Girls Track Wins Beachwood 1st State Title

BEACHWOOD, OH — The Beachwood High School girls track team brought home the district's first state title, in any sport, on June 3. The school sent five girls to the Division II OHSAA state competition and each runner brought home an individual and team title.

The team is made up of Mia Knight (11), Leah Roter (11), Ashaunti Griffin (10), Ayla Gambrell (9), and Ashley Perryman (9). The team also had two state alternates, Maddie Alexander (9) and Cayla Jeff (11).

Roter took first place in the 3200 meter run. She also took fifth in the 1600 meter run, breaking a school record in the process.

The team of Gambrell, Griffin, Knight, and Perryman took first place in the 4 by 100 meter relay. The team also broke the school record set by last year's state championship team.

Knight also brought home second in the 100 meter dash and sixth in the 200 meter dash. She broke the school record for both events.

The team is coached by Willie Smith (Head Coach), Jamie Lader, Chris Kleis, Kelvette Beacham, Bruce Sherman, and Christine Estrict.

"Beachwood is incredibly proud of our phenomenal girls track team! These young women are all dedicated athletes and scholars," a spokesperson for the district told Patch. "They're each multi-sport athletes and their dedication and commitment are unsurpassed. They set goals for one another individually and as a team and no one rests until they've accomplished what they set out to do! It is of no surprise to me that Beachwood's first state title would be delivered by this exceptional group of women. And watch out, world, because every single one of them returns next year!"

The district celebrated its first state title with an email blast to parents and students congratulating the team.

"It was a historic weekend, that was truly a team effort," the district said in the email.

Photo from Pixabay