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GALION — Outside of being her mom and coach, it can be hard for Gail Walter to relate to her oldest daughter during track and field season.
Ashland senior Vivian Walter figures why do just one of the most technically challenging events in the sport when she can do three?
Walter’s versatility as a hurdler and vaulter were on display again Friday night at the Galion Kiwanis Invitational. She won the 100 hurdles with one of the top 50 times in the state this year (15.31), took second in the 300 hurdles with a PR of 47.81 and finished runner-up in the pole vault with another PR of 10-6.
FC CHAMPS!! 'It was goal No. 1': Crestview claims 2025 Firelands Conference softball championship
Walter personally accounted for 26 points and had a hand in five more points as a member of the fourth-place 4x100 relay team as the Ashland girls finished second to Ottawa-Glandorf by a 138.20 to 110.50 margin. They were the only schools in the 12-team field to top 100 points.
“She’s mentally drawn to hard things like that,” Gail Walter said of her daughter’s rare hurdler/vaulter role. “She comes from a gymnastics background and loves to master things that are difficult to do with your body. Like figuring out how to do back handsprings and back tucks and bar routines.
“I wouldn’t have a brain for that, but she has a brain for that. And she refuses to give up on things. She didn’t start out being immediately successful in that stuff. She’s had her shares of falls over hurdles and didn’t always vault very high, but she refuses to say ‘I’m not good at it.’ She wants to get it right.”
Vivian’s younger sister Sadie, a sophomore, is also a hurdler. In fact, they finished one-two in the 100 hurdles Friday night and Sadie was also fourth in the 300 hurdles. But she’s also more like her mom, in that she can run all of the dashes, from the 100 to the 400.
In addition to being head coach at her alma mater, Gail (maiden name Sarkel) was part of a state champion 4x1 relay for Ashland in 1986. And her 4x1 and 4x200 teams still own AHS records some 40 years later.
Right now, Vivian would settle for breaking 15 seconds in the 100 hurdles. Her best is a 15.14, which ranks second all-time at the school. The record is 14.40, held by one of her mom’s former teammates and relay sidekick Mary Sterle.
“I think I have (sub-15) in me,” said Vivian, whose only loss in the 100 hurdles came when she fell while out in front at the season-opening Massillon Invite.. “I was fast (tonight) but my hurdles were a little inconsistent. I hit my knee on a couple and was high on a couple. I don’t think it was my best race, but my times are still consistent. It makes me hungry for a 14-something.”
The Walter sisters, along with Friday’s high jump champ Frankie Rupsis (5-0), are big reasons Lexington’s three-year reign as Ohio Cardinal Conference champ will be in jeopardy next week at Ashland University. Vivian would love nothing better than to crack 15 seconds in the 100 hurdles and help the Arrows dethrone Lex on the track she will call home the next few years as an AU commit.
Her mom and dad, Jon, a former Ashland High basketball player and News Journal All-Star, are both AU alums.
“I ran my 15.14 at a dual meet in late April on Senior Night,” Vivian said. “It was just a dual, but I think I was relaxed and got my PR, which is crazy. Since then I’ve been consistently in the low 15s.”
Even without loading up in many events, Lex boys coach Mike Moore saw his Minutemen win their fourth invite of the season, using a strong finish to hold off Ottawa-Glandorf by a 122 to 103.5 count.
Lex finished one-two in two late events. Will Perkins (22.15) and Latrell Hughes (22.17) both achieved PRs in their 200 showdown, while Gage Devaney (9:56.65) beat teammate John Bartone (9:57.34) to the finish line in the 3200.
Perkins and Hughes have taken turns all season winning their head-to-heads.
“They were joking around beforehand, having fun with it,” Moore said. “When they run against each other, it’s fun to watch. They’re good friends and they take it so well. They compete a little bit and talk a little crap and then they give each other a hug afterwards. It’s a pretty cool bond.”
OSU-bound Chance Basilone ran two open races for the first time this spring, winning the 1600 in 4:22.70 while finishing fourth in the 800. He also ran on the runner-up 4x4 relay.
“He’s one of those anchors, one of those pillars on this team who makes us who we are,” said Moore, whose Minutemen will look to repeat in next week’s OCC meet after ending Ashland’s seven-year reign last year. “When we call his name, we know he’s going to be up to the challenge. Same with Will, same with Latrell, same with Joe Hathaway … we’ve got guys who are great teammates and just want to help the team win.”
Basilone was hoping to run a sub-4:20 in the 1600. His PR is a 4:17.
“Coach usually likes to (increase my workload) earlier in the year, but we haven’t had the meets for it. This was an opportunity to do it,” Basilone said. “I went in wanting to PR (in the 1600). I got out the way I wanted to get out, but I didn’t close the way I wanted.”
Lex’s other firsts came from Bryston Hess in the 400 (50.83) and the 4x800 team of Devaney, Bartone, Lincoln Rice and Trevor Reed (8:20.3).
