Tigers’ Lane, Lions’ Bentley primed for big finishes
Monday, May 1, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Gahanna Lincoln senior Camden Bentley is the defending Division I state champion in the girls 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. Photo: Jarrod Ulrey
Based on his performances from the last two-plus years for the Pickerington Central boys track and field team, it’s no surprise that senior Troy Lane is preparing for his final prep postseason with the loftiest of goals.
Even he was taken aback, though, when he received what felt like a red-carpet treatment a few months ago from the University of Kentucky when he was making his college decision.
Prior to signing Nov. 21 to compete for a Wildcats’ program that has become one of the nation’s strongest for sprinters and hurdlers, Lane checked in with another of the state’s top athletes, Gahanna Lincoln senior Camden Bentley, about why she had committed to Kentucky.
As it turns out, their experiences were filled with similarities.
“Before I picked that school, I wanted to make sure everybody that took a visit got the same experience as me and I didn’t want it to just be a ‘me’ thing,” Lane said. “I reached out to Camden and asked her what experience she had, and she had the same exact experience. They just make you feel like you’re home, and when you visit, they already make you feel like you’re on the team. Once she told me that’s what she got, too, I knew that’s where I was going.”
The balance of track power in the state has moved to central Ohio in recent seasons, with the Gahanna girls winning Division I state championships in 2018 and last year and taking second in 2017 and 2021 and with the area producing five consecutive state boys team titles.
After the Thomas Worthington boys won the 2017 state championship, Pickerington Central won its first two titles in 2018 and ’19, Pickerington North took first in 2021 and Central won again last year.
Bentley and Lane lead a list of about two-dozen central Ohio seniors that have committed to major-college programs who should shine during the coming track postseason, which will wrap up with the state meet June 2-3.
Hilliard Davidson boys distance runner Connor Ackley and Westerville South girls hurdler Marissa Saunders both have committed to Syracuse and Davidson girls distance runner Caitlyn Jones has committed to Virginia Tech. A slew of top area athletes, including Bexley boys sprinter Mason Louis, Licking Heights boys sprinter C.J. Fillmore, Dublin Coffman boys distance runners Will McGraw and Liam Shaughnessy, Davidson girls distance runner Dillon Sweetman and Granville girls distance runners Lillian Eckels and Zoee Lehman, have signed with Ohio State.
Bentley wound up atop the state awards podium in three events last June, capturing the 100 hurdles championship in 13.25 seconds that would have been considered a state record if it hadn’t been wind-aided, running on the first-place 800 relay in 1:38.82 and capturing the 300 hurdles title in 42.82.
As a sophomore, Bentley was runner-up in the 100 hurdles and won the 300 hurdles championship.
On April 28 in the Huber Heights Wayne Invitational, Bentley won the 100 hurdles title in 14.08 against a field that included Marengo Highland senior Juliette Laracuente, a Cincinnati commit who was runner-up in 14.39.
Later that day, however, she ran 44.2 in the 300 hurdles but settled for second behind Hamilton Ross junior Myah Boze (43.93). Boze was third at state last year.
“(Bentley’s) doing great as usual,” Lions coach Roger Whittaker said. “She was at a school function in Florida and couldn’t train, yet she came back into town the next day to win a star-studded Wayne meet in the 100 hurdles. She did suffer her first defeat in the 300 hurdles in her career, so it will be interesting to see how she rebounds. She basically ran out of gas, which will happen when you’re off for a week. … She’ll be itching to redeem herself.”
Bentley and Lane are in their final few prep meets before joining a Kentucky program that produced Abby Steiner, a 2018 Dublin Coffman graduate who had a mural presented in her honor April 29 at her alma mater in remembrance of her accomplishments at the high school, college and professional levels. She signed a pro contract with PUMA last July after helping the U.S. team earn gold medals in the 400-meter relay and 1,600 relay at the world championships last summer.
“(Committing) to Kentucky brought (Lane and I) together a little more,” Bentley said. “We’ve actually bonded and talked about Kentucky with each other. I liked that (Kentucky) wasn’t so far away from home, only about three hours, so I could just drive home if I needed to, and I love their hurdlers group. They have a strong history in hurdlers and have built so many athletes, and I thrive in an environment where I train with people who are better than me, so I just love that iron sharpens iron.
“It’s definitely a plus that Abby went there, especially since she’s from Ohio, too, and that made my decision more confident. We’ve talked a little bit and when I went to the Melrose Games, I saw her there. She’s very friendly.”
While Bentley helped the Lions score 47 points at last year’s state meet, Lane was the key in the Tigers scoring 31 points to edge Olentangy Orange (30) for the boys team title.
After the 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lane turned in a third-place finish in the 100 at the 2021 state meet.
Then at state last spring, Lane ran a state-record 10.25 to win the 100, captured the 200 in 21.09 and ran on the first-place 400 relay (41.22).
“He’s a once-in-a-lifetime kid,” coach Jason Roach said. “We’ve had some other talented guys, but he’s different in all aspects. He’s got a ceiling that’s incredible and he’s going to continue to get faster. Troy’s easy because he’s special.”
At last year’s NCAA Outdoor nationals, the Kentucky women’s team finished third and the men’s team tied for 36th.
Lane has lofty goals before beginning his college career, including running faster than 10 seconds in the 100. He ran a wind-aided 10.19 at a meet in Texas in late March and also has run 10.28 this season.
The chance to improve on that time as well as in his other events was another factor that attracted him to Kentucky.
“They weren’t interested until after my junior year,” Lane said. “They’ve got a great track school and have produced multiple Olympians. Their team is pretty good and they’ve got a freshman who has run 10.19, and that’s also a reason I chose the school. I didn’t want to go onto a team and be the ‘fast’ guy. I wanted to have somebody that pushes me every day in practice.
“I want to continue to get faster over the next couple weeks. I really want to break 10 seconds, run a 9.9 which would be a national record, and in the 200 I want to run 20.45. For my team, I want us to win state again. The biggest thing that’s helped me progress is that I used to be one of those guys who went to practice and then just went home, but now I’ve started putting in extra work. My trainer helps me collaborate on things I can do. I just started training like I wanted to be good.”