'Pace-setter': Westerville Central standout leads program to new heights
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Westerville Central’s Olivia Pace is all smiles after her winning long jump during the Division I state track and field meet June 3, 2023, at Ohio State. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Nearly every time senior Olivia Pace steps onto the track to prepare for a meet, questions come flying her way.
The Westerville Central girls track and field star is used to becoming the center of attention considering she enters her final prep season as the defending Division I state champion in the long jump and is a multiple-time state placer in sprinting events.
“I’m very grateful for (the recognition) of course,” Pace said. “It’s really exciting, and of course I want to hold that position, so I’m going to work hard to continue to be in that position. Overall, I’d say it’s a great feeling. I go to meets and so many people are so nice to me, and I have some people asking me what I do for workouts and if I can give them tips. I’ve really studied multiple athletes like (2022 Central graduate) Justin (Braun), and I’ve done my own research on track and on specific workouts which are very helpful for sprinting. My workouts are definitely getting me to the place I need to be.”
Braun, who won three state titles as a junior and is the Warhawks boys program record-holder in the 100, 200 and 400 meter races, is a sophomore track athlete for USC.
That’s the same college Pace will begin competing once her prep career is over, which she hopes will conclude a few weeks from now with multiple state outdoor championships.
At the state indoor meet March 1 at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Pace won the 60 (7.37 seconds) and was runner-up in the 200 (24.42) to set up a final outdoor season in which she’ll likely focus on the 100, 200, long jump and sprint relays.
“She’s doing great,” fourth-year coach David Mentlow said. “She finished as indoor champ in the 60 for the fourth straight year. She didn’t long jump (during the indoor season) but we just focused her on the 60 and 200. I think she’s really focused. She was champion in the long jump last year but took second in the 100. She runs during the summer and tries to run in the fall as well. She’s a hard worker, she’s determined, and she’s really focused.
“She’s a student of the sport and really understands every aspect and what she needs to do to prepare herself and how she needs to get there. She’s very explosive and strong. Most people might see her as a small figure, but she’s stronger than you’d imagine. She’s very powerful.”
Pace’s emergence isn’t the only reason Central has transformed into a state power.
Olivia Pace of Westerville Central competes in the long jump during the Division I state track and field meet June 3, 2023, at Ohio State. Pace won the event. Photo by John Hulkenberg
Pace ran on the 400 relay that set a program record at district when she was a freshman, but she didn’t qualify for state in any events that season as the Warhawks tied for 25th.
She broke through as a sophomore by finishing runner-up in the 100 and seventh in the 200, and Central’s 800 relay which included a pair of freshmen in Alyvia Mentlow and Angel Ward took fourth to lead the program to a state runner-up finish with 31 points behind Gahanna (47).
At last year’s state outdoor meet, Pace landed a long jump of 19 feet, 2 3/4 inches to capture the championship and lead the Warhawks to a third-place team finish again with 31 points. Gahanna scored 50 to defend its title, and Mason was runner-up (43).
Amari Kiluvia, who now competes for TCU, was runner-up in the 100 hurdles (13.98) and joined Alyvia Mentlow, Ward and 2023 graduate Deja Curry-Brown on the 400 relay which was seventh (48.37).
Pace settled for second in the 100 (11.54) behind Holland Springfield’s Maira Scott (11.43), a senior who also has committed to USC.
“In track, I’d say you definitely have to have a short-term memory,” Pace said. “You run the race and focus on the next one, and you can’t keep it in your head whether it was good or bad. I’ve had to come to terms with that and not let my bad races hold me back. I’d say I learned from (finishing runner-up in the 100 at state last year) and have moved forward. I knew I could have run better, and that’s what’s bothered me the most.
“(My teammates and I) are all good friends, and I’d say we push ourselves at practice. Coach Mentlow is a pretty fun coach. I do have some short-term goals and long-term goals. We’ve talked about winning OCC, district, regional, and hopefully states.”
For the Warhawks to reach their team goals, they know their depth could make the difference.
Of the six athletes who represented Gahanna at state last season, four were lost to graduation – including Camden Bentley, who is now competing for Kentucky after winning the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles and running on the first-place 1,600 relay and the state runner-up 800 relay.
“Team chemistry and having a great relationship with coach Mentlow (has helped us), and we also have some of the best runners in Ohio,” Ward said. “We’ve just got a great group of girls in general and (there’s) so much talent helping us with our success these past seasons. … Team-wise, we definitely (want) to win OCC, districts, regionals, and states. We have the talent and the coach to do it, so it’s definitely a reachable goal.”
While Pace will lead the way in the short sprints, Alyvia Mentlow – the coach’s daughter – might be the team’s top 400 runner.
Senior Josephine Timperman joins Pace, Alyvia Mentlow and Ward as top sprinters.
Senior Taryn Stills is a Wright State-commit in the high jump, junior Tiffany Zuehlke should help Central stay competitive in races like the 800 and 1,600, and freshman Skyler Brittman is expected to make an impact in the 100 and 300 hurdles according to coach Mentlow.
In addition to Gahanna, coach Mentlow expects Upper Arlington, New Albany, Hilliard Davidson, Olentangy Liberty, and both Pickerington Central and Pickerington North to be among the area’s top teams.
“I feel that our program has gotten good over the years because of all the time and work and dedication our athletes have with this sport, and what our coaches give into us and the time they give us,” Alyvia Mentlow said. “I also love my teammates and wouldn’t want to have accomplished these things without them. A goal I hope to achieve this season is to help contribute individually for my team in the state meet. Also, as a team, I would love for us to win regionals and compete for a state title.”