HIGH SCHOOL

Woodmore's Rothert advances to state in three events

Matthew Horn
Reporter

TIFFIN - You might not know Woodmore sophomore Carly Rothert is among the elite athletes on the track from talking to her. Watching her perform is another story.

Rothert finished third in the 100 (15.60 seconds) and 300 hurdles (46.70) on Friday to qualify to state at the Division III regional track meet at Columbian. She was fourth in the high jump Wednesday to move on.

Rothert is the first Woodmore girl to qualify to Columbus in three individual events since Beth Parkins in 1992.

“It’s incredible the work ethic she displayed all season long,” Wildcats coach Mike Moreno said of Rothert practicing jumps, hurdles and sprints. “As the invites continued, she started to realize how good she could possibly be. You’d never know it.

“She’s a humble kid – she just kept showing it. She’s the first to practice and the last to leave.”

Rothert got a confidence boost as she was winning the 100 until the final hurdle.

“I know I can do even better,” she said. “I’m starting to learn how to get better. I wasn’t expecting to make the finals, but I dropped half a second. I was thinking I’d go (to state) in maybe one event. Three is pretty awesome.

“We didn’t have a state qualifier last year. I feel very fortunate to get to continue. The goal is to PR (in Columbus). I want to keep getting better. I’ll be running against the best of the best.”

Analicia Torres was eighth in the discus, Jessie Sotak was 11th in the pole vault and Jordan Grzegorczyk was 12th for Woodmore. Liz Koeniz was 12th in the long jump and Sam Sedlmeier was 13th in the 1,600.

SJCC’s 4x400 streaks to school record

Jessica Drown, Chloe Liebold, Miranda Wammes and Brooke Foster topped their own school record in the 4x400 at 4:03.83 to finish second and qualify to state.

The school mark was the girls primary focus Friday.

“It’s definitely the No. 1 goal,” Liebold said. “We’re trying to improve (individually) every race. It brings us closer to the state record time. We work as a team and we believe in each other. We push each other to do the best we can.”

Wammes was third in the 400 (59.77), Foster was third in the 800 (2:17.99) and Ava Stepanic was fourth in the long jump (16-10.5) to move on.

Margaretta’s Emma Denman was fourth in the 300 hurdles (46.90) to advance.

Liebold was seventh in the 800 and Reinhart was 12th in the discus. Derek Rosengarten was eighth in the 400 and 15th in the high jump for the Crimson Streaks’ boys.

Old Fort’s Jenna Clouse was fifth in the 300 hurdles.

Josh Stanley was 11th in the 3,200 for the Polar Bears.

Margaretta’s Stimmel sets meet mark – twice

Margaretta’s Kassidie Stimmel cleared 12-0.5 to establish a meet record. She then gave setting the bar high a new definition, clearing 12-3.5.

“I tried to get it last year … I didn’t know what to expect,” Stimmel said. “After struggling this year it was shaky, but I was hoping for it. My body was upside down in line with the pole (Friday). A lot of times (this season) I’ve flied out early, like a flag.”

Stimmel most often advanced with the field Friday with her third vault.

Stimmel cleared 11-6 early in the season for an early boost, but soon realized her focus wasn’t where it needed to be. She recalibrated her work ethic and matured as she continued to work on her technique with Shawn Beamer at Altitude Headquarters in Bellevue and her father, Brian.

“I was focused (Friday) and thought about the right things,” Stimmel said.

Stimmel was third (12) at state as a freshman last season.

“Keep working hard and never get off track,” she said of what she learned from the experience.

Stimmel’s younger sister, Kenna, was there for a hug as soon as Stimmel hit the mat after her best jump.

“It means a lot,” Stimmel said. “She’s already started vaulting. She’ll want to beat me, but she supports me. She looks up to me.”

Along with everybody else.

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

Twitter:@MatthewHornNH