North Robinson - Colonel Mira Holt and Colonel Gabby Roston will be different this weekend.
Both are now four-year qualifiers, winning multiple all-Ohio honors over the years, but they mostly completed the honor together.
This year, Roston has only played pole vaults, while Holt will compete in the long jump, 100-meter instrument and 400-meter dashboard. It was Roston's first time in a state game that only had one event, Holt became an individual for the first time.
"This year is definitely much harder, but I'm really grateful for the opportunity to go again," Roston said. "I put in a lot of hard work, so I'm glad I'm able to be able to do it for four full years."
"It's definitely different from the last few years because I'm used to relays," Holt added. "It's everything I really did in the playoffs and I think I have a 4x4 again this year because we've had the last three years. It's going to be a change, but I'm excited."
Roston went into regionality and knew she couldn't afford any slips. In Fostoria, five girls sow seeds at 11-0 or higher, and the other two girls were 10-6.
In the finals, four automatic qualifiers were Fort Gibson champion McKenzie Montgomery, and Ava Schmitmeyer of the Cold Water trio, Rebekah Case of Lucas and Lauren Auchmuty of Columbus Grove.
Roston ranked sixth with 11-4, with Margarita's Alayna Biehl taking her lead. In some other areas, girls who have not yet cleared 10-0 are heading to the state due to the qualification method throughout Ohio.
“I just want to stay positive
"It's for me because on Friday, a lot of girls are on the podium. I just know I have to make the top six and that's what I'm mainly thinking about."
It won her a big bid, and she will join 18 fields, with 12 girls 11-0 or higher. Roston is so difficult that girls who have won 7, 8, 9, 10, 10 and 11 statewide are better at heights, or match six state qualifiers.
But now behind her, she can put all the well-known eggs in a basket.
"This is the only time I really have to focus on it, because usually I have to run a 4x4 during a pole vault warm-up," Roston said. "But I think it would be fun to do my thing this year without having to worry about having to do relays, just focus on yourself.
“If I got 11-6, 11-8, 12-0, I might be on the podium.”
Holt just won the North 10 long jump title with a 15-0¼ leap, and he is eager to bring that momentum into the next week's playoffs.
Unfortunately, the region did not go as planned.
"I had a chance last year, but I made all the jumps - everything wasn't good," Holt said. "Since then, I knew I wanted to get there this year. I'm so happy to be able to do it at Jesse (Owens Memorial Stadium).
She added nearly two feet to the best of juniors this season, jumping 18-3¼ at the Bob Royer Invitational in early May. This is still the second best jump this year in Partition III.
When it comes to her sprint, she often leaves her competitors in the dust.
But in the area (like Roston), she knew she had to push herself to another level.
“It was (slower areas) before we were in Heath,” Holt said of the live changes this year. “But I saw PR in 100 and 400, so I think that certainly helped push me.”
Her time in 100 of 400 and 58.53 was 12.51 to ensure the fourth automatic bid in both events. 16-10 in the long jump is enough to rank third.
“I know I need a top four position, even if fifth may exit our area,” Holt said. “But I want to go into the top four because I don’t want to sit there and wait and see, which will surely push me to go faster.”
Even if her best friend Roston will be with her in Columbus, Holt still has to rely on himself on the track and on the track.
"It's much harder because usually you need confidence or anything of the day, they're always there, they're always there, they're always there," she said. "But as an individual, I know I have to be mentally prepared and have a strong mindset because it's just that I'm in the game and just focus on myself."
Holt will heat 100 times at 10:20 a.m. and the first heat at 400 on Friday at 11:00 a.m. Roston and Holt will compete in their respective live competitions at 1:00 pm later that day
zholden@gannett.com | 419-617-6018 | Twitter/X: @zachary_holden