COLUMBUS − After Thursday’s Division V state title in the 3200 meters, Smithville’s Kaitlyn Carr said after collecting her gold medal that her performance didn’t quite live up to her standards.
After her victory in the Division V 1600 meters on Friday, she was asked the same question and this time, it was a yes.
“Yeah, I came into the 1600 as the underdog and that put a fire in my belly to go out and compete,” Carr said. “This season hasn’t gone the way I wanted it to but I’m so grateful for the opportunity. I was able to do what I wanted to do.”
You heard correctly. Kaitlyn Carr was an actual underdog going into a long distance race.
Well, yes and no. If you’re going off time, then yeah.
Ottawa Hills sophomore Natalie Nixon had the fastest time coming into the 1600 meters final at 4:59.93, with Carr second at 5:02.81. Nixon pushed Carr through the four-lap race but around the curve on the fourth lap, Carr created some separation.
For the University of Notre Dame signee, that level of competition brought the best out of her. Carr’s winning time was 4:57.78 to Nixon’s 5:02.94.
“I knew it was going to be great competition and I was excited to see what I can do,” said Carr. “Just grateful for all the talent we have in Division V and to be pushed to be better.”
With winning another gold medal, it was Carr’s third consecutive OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) state title in the 1600 meters and her fifth overall individual state title of her prep career, as she has two other state titles in the 3200. She also leaves this year’s state meet helping the Smithies win two more medals in the 4×800 and 4×400 relay.
Oh yeah. You can also throw in the 4×800 state winning relay she helped guide Smithville to in 2024 in Dayton.
That’s a rare field to be in and she was asked specifically about those five individual state titles she’s earned in her four years as a Smithie. Before she answered, you can see her almost get choked up as she briefly reflected on her time at Smithville.
“I’m just really blessed to win this competition,” Carr said. “All the support has definitely got me through it.”
And, what about that three-peat. Did you ever imagine when you started high school that you would achieve that?
“Definitely not,” she said. “Coming in freshman year, I only qualified for the 3200. I qualified for regionals in the mile (1600) and 3200 but I dropped the mile because I was not going to make it with Jaylee [Wingate of Norwayne] and Piper [Gibson of Rittman] and all them. There was no way I was going to make it. Just coming into sophomore year, I could have never imagined what was going to happen. That’s really special. I’m so grateful.”
jamessimpson@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Smithville’s Kaitlyn Carr takes home her third straight OHSAA 1600 meters state title