“We’re still looking at certain events where guys can run their best,” Moore said. “It’s a different role than last year (going into the OCC meet). We like chasing. This year the target’s on our back. We’ve got to have a great work of practice, train hard, keep the kids’ heads straight. Put the kids in good position and see what goes down.”
Galion’s Jacob Chambers, one of the best sprinters in north central Ohio last year a sophomore, is rounding back into form after missing most of the season with a hamstring injury.
His win Friday in the 100 dash (10.91) was the best sign yet that he is ahead of schedule. Initially, he figured to be sideline until districts.
“He’s been going down to Columbus for training and rehab, so we’ve been going based on what they have seen,” Galion coach Ryan Scribner said.
“He ran a leg on our 4x4 at the (Crawford) county meet. Then we put him in the 200 last week (at the Marion Night Invite) and then he won the 100 tonight. He’s getting where he needs to be.
“There’s talks of him running the 100, 200 and the 4x1 (at next week’s Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference meet). He’s going to go down (to Columbus) and see his coach and see what he thinks.”
The goal is to not hurt Chambers’ chances of competing in the post-season.
“We’re looking at districts,” Scribner said. “We have the opportunity to get a 4x1 team (with him on it) to state. But we’re going to go off what we’re hearing (from his trainers).”
It was a big night for Colonel Crawford senior Mira Holt. She won the 400 with a PR of 58.80, added a first in the long jump (16-6.25) and finished second in the 100 with another PR (12.71).
Her teammate Gabby Roston cleared 11 feet to win the pole vault.
Also winning on the girls side were Lexington’s Emily Thomas in the 300 (top 50 in Ohio, 46.56), Shelby’s Anna Will in the 3200 (11:34.63) and two relay teams – Ashland’s 4x8 of Bailey Hartman, Ava Cline, Elena Haynes and Alivia Sauder (10:11.37) and Ontario’s 4x4 of Audrey Mahon, Jakiah Tammell, Kenzie Goodlin and Tessa Crum (4:06.85).
Boys champs included Ontario’s Aidan Fox in the 110 hurdles (15.07), Ashland’s Jayden Goings in the 300 hurdles (top 25 in Ohio, 39.31), Mansfield Senior’s Ny Petty in the high jump (6-2), Clear Fork’s Julian Mills in the shot put (top 25 in Ohio, 55-8.25), Shelby’s Ferron Pena in the discus (148-2) and Ashland’s 4x1 team of Dakota Kruty, Tyler Sauder, Garrett Davis and Jacob Holbtrook (42.97).
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Walter hurdles, vaults to a first and two seconds at Galion Invite
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Ashland senior Vivian Walter figures why do just one of the most technically challenging events in the sport when she can do three?
Walter’s versatility as a hurdler and vaulter were on display again Friday night at the Galion Kiwanis Invitational. She won the 100 hurdles with one of the top 50 times in the state this year (15.31), took second in the 300 hurdles with a PR of 47.81 and finished runner-up in the pole vault with another PR of 10-6.
FC CHAMPS!! 'It was goal No. 1': Crestview claims 2025 Firelands Conference softball championship
Walter personally accounted for 26 points and had a hand in five more points as a member of the fourth-place 4x100 relay team as the Ashland girls finished second to Ottawa-Glandorf by a 138.20 to 110.50 margin. They were the only schools in the 12-team field to top 100 points.
“She’s mentally drawn to hard things like that,” Gail Walter said of her daughter’s rare hurdler/vaulter role. “She comes from a gymnastics background and loves to master things that are difficult to do with your body. Like figuring out how to do back handsprings and back tucks and bar routines.
“I wouldn’t have a brain for that, but she has a brain for that. And she refuses to give up on things. She didn’t start out being immediately successful in that stuff. She’s had her shares of falls over hurdles and didn’t always vault very high, but she refuses to say ‘I’m not good at it.’ She wants to get it right.”
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Vivian’s younger sister Sadie, a sophomore, is also a hurdler. In fact, they finished one-two in the 100 hurdles Friday night and Sadie was also fourth in the 300 hurdles. But she’s also more like her mom, in that she can run all of the dashes, from the 100 to the 400.
In addition to being head coach at her alma mater, Gail (maiden name Sarkel) was part of a state champion 4x1 relay for Ashland in 1986. And her 4x1 and 4x200 teams still own AHS records some 40 years later.
Right now, Vivian would settle for breaking 15 seconds in the 100 hurdles. Her best is a 15.14, which ranks second all-time at the school. The record is 14.40, held by one of her mom’s former teammates and relay sidekick Mary Sterle.
“I think I have (sub-15) in me,” said Vivian, whose only loss in the 100 hurdles came when she fell while out in front at the season-opening Massillon Invite.. “I was fast (tonight) but my hurdles were a little inconsistent. I hit my knee on a couple and was high on a couple. I don’t think it was my best race, but my times are still consistent. It makes me hungry for a 14-something.”
