Temple Christian’s Cece Worsham competes in the 100 meter hurdles during Thursday’s Ehresman Invitational at Bath High School. See more high school track and field photos at LimaScores.com.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
BATH TOWNSHIP – Temple Christian senior Cece Worsham will be heading to Gulf Coast State in Panama City, Florida next school year to play volleyball.
However, the multi-sport athlete is not quite ready to give up on track-and-field just yet.
At Thursday’s Bath Ehresman Invitational at Bath High School, Worsham won the 100-meter hurdles (15.55 seconds) and 300 hurdles (48.63), and placed second in the long jump (16 feet, 7 ¼ inches).
With competing in volleyball, basketball and track throughout her high school career, Worsham said it took some time to come to a decision on which sport to focus on at the next level.
“I was going between track and volleyball for a really long time,” Worsham said. “I knew I could probably go somewhere in track, but I really enjoy volleyball. I wasn’t sure if my body could handle it (track) for four more years. I just wanted to do what I love to do for four more years.”
Worsham said she still has the desire to compete at a very high level this spring track season.
“I’m competitive. I want to do the best that I can do. I have some records that I want to break for my school. But I’m ready to focus on one sport,” she said.
Last spring. Worshman was a Division III state-qualifier in the 100 hurdles and long jump.
In the final team scores Thursday, it was a clean sweep for Ottawa-Glandorf.
On the girls side, O-G won with 155.33 points. Van Wert was a distant second with 82.83 points. Elida (68), Bryan (67) and Shawnee (52.83) rounded out the top five squads in the 13-team field.
For the boys, O-G won the team title with 113 points. Shawnee finished second (101). Wapakoneta (87.50), Bath (83) and Bluffton (54) rounded out the top five teams.
O-G’s Fortman excels
Ottawa-Glandorf senior standout Alexa Fortman keeps demonstrating her versatility on the track.
Thursday night, Fortman won the 400-meter dash in 58.35 seconds. She finished third in the 200 (27.26). Fortman also was part of the 800 relay (second place) and 1,600 relay (first) for the Titans.
“My coaches are definitely trying to keep me fresh and trying to mix it up all season,” Fortman said. “It’s a lot of fun (to compete in different events). It’s such a deep team this year, which makes it real exciting.”
Fortman left no doubt in the 400 Thursday, as she got out fast and quickly pulled away from the pack of runners.
“The 400 is more of a mental race,” Fortman said. “I just really rely on God to keep me focused. I like getting out real fast and then just pushing all the way through. … It’s my favorite race.”
Last season, Fortman won Division II state titles in the 400 and 800. Her winning time of 2:08.60 in the 800 at the state meet was a new Division II state record.
Hershberger learning quickly
Allen East senior Jacob Hershberger exemplifies a multi-sport athlete. Hershberger was an all-Ohio performer in football this past fall. During the winter sports season, he was a standout basketball player. During the spring, Hershberger plays baseball. For the first three years of high school, Hershberger competed in both basketball and wrestling during the winter sports season.
This year, Hershberger finally decided to test his skills in track-and-field, while playing baseball in the same season.
At Thursday’s Ehresman Invitational. Hershberger placed fifth in the long jump (18-7 ½) and seventh in the 100 (11.77). He also was on the winning 800 relay team.
However, after graduation this spring, Hershberger will focus on football when he attends Ohio Northern University. He will major in engineering.
“The last couple years my friends and coaches have really been trying to get me out (for track), because I’m kind of fast,” Hershberger said. “I thought about it. But after doing basketball and wrestling (last year), it was a lot, and I wanted a break. But this year, I figured I would give it a shot. So, here I am. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Hershberger said his baseball game scheduled for Thursday was cancelled. So, that opened the door to compete at Thursday’s Ehresman Invitational.
“We cancelled (baseball) today. So, I texted my coach and said, ‘I can run today’,” he said with a grin.
Hershberger set some high goals for his first and only season in track-and-field.
“The school record in the 100 kind of got me to come out,” Hershberger said. “That’s what I kind of want to beat – to see my name up on the board (for a school record); and maybe make it to state in a relay or two.”
O-G’s Rosengarten wins two races
Ottawa-Glandorf sophomore Ty Rosengarten won the 1,600 (4:41.43) and 3,200 (10:07.37) Thursday.
Bath Ehresman Invitational results
Note: Temple Christian’s Cece Worsham competed as an individual and her finishes were not included in team scoring
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
