Stowsentry.com - Bulldog girls score top 10 finish at states

RPC Photo / Michael K. Dakota Stow-Munroe Falls senior Abby Koch strides through the 3,200-meter run June 6 at the Division I state track meet in Columbus. Koch closed out her high school career by taking fourth in the 3,200 in a time of 10:54.79.

RPC Photo / Michael K. Dakota Stow-Munroe Falls sophomore Katie Betts runs the anchor leg of the 3,200-meter relay June 5 at the Division I state track meet. The relay took second place in a school-record time of 9:11.37. Betts also finished fourth in the 800-meter run June 6 in a time of 2:12.37.

by Michael Leonard

Sports Editor

When it comes to track and field meets, sometimes small teams with a few quality athletes can compete with teams with much larger numbers.

The Stow-Munroe Falls girls squad showed just how it's done June 5 and 6 at the Division I state track meet at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus.

Stow scored top-four finishes in all three of its events at states, earning the Bulldogs 18 team points. Stow tied with Euclid for eighth place in the Division I girls' team race.

Reynoldsburg ran away with the Division I girls' team title with 82 points.

Bulldogs coach Aaron Morris said he was pretty happy with his girls, even though he expected some high finishes based on their seed times.

"We went in with our [3,200-meter] relay having the second fastest time," Morris said. "[Sophomore] Katie Betts was sitting fifth in the 800 and [senior] Abby Koch was second based on her district time. They executed."

The weekend began for the Bulldogs June 5 with the 3,200 relay with junior Jessica DuHamel, freshman Katee Wensinger, Koch and Betts.

DuHamel ran the lead leg and kept the Bulldogs in the lead pack, while Wensinger pushed the Bulldogs up to fourth at the completion of the second leg.

Koch got the baton and started running down teams until she overtook Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy for the lead in the backstretch. However, Magnificat made its move soon after and took the lead, with Stow in second place at the final handoff.

"We though we could run with them," Morris said. "When [Magnificat junior Madeline] Chambers took off, I thought she went out too fast. If we can get Katie Betts close to anybody, I think we have a chance to beat anybody."

Betts lengthened the Bulldogs' lead over the pack and was gaining on Chambers in the home stretch, but could not run her down.

The Bulldogs took second in a time of 9:11.71, shattering their own school record.

Wensinger said her first experience at states was a memorable one.

"It's very exciting," Wensigner said. "I've been having a lot of fun down here."

"We have three girls coming back next year," DuHamel said. "We still have other girls coming in and get us back here."

Morris agreed with his soon-to-be senior that Stow 3,200 relay should be in contention next year.

"I'm planning on all three of those girls coming back," Morris said. "Although you can't replace an Abby, I think we will have some girls who can step up and keep us competitive. I keep telling these girls that we belong at the state meet every year and they're starting to buy into it."

On June 6, Betts and Koch had their shot at individual honors, beginning with Betts in the 800-meter run.

Betts made a good start to the race in lane five and was among the leaders after the first lap. However, Betts found herself surrounded on all sides in front and looked like she might get boxed in during the third turn.

"It was scary for a second," Betts said. "I tried to squeeze through."

"She was right in there," Morris said. "I never worry on the last lap of a Katie Betts race."

Indeed, Betts was able to find some running room in the final 100 meters and went stride for stride with Medina Highland's Natalie Zidd in the home stretch.

Zidd beat Betts to the line by .05 seconds, but Betts still took fourth and her time of 2:12.37 was a personal record.

Though Betts said he wasn't completely satisfied with the results, she was happy with her effort.

"I did my best," Betts said. "I felt like I was giving everything that I had out there."

Morris said Betts will likely be the one asked to lead the way next year in terms of results for Stow.

"I feel Abby's prepared me for that leadership role," Betts said.

"Everybody looks to the fastest girls no matter what," Morris said. "It was the same deal with Abby when she was a junior."

Before Koch's Stow career could end, however, she went in search of the only accolade that had eluded her in her high school running career: an All-Ohio place in an individual track event.

Running the 3,200-meter run for the third straight year, Koch was looking to find the podium after finishing 11th her sophomore year and ninth her junior year.

Koch showed she meant business early as she forged her way to the front of the pack. Leading after one lap, Koch was able to maintain a lead of about 10 meters for the first five laps.

"I was actually supposed to go out a little faster," Koch said. "Usually, there are a few girls who like to go out fast well, but this time, it was just me."

Koch stayed in front until the backstretch of the sixth lap, when her nemesis -- North Royalton's Hannah Neczypor -- led an attack from the back and caught her. Neczypor went on to win the race in 10:39.92, 10 seconds ahead of the field.

Koch fell back to fifth after sixth laps, but was able to maintain herself from there. She would pass New Carlisle's Alison Steinbrunner and go on to finish fourth in a time of 10:54.79.

Koch said she was happy to finally get on the podium, but wished she could have finished a little higher.

E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3113