The Walter sisters, along with Friday’s high jump champ Frankie Rupsis (5-0), are big reasons Lexington’s three-year reign as Ohio Cardinal Conference champ will be in jeopardy next week at Ashland University. Vivian would love nothing better than to crack 15 seconds in the 100 hurdles and help the Arrows dethrone Lex on the track she will call home the next few years as an AU commit.
Her mom and dad, Jon, a former Ashland High basketball player and News Journal All-Star, are both AU alums.
“I ran my 15.14 at a dual meet in late April on Senior Night,” Vivian said. “It was just a dual, but I think I was relaxed and got my PR, which is crazy. Since then I’ve been consistently in the low 15s.”
Fourth 2025 title for Lex
Even without loading up in many events, Lex boys coach Mike Moore saw his Minutemen win their fourth invite of the season, using a strong finish to hold off Ottawa-Glandorf by a 122 to 103.5 count.
Lex finished one-two in two late events. Will Perkins (22.15) and Latrell Hughes (22.17) both achieved PRs in their 200 showdown, while Gage Devaney (9:56.65) beat teammate John Bartone (9:57.34) to the finish line in the 3200.
Perkins and Hughes have taken turns all season winning their head-to-heads.
“They were joking around beforehand, having fun with it,” Moore said. “When they run against each other, it’s fun to watch. They’re good friends and they take it so well. They compete a little bit and talk a little crap and then they give each other a hug afterwards. It’s a pretty cool bond.”
OSU-bound Chance Basilone ran two open races for the first time this spring, winning the 1600 in 4:22.70 while finishing fourth in the 800. He also ran on the runner-up 4x4 relay.
“He’s one of those anchors, one of those pillars on this team who makes us who we are,” said Moore, whose Minutemen will look to repeat in next week’s OCC meet after ending Ashland’s seven-year reign last year. “When we call his name, we know he’s going to be up to the challenge. Same with Will, same with Latrell, same with Joe Hathaway … we’ve got guys who are great teammates and just want to help the team win.”
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Basilone was hoping to run a sub-4:20 in the 1600. His PR is a 4:17.
“Coach usually likes to (increase my workload) earlier in the year, but we haven’t had the meets for it. This was an opportunity to do it,” Basilone said. “I went in wanting to PR (in the 1600). I got out the way I wanted to get out, but I didn’t close the way I wanted.”
Lex’s other firsts came from Bryston Hess in the 400 (50.83) and the 4x800 team of Devaney, Bartone, Lincoln Rice and Trevor Reed (8:20.3).
“We’re still looking at certain events where guys can run their best,” Moore said. “It’s a different role than last year (going into the OCC meet). We like chasing. This year the target’s on our back. We’ve got to have a great work of practice, train hard, keep the kids’ heads straight. Put the kids in good position and see what goes down.”
He’s baaack
Galion’s Jacob Chambers, one of the best sprinters in north central Ohio last year a sophomore, is rounding back into form after missing most of the season with a hamstring injury.
His win Friday in the 100 dash (10.91) was the best sign yet that he is ahead of schedule. Initially, he figured to be sideline until districts.
“He’s been going down to Columbus for training and rehab, so we’ve been going based on what they have seen,” Galion coach Ryan Scribner said.
“He ran a leg on our 4x4 at the (Crawford) county meet. Then we put him in the 200 last week (at the Marion Night Invite) and then he won the 100 tonight. He’s getting where he needs to be.
“There’s talks of him running the 100, 200 and the 4x1 (at next week’s Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference meet). He’s going to go down (to Columbus) and see his coach and see what he thinks.”
The goal is to not hurt Chambers’ chances of competing in the post-season.
“We’re looking at districts,” Scribner said. “We have the opportunity to get a 4x1 team (with him on it) to state. But we’re going to go off what we’re hearing (from his trainers).”
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Other winners
It was a big night for Colonel Crawford senior Mira Holt. She won the 400 with a PR of 58.80, added a first in the long jump (16-6.25) and finished second in the 100 with another PR (12.71).
Her teammate Gabby Roston cleared 11 feet to win the pole vault.
Also winning on the girls side were Lexington’s Emily Thomas in the 300 (top 50 in Ohio, 46.56), Shelby’s Anna Will in the 3200 (11:34.63) and two relay teams – Ashland’s 4x8 of Bailey Hartman, Ava Cline, Elena Haynes and Alivia Sauder (10:11.37) and Ontario’s 4x4 of Audrey Mahon, Jakiah Tammell, Kenzie Goodlin and Tessa Crum (4:06.85).
Boys champs included Ontario’s Aidan Fox in the 110 hurdles (15.07), Ashland’s Jayden Goings in the 300 hurdles (top 25 in Ohio, 39.31), Mansfield Senior’s Ny Petty in the high jump (6-2), Clear Fork’s Julian Mills in the shot put (top 25 in Ohio, 55-8.25), Shelby’s Ferron Pena in the discus (148-2) and Ashland’s 4x1 team of Dakota Kruty, Tyler Sauder, Garrett Davis and Jacob Holbtrook (42.97).
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Walter hurdles, vaults to a first and two seconds at Galion Invite
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