Girls Track Notebook: Smithville's Erdman and Carr breaking records already
A year ago, Smithville's Kaitlyn Carr established herself as one of the top distance runners in the area.
Now teammate Maryn Erdman is following in her footsteps.
The Smithie tandem each broke school records this past week, Erdman breaking the 800-meter run mark and Carr shattering her personal and program record 1,600 time in what has been a strong start to the season.
And, according to coach Kirstie Mahas, it starts with the approach that the underclassman duo brings on a daily basis.
“They are hard workers and competitive, which has translated to some great races already this season,” the coach said. “It is just fun to watch them run.
“We know there is a lot of season left, but when school records have already been broken, we know they are off to a really great start.”
Indeed, they are, as Erdman, just weeks into her freshman season, took down a 14-year-old school record after her run of 2:22.01 to win the 800 at the Cowen Invitational. It surpassed the previous-best program mark of 2:23.70, set in 2010 by another underclassman in Kara Smith.
Like Erdman, Carr already has a number of records after her rookie campaign and the current sophomore added to that already impressive resume recently with a 5:08.58 in the 1,600, besting her previous-best time of 5:13.36. The mark by the All-Ohioan was good for the 10th-fastest in area history.
The two also ran on a record-setting distance medley relay, with teammates Cadence Amstutz and Hayden Steiner, that clocked an impressive 11:45.92 at the McCay Relays.
It's been quite a start to the season for the entire Smithville team as another all-state athlete, Maddy Lengacher, has posted the area's fastest time in the 100 (13.08) and 400 (1:00.94).
“Between the success they are having on the track, and the way they support one another as teammates, the girls are building a lot of excitement as a team,” Mahas said.
Youth movement
Rittman coach Matt Snyder knew well before the start of this season how good his freshman distance runners could be. Sure, he saw each of them succeed on the cross country course in the fall but the grouping of Annabelle Snyder, Adyson Fosen, Ryver Ramsier and Selah Amos came in on the heels of a middle school state championship in the 4x8 last spring. So, it’s been far from a shock for Snyder to watch the group have success already in their first high school season.
“I love that they are all hard-working, great teammates and each of them is special in a unique way,” Snyder said. “The transition from middle school to high school can be difficult for athletes and each girl has responded to how our staff has asked them to improve.”
Snyder and Fosen opened the season in a big way — Snyder with an impressive 2:22.5 in the 800 and Fosen ran the 3,200 in 11:57.51 — while both Ramsier and Amos have shown their versatility with Ramsier doing everything from the middle-distance events to pole vault and hurdles and Amos running everything from 100 to the 800.
Speed racers
Through the opening weeks of the season, Waynedale has its share of names among the top sprinters in the area. Junior Nayeli Cruz has the second-fastest 100 (13.43) and 400 (1:02.74) marks locally in wins at the Orrville Invitational, both personal-record time, while Anna Pittman leads the way in the 200 (27.61) and Callie Wolfe is right behind (29.37). Along with teammate Skye Morris, who also is an area leader in the hurdles, the quartet was a regional-qualifying 4x2 team last spring that’s eager to make another postseason run. Pittman also cleared a career-best 10-feet in the pole vault.
** Speaking of sprinters, Triway’s Ava Gaffey also had a personal-record run in the 200 (27.69) in a recent meet, while Hiland’s Rayauna Lies also joined the 400 list in 1:06.72.
** Morris’ times of 16.24 in the 110 hurdles and 48.22 in the 300s has the state qualifier on pace for another record-breaking season. But she be alone in the area has Paige Marthey of Tuslaw has already clocked personal-best times in the 110s (17.57) and 300s (49.77) at the Northwest Invitational, as well standing out in the 400 (52.06). The time in the 300-meter event was a meet record. Not too shabby for her season competing in the hurdles after being primarily a sprinter in 2023.
Taking everything in stride
Northwestern’s Emily Thompson just enjoys being in the ring competing. That relaxed approach has paid off in a big way to open the spring as the junior picked up a pair of wins at the McCay Relays, highlighted by the second-best mark of her career in the discus, thanks to a throw of 117 feet, 3 inches.
And, according to Huskies coach Jana Carozza, it’s all about the thrower’s methods that has helped her post impressive numbers.
“Emily is an amazing athlete and most of her growth has been mentally,” the coach said. “She took some time to adjust to the weight of that, and now has really relaxed and started to enjoy competing. She is so driven, but also always has a smile on her face.”
** A pair of other local throwers also have moved up the area leaders as Wooster’s Grace Kostohryz’s season-best 37-4½ in the shot put has her second behind Thompson locally, while Loudonville’s Chloe Ganson has posted PRs in the shot (32-4½) and discus (98-10) to be among the early-season leaders.
Final laps
On the heels of a pair of personal record runs in the 800 and 1,600, Waynedale senior Clara Sundberg is off to an impressive start. The veteran runner was runner-up at the Orrville Invitational with a pair of career runs of 2:29.41 and 5:37.32, respectively.
** Wooster’s 4x4 team of Abi Strand-Fox, Avery Hamilton-Topovski, Tristen Shaffer and Mattie Dunlap come into the third week of April with an undefeated in the event. Both Strand-Fox and Hamilton-Topovski also have posted career-best marks in the high jump (4-9) and long jump (15-8¼) respectively.
** Grace Costello of Chippewa cleared a personal-record 5-1 in the high jump to win the Chippewa Invitational and currently leads the local leaderboard in the event.
** Norwayne is off to another strong to the season, with weekend-meet wins already at the McCay Relays and Orrville Invitational. To prepare for the final weeks of the season, the Bobcats will be resting Kendra Berger, Sydney Emler and Tarren Norman who are dealing with nagging injuries, according to coach Bri Indorf.
** A regional qualifier last spring in the 400, Tuslaw’s Ashley Eberhardt has moved to the 800 this season and has already clocked a 2:30 in the event. Eberhardt’s twin sister, Katelyn, is battling an ankle injury and working her way back to the track.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Girls Track Notebook: Smithville's Erdman and Carr break records
