Salem’s Hopple wins two medals at national track meet | News, Sports, Jobs

Corresponding photo/Robert Hayes Salem junior Maggie Hopple finished sixth in the Division II 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:01.43.

DAYTON — The past year has been a “harder” season for Maggie Hopple.

The Salem track and field star qualified for three events at the state meet as a freshman and earned a fourth-place finish on the girls’ 4×800-meter relay team. Quakers in 2022. But after qualifying for states for a second straight year, she came away without a podium, failing to reach the top eight after placing ninth and 14th in the 4×800 and 4×400 , respectively.

Following Columbus’ disappointing results last year, Hopple said she needed to “just trust” his training and continue to work.

“At the end of the day, that’s all I can do.” » Hopple said.

The work paid off.

A year after failing to achieve her goals, Hopple reached the podium twice at Dayton. Hopple and the Quakers’ 4×800-meter relay team emerged as the second-best Division II team in the state, while Hopple earned his first individual podium by finishing sixth in the 1,600-meter race.

After qualifying for states in the mile run at the regional meet in Austintown, Hopple said she considered not running the 1,600 meters in order to rest up for the 800 meters, but she “surprised” herself by her performance in running the mile.

Now, Hopple admits that the mile run has ” grown up “ on her.

“I think the 800 really helps solve this problem,” Hopple spoke about his success in the 1600 meters. “Because when I get to 800, I’m like, ‘Oh, this is just my one event.’ There are only 800 left and it’s over.’

During this notoriously grueling race, Hopple tried to block out any fatigue and pain.

“I was just like, ‘Stay with this group, stay with this group’” Hopple said. “I was trying not to focus on the fact that if I was hurting or anything, I just wanted to stay with this person, stay with them. If they start to move, follow them.

The strategy worked well, as Hopple set a new personal best with a time of 5:01.43. But the record that really mattered to Hopple was the school record, which Hopple managed to break.

“I wanted to get on the podium, but I didn’t know if I could or not because you never know what you’re going to feel or do.” said Hopple, explaining that the previous record holder was Youngstown State’s Carly Hall, the older sister of Maggie Hall, Hopple’s teammate in the 4×400 and 4×800 relays.

“I really admire her because she is a real mentor to me and she has really helped me. » Hopple said of Carly, a 2021 Salem graduate. “This morning she braided my hair, got everything ready for me. And she told me this morning: ‘Go get my file.’

Hopple, despite having the school record in the 1,600 meters and three state podiums under her belt, said she had no expectations entering her senior year at Salem.

“I just want to see how the season goes.” she says. “I’m more content to see how you’re doing and then set my expectations.”

Do you have an interesting story? Contact Preston Byers by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @PresByers.

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