12.81) and third at district (2:17.24). Last fall, she placed fourth (18:10.46) in the Division I state cross country meet.
Isabel Evans, Northridge
The junior is looking to take the next step after finishing second in the 100 hurdles (14.52) and 300 hurdles (43.73) in the Division II state meet a season ago. She won the 300 (43.52) and was second in the 100 (14.91) at regional, after finishing first in the 300 (43.9) and second in the 100 (14.64) at district. This winter, Evans won the 60 hurdles (8.84) in the Division II/III indoor state meet.
Kylie Feeney, Dublin Coffman
The senior is seeking a return trip to the Division I state podium after finishing fifth in the 800 (2:12.46) last season. That followed finishing first at district (2:15.33) and fourth at regional (2:13.39). Feeney will run at Tennessee.
Allison Klinefelter, Columbus Academy
The senior finished fourth in the high jump (5-4) in the Division II state meet last season. The Clemson commit finished first at district (5-6) and second at regional (5-5). This winter, Klinefelter won the high jump in the Division II/III indoor state meet, clearing a meet-record 5-8 ½.
Olivia Pace, Westerville Central
The senior won the 60 (7.37) and finished second in the 200 (24.42) in the Division I indoor state meet this winter, continuing her standout performances on the big stage. Last spring at state, the Southern California commit won the long jump (19-2 ¾) and finished second in the 100 (11.54). Pace won the 100 (11.62) and 200 (24.09) and finished second in the long jump (17-10) at regional. She also won the 100 (11.74), 200 (24.35) and long jump (17-8 1/4) at district.
Jameson Pillifant, Columbus School for Girls
The senior is looking to improve on her fifth-place finish in the long jump (17-7 ½) in the Division III state meet a season ago. Pillifant finished first at district (16-4) and third at regional (17-4 ¾).
Mya Riggins, Ready
Considered one of the top hurdlers in Division II, the junior finished fourth at state last season in the 100 hurdles (14.72). Riggins was third at regional (15.05) and district (14.88).
Alexus Roberts, Westerville South
An Ohio State commit, the senior is coming off a fourth-place finish in the 60 hurdles (8.94) in the Division I indoor state meet. Last spring, Roberts was fifth in the 100 hurdles (14.39) and eighth in the 300 hurdles (46.97) at state after placing fourth in the 100 (14.4) and third in the 300 (44.38) at regional. At district, she was second in the 300 (45.03) and third in the 100 (14.89).
Celia Schulte, Hilliard Davidson
Also a standout in cross country, the sophomore finished second in the 800 (2:11.32) in the Division I state meet a season ago. She won the event at regional (2:11.5) and district (2:13.11), and finished third (2:13.66) in the indoor state meet this winter. Last fall, Schulte finished 23rd (18:39.29) in the Division I state cross country meet to lead Davidson to its second consecutive runner-up finish as a team.
Anna Wile, Hilliard Davidson
The sophomore is coming off a standout freshman year in which she finished sixth in the 300 hurdles (44.97) in the Division I state meet. Wile was first at district (45.84) and fifth at regional (45.41).
Ashtan Winfrey, Africentric
The senior earned a second-place finish in the long jump (18-8 ½) in the Division II state meet last season after placing second at regional (17-8 ½) and district (17-7). Winfrey won the Division III state title in the event (18-8 ¾) in 2022. She also helped Africentric win the last two Division III girls basketball state championships.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: High school track: 12 central Ohio girls athletes to watch this spring
