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Alter girls win state 3,200 D-II relay
Not returning to the state track and field meet in the 800 meters made Alter’s Catherine Crisler sick. So did a late-season bout with “a version of mono.”
Crisler was second in the D-II 800 at state last year and had trained hard all winter in hopes of winning as a senior. She also elected not to play for the basketball team — missing the Knights’ state semifinal season.
Weak, Crisler flamed out in her specialty at district. That’s why her 3,200 relay anchor at state Friday at OSU’s Jesse Owens Stadium was so special. The Knights posted a school-record 9:17.10, hammering runner-up Warrensville Heights by a whopping 11 seconds.
“Being able to anchor this and win it made up for everything,” she said. “When I got sick, I can’t even describe how disappointed I was.”
Junior Rebecca Esselstein made up a 30-meter deficit on her third leg, then put 50 meters on the field to set up Crisler’s clinching leg.
“(Coach Matt Sableski) told me if there’s someone in front of me, just to catch them and keep going,” Esselstein said. “That’s what I did.”
Joining them were sophomore Ashley Rodgers and freshman Olivia Albers, meaning Alter should remain in great position to contend for this race again. The Knights also won this relay in 2007 and were runner-up last season.
Timing right
Fort Loramie sophomore standout Janel Olberding defines versatility. She’s among the state’s best D-III cross country runners. Ditto for the 100, 200 and 400.
She was pulled from the 100 and instead inserted into the Redskins’ 3,200 relay. Good choice: Loramie placed third.
Olberding will be busy today. She advanced to the 400, 200 and 1,600 relay finals.
“I’m really excited for what’s to come,” she said. “I’ve set my goals as high as they can be. I’m peaking at the right time. Hopefully, I can have my best performance (today).”
It’s a (school) record
Alter’s Chris Borland finally surpassed Alter grad Dr. Tim Quinn as the school record holder in the shot put with a toss of 61-0.75, good for second in the Division II state track and field meet Friday at OSU’s Jesse Owens Stadium.
Quinn, UD’s orthopedic consultant, had held the record of 60-9 since 1970. Borland is headed to the University of Wisconsin to play football this fall.
She said it
“Compared to last year I felt a lot more conditioned. I have a little bit more energy left.”
— Miami Valley sprinter Elaina Cromer, who wilted after the daunting 100-200-400 triple last season. Not this year.
Cromer advanced to the finals in her specialty, the 400, placing second (57.90) to Fort Loramie’s Janel Olberding in their heat. Cromer’s only other race was the non-qualifying 1,600 relay.
Peaked out
It’s not unusual for girls to peak early in their running careers. Add Bluffton’s Bonnie Stratton to the list.
The “Blonde Blaze” swept the D-III 100 and 200 titles last season. She also won the 200 in 2007. This year, she couldn’t advance to the finals in either event.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: State track & field
Comments
By enough about alter already
June 5, 2009 8:52 PM | Link to this
Who cares about a school record and a second place finish. Alter gets more coverage than all other area schools combined. Why no mention of the Bethel girl who WON the long jump?