PERRYSBURG – Perrysburg’s girls track team has had an outstanding season.
And the Yellow Jackets aren’t done yet.
Perrysburg qualified five runners for the Division I state track and field meet this weekend in five
different events.
The Yellow Jackets already have won the Northern Lakes League championship, and finished second in their
district and regional meets.
"This is the most we have ever qualified to state," said Jon Monheim, assistant track coach who
is in charge of middle and long distance.
"All of the girls who qualified are also on the cross country team that finished fifth in the state.
This has been a continuation of that," said Monheim, who is also the head cross country coach.
Senior Courtney Clody, who is making a repeat appearance at state, qualified in four events: the 800 and
the 1,600, as well the 1,600 relay and the 3200 relay.
Classmate Taylor Monheim, who is also making a repeat appearance at state, qualified in the 3,200 as well
as the 3,200 relay.
Junior Jordan Doore, who also made it to state last year, will also run in the 1600 and 3200 relays.
Allie Kemp will run both relays and Grace Reddick will run in the 1,600 relay.
Monheim credits his seniors, Clody and his daughter, Taylor Monheim, with creating a strong culture.
"Honestly, we’ve got great senior leaders with Courtney and Taylor, but every single one of these
girls work extremely hard and they are, of course, talented," coach Monheim said.
"We just try to lead by example and by doing all of the little things right," said Taylor
Monheim. "And we hope that rubs off on the younger girls."
Part of the success, according to coach Monheim, is the team’s commitment to training year round.
"When it was eight degrees this winter, they were out running," he said.
"They do everything that is asked of them."
Talent helps, too.
"I’ve been coaching 21 years, but this is the most talented group I’ve seen," he said.
Heading into this weekend’s state meet, the team looks to build on last year’s performance.
The 3,200 relay team, seeded first at last year’s meet, finished as the state runner-up.
"Last year, we went into the meet as the No. 1 seed and there was a lot of pressure. This year, we
don’t have that No. 1 seed, but we feel we have as good of a shot as anyone," coach Monheim said.

The team’s best time for the 3,200 relay this year is 9:16. They are seeded second headed into the state
meet.
Last year, in individual events at state, Clody finished sixth in the 1,600 and Taylor Monheim took 10th
in the 3,200.
"I’m wanting to go in without expectations," said Clody. "I just want to go in and have
fun with it, because that was part of what went wrong last year."
Clody’s best time in the 800 is 2:11. She has run a 4:55 in the 1,600.
"We are just going to have fun and make it feel like a relaxed environment," said Taylor
Monheim.
Her best time in the 3,200 is 10:54.
The team will travel to Columbus on Friday. The 3,200 relay final is on Friday, as well as the 1,600
relay preliminary race. The meet is held at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University.
"This is the first time we’ve ever had a 4×400 relay team make it. Their goal is to make it out of
prelims," the elder Monheim said.
The 1,600 relay team’s best time this season is 3:55.
"We are just going to go in, have fun and run our hearts out," said Doore.
For Reddick and Kemp, this will be their first trip to state.
"I’m really excited. It’s awesome to have great teammates who are so supportive and experienced and
who I can learn from," Kemp said.
For Reddick, making it to state is a fulfillment of a long-time goal.
"I’ve always wanted to make it to state and we came pretty close last year," Reddick said.