First Posted: 3/31/2015
OTTAWA – For the past couple of seasons, the Ottawa-Glandorf girls’ track and field team has finished second to Celina at the Western Buckeye League Championships.
In fact, the last time O-G won the WBL title was 2007.
Longtime O-G girls coach Vicki Doty is hoping to snap that streak this spring.
In 2014, O-G also finished second at districts and fourth at regionals.
The Titans return 16 letterwinners, including four state-qualifiers.
State-qualifiers Anna Bellman (1,600 relay, discus), Elissa Ellerbrock (800 meters, 800 relay, 1,600 relay), Megan Siefker (800 relay) and Madison Stechschulte (100, 200, 800 relay, 1,600 relay) all return.
At last year’s Division II state meet, Bellman finished fourth in the discus. The 1,600 relay placed fourth and the 800 relay finished sixth. Ellerbrock placed eighth in the 800 meters, while Stechschulte came in ninth in both the 100 and 200.
Despite having a solid core of top performers coming back, Doty said there is still plenty of work to do.
“We have experience in many of the events, and several regional and state-qualifiers returning, but with fewer numbers this year, depth could be an issue,” Doty said.
Columbus Grove
looking to defend
Columbus Grove returns 19 letterwinners from last year’s Northwest Conference championship squad.
However, the Bulldogs will have to overcome the loss of standout Sydney McClure, who is out for the season with an injury.
Last season as a junior, McClure was a state-placer in the 400 relay and 800 relay. She also competed at the state meet in the 100 hurdles and 1,600 relay.
Returning state-qualifiers for Columbus Grove include: Kristin Wynn (Sr., state-qualifier in 1,600 relay, state-placer in 800 relay); Lynea Diller (Jr., throws, state-placer in shot put); Raiya Flores (Jr., sprints, state-placer in 400 relay, state-placer in 800 relay, state-qualifier in 1,600 relay) and Linnea Stephens (Jr., sprints, state-placer in 400 relay, state-qualifier in 800 relay).
Tigers looking
for another title
The Tigers return 10 letterwinners, including six all-conference performers from an NWCC championship team.
Kennedy Rumer (sprints, jumps); Jesse Motter (hurdles, jumps); Jadelyn Hennon (sprints, relays); Kiley Valenti (jumps, relays); Jonelle Case (distance); Bailie Barrington (middle-distance) and Caitlin Hinds (jumps, hurdles) will lead the way for W-G.
Longtime W-G coach Jim Epperly is optimistic of his team’s chances this spring.
“We are going to work hard at defending last year’s NWCC crown. Our seniors have shown some great leadership and we will rely heavily on them,” Epperly said.
Coldwater’s Kanney
poised for state title
After finishing second at last year’s Division II state meet in the 1,600 meters (4:53.66), Coldwater senior Sarah Kanney is hoping to contend for a state title.
This past fall, Kanney won the D-III state title in cross country.
Kanney will continue her running career in college when she attends North Carolina State University next school year.
