Apr. 4—The track-and-field season is now upon us. Many area track athletes are working hard in hopes of qualifying for the state track meet in June.
Here are some of the top returning area female track athletes to watch this season.
Columbus Grove's Lauryn Auchmuty looking to finish strong
Columbus Grove senior Lauryn Auchmuty is coming off a stellar basketball season in which she helped lead the Bulldogs to a Division VI basketball championship. She was also named the Division VI Player of the Year for the 2024-25 basketball season.
Auchmuty now turns her focus to track and field.
At last year's Division III state track meet, Auchmuty competed in the pole vault (12th place, 11-feet). She was also part of the 800-meter relay (Allison Thompson, Kendal Palte, Auchmuty, Roeder) that placed fifth (1:44.23), and the 400 relay (Thompson, Palte, Auchmuty, Roeder) that came in sixth (50.22).
Next year, Auchmuty will play basketball at the University of Findlay.
O-G's Buddelmeyer looking for a strong finish
At last year's Division II state track meet, as a junior, Ottawa-Glandorf's Anna Buddelmeyer finished seventh in the 1,600 in a personal-best time of 5 minutes, 2.04 seconds. Buddelmeyer also anchored the 3,200-meter relay (Corinne Closson, Liana Fortman, Madelyn Hovest, Buddelmeyer) that placed fifth (9:31.01).
Buddelmeyer also finished 14th in the 3,200 at the state meet in 11:41.43.
Next school year, Buddelmeyer will compete in track and cross country at Bowling Green State University.
Allen East's Jones aiming for podium finishes at State
Allen East's Rilynn Jones has been a standout in track, basketball and soccer throughout her high school career.
At last year's Division III state track meet, as a junior, Jones placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (45.45) and competed in the 100 hurdles but did not make it to the finals.
Jones, a three-time state qualifier, will compete in track and field at Ashland University next year.
Columbus Grove's Palte aiming to get back to State
Last year, as a sophomore, Columbus Grove's Kendal Palte was part of two relays that placed at the Division III state track meet.
The 800 relay (Allison Thompson, Palte, Lauryn Auchmuty, Jade Roeder) placed fifth (1:44.23) and the 400 relay (Thompson, Palte, Auchmuty, Roeder) finished sixth (50.22).
Palte also competed at the state meet in the 300 hurdles, but did not make it to the finals.
Coldwater's Zahn is going for the gold
Last season, as a junior, Coldwater's Izzy Zahn notched three first-place finishes at the Division III state track meet.
In the semifinals in the 200, Zahn broke the Division III state record in the 200, clocking a time of 24.06 seconds.
After she broke the Division III state record in the 200 in the semifinals, Zahn put an exclamation mark on her state record by winning the 200 (24.48) and defending her state title the next day in the finals.
Zahn also won the state title in the long jump (18-7.75). Then, she was the anchor leg of the victorious 1,600 relay (Becca Wenning, Kiersten Keller, Audrey Alig, Zahn, 3:56.13). Zahn placed sixth in the 100 (12.39).
As a team, the Coldwater girls came in second place at the Division III state track meet.
Next year, Zahn will compete in track and field at the University of Iowa.
Van Wert's Deehring wants to make a statement
Last spring, as a junior, Van Wert's Kendra Deehring competed at the Division II state meet in three events.
Deehring competed in the 100, but did not make it to the finals. She was also part of the 800 relay (Olivia Vaas, Macy Johnson, Harper Roop, Deehring) and 400 relay (Vaas, Johnson, Mia Rager, Deehring) that did not compete in the ...
