With one of the best athletes in program history setting the pace, coach David Mentlow guided the Westerville Central girls track and field team to a season to remember.
The Warhawks won their first regional title and went on to finish si x th (27) in the Division I state meet behind champion Huber Heights Wayne (46).
For his contributions, Mentlow has been named The Dispatch’s All-Metro Coach of the Year for girls track.
“I didn’t think we would have this much success this quickly,” said Mentlow, who completed his fourth season. “I knew we had the ability. We have the talent in our building.”
The Warhawks featured senior Olivia Pace , who won the 100 meters (11.65) and finished second in the 200 (24.44) and fourth in the long jump (18 feet, 2 ¼ inches) at state. She also teamed with Skylar Brittman, Alyvia Mentlow and Josephine Timperman to finish fifth in the 400 relay (47.23).
Pace was named The Dispatch’s Athlete of the Year in girls track at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 20 at Mershon Auditorium . A University of Southern California signee, she holds program records in the 100 (11.32), 200 (23.96) and long jump (19-3 ½) and as part of the 400 relay (46.67).
“We knew Olivia was going to be a special athlete,” Mentlow said. “From the time she came in, she hit the ground running. You didn’t realize she was a freshman.”
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Alyvia Mentlow, who will be a senior in the fall, is the coach’s daughter.
“I love coaching everybody, but getting the chance to coach your daughter is amazing,” Mentlow said. “It’s a great experience. ... It’s the ultimate thing to do.”
Central also contended for the state title in 2022, finishing second (31) behind Gahanna Lincoln (47).
“We were runner-up at state a couple of years ago and this team is very similar to that,” Mentlow said. “It was a fun season. The group was really fun to work with. ... We won’t be as elite next season, but we’ll have depth. We have a pretty good group of juniors coming back that I think are going to be pretty good.”
Mentlow has impressed athletic director Andy Ey.
“Coach Mentlow loves track and field,” Ey said. “He knows what buttons to push and when to run girls and how to train them and get them ready to peak at the end of the season during championship season. He doesn’t overtrain them or over race them. He does a great job of that.”
Mentlow will be a running backs coach under first-year football coach Josh Franke in the fall.
“That was a great hire,” Mentlow said. “The program is heading in a good direction.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here's what makes Westerville Central's David Mentlow Dispatch girls track Coach of Year
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