Throwing golds lead Generals at OCCs
Senior Aly Weeman was at her best when it counted, and junior Ashley Evans backed up her No. 1 ranking as well.Their efforts helped pace the Wooster High girls track team at the Ohio Cardinal Conference Track and Field Championships at Ashland Friday, May 14, leading Wooster to a hard-fought fifth-place effort. The host Arrows defended their OCC crown with ease, scoring 150.25 points while runner-up Mansfield Senior failed to reach the century mark (94.25). It was a four-way battle for third with Orrville scoring 84.75 points, Lexington 80.5, Wooster 75.5 and Clear Fork 75.25, while West Holmes was seventh with 57 and Madison last (43.5).
The throws belonged to Wooster, thanks in part to Weeman in the discus and Evans in the shot put. Weeman, who won the event a year ago, improved 18 feet over her 2009 toss and set an OCC record with her toss of 136-5, while Evans eclipsed a balanced shot put field with a pair of throws over 33 feet, winning with a put of 33-7.75.
In addition, Breana Hart was eighth in the shot, breaking 30 feet for the first time (30-8), while Claire Ballard was sixth in the discus (95-0).
Throws coach Drew Gerber was expecting a big day from both of his throwers.
“Ashley was seeded first going in,” said Gerber. “I didn’t know what she was going to do, but she texted me right before school she was going to win it. I thought, “All right, she’s ready to go.” Everybody was around 32 (feet) and she’s thrown that all year. She was stuck there. She came in mentally prepared. She threw 33 feet on her first throw ad that was a foot batter than the next. Her first three throws were all 32-33 feet.
“Aly’s first throw was in the mid-120s, then she hit 133 and her third was 136-5. Then she had to run the 4x800 and she went downhill from there. Her legs were dead and (the officials) rushed her. This was the first time all year she was under the (10-minute) clock.”
Evans was thinking big when she woke up.
“I woke up and sent coach a text that today was the day,” said Evans, who was well aware of her record against her fellow OCC competitors. “I said I was going to break 34 and that didn’t happen, but I was feeling it. I broke 33 twice and that’s the first time all season I’ve done that.
“The first time I hit 33 feet (last year) was at OCCs and I did well at Districts. Hopefully, the same thing will happen this year.”
Weeman was happy with her performance right up to her running performance.
“I wish I could have thrown without running the 4x8,” said Weeman, who won the top field event athlete award. “That 136 wasn’t my best, but it was my second best. I felt good. The weather was good, but the few days before that it rained a lot, so I did not have many good throws. I was fresh. I just would have liked three more without running. My first one was 125 and all the rest were in the 130s.”
Wooster had one silver-medal performance and that, too, came in the field as senior Sarah Green finished second in the pole vault as she sailed over 9-6.
On the track, a pair of thirds topped the Generals’ effort. Sophomore Claire Miller was third in the 3200 with a 12:11.3 effort, while Jackie White was eighth with a 13:10.34. Miller was also fourth in the 1600 as she ran a personal-best 5:24.87 and she joined White, Weeman and Caitlin Ratliff on the fourth-place 3200 relay (10:30.52).
Freshman Jillian Perry was third in the 400, running her best time (62.62), and she added fifths in the 100 (13.64) and the 200 (27.88). Jenn Fox tied for fifth in the 300 hurdles (51.70), while the 800 relay of Bri Thompson, Autumn Hauenstein, Kailee Hagen and Fox were sixth (1:55.11).
Weeman was eighth in the 800 (2:41.32) and she ran a leg on Wooster’s 4x400 relay with Hauenstein, Martina Fraga and Perry that was also eighth. Wooster’s final point came from the 400 relay of Thompson, Hagen, Green and Alyssa Reed (56.26).
“I think we ran well,” said WHS coach Nikki Reynolds. “We had a number of personal bests and some were close. We had some nervousness, which I think we had because we have been telling the girls we were working toward OCCs and districts. Even though we’ve had big-meet experience, we didn’t have that experience (of OCCs).
“That’s why we looked to veterans like Ashley and Aly. Ashley improved 2.25 inches on her PB and this was the first time she threw 33. Claire had a great day in the mile and Jackie had a PB. That’s what you want at this point of the season.”
Wooster competed in its district competition at North Canton this past week, finishing Friday night as individuals looked to advance to Regionals competition at Youngstown this coming week.