COLUMBUS — She knew she had it in her.
It was Day 1 of the OHSAA state track and field meet last Thursday afternoon in Columbus at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University and it was humid as can be, with the sun beaming and the temperature in the high 80s.
That’s what Norwayne senior Lillith Dreibelbis had on her mind after the Division IV 3200 meter final.
“It’s hot out, but most recently when the sun has been out, I’ve been just sitting in the sun and saying, ‘You’re going to be here in the next couple of weeks. So just try to get used to it,'” she said.
Dreibelbis didn’t let the heat stop her as she accomplished the very thing she’s been after since last year’s track season: become an All-Ohioan (top eight finishers medal).
Dreibelbis finished fourth (11:20.85) in the eight-lap event to get on the podium for the first time in her first state track meet as an individual qualifier in her senior season.
“I’ve been working for this since last year. Since regionals in the 3200. Just being able to get fourth this year and PR’ing,” Dreibelbis said after receiving her medal. “That was incredible for me.”
Throughout the bulk of the race, Dreibelbis was right in the middle of the pack with about four to seven runners ahead. Yet, somewhere in that last lap, she surged past a couple of runners and got her official spot in fourth.
“I knew I could do it. I just had to believe in myself,” Dreibelbis said, this year’s Division IV district champion in the 3200 and 1600. “Coach [Tiah] Wingate said run the Lillith strategy. It’s basically progressing. I kind of came out a little fast but I know with my kick, I can catch some people. So, the last 600, I thought I could start making my move up. The last 200 I knew I had to go. I like the longer distance events. I’ve been having to trust my timing more.”
This athletic/academic sports season has seen some firsts for Dreibelbis. Along with her track All-Ohioan medal in the 3200, she also got on the podium and medaled to earn All-Ohioan honors at the Division III cross country state meet in November.
Dreibelbis touched on how believing in herself more helped her reach her goal as well as how the Ohio High School Athletic Association moving from three to five divisions this year created a better overall experience for all athletes to get more of a chance to compete at the state meet.
“I made the decision to believe in myself and to really just put it all out there. Being able to do that on fresh legs. I didn’t have to do the 4×800 relay. This is the first time I’ve done the 3200 fresh,” said Dreibelbis, who was also a Division IV state qualifier in the 1600 meters. “Coach Wingate and my family have been beyond supportive. This is your senior year. You know what you wanted. Especially with the division change that made it a better experience and given more opportunity.”
For Dreibelbis in her senior season, just medaling was always the main objective.
“I did way better than I thought,” she said. “I just wanted to get top eight.”
jamessimpson@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: How Norwayne’s Lillith Dreibelbis reached her goal as an All-Ohioan at the state track meet
Reporting by James Simpson II, Wooster Daily Record / The Daily Record
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By James Simpson II, Wooster Daily Record | USA TODAY Network
