Congratulations to all of the Knights who were featured in the Canton Repository's All-Decade Girls Track and Field Team. Aquinas's own Coach Crawford was named COACH OF THE DECADE and Athena Walsh was named ATHLETE OF THE DECADE! We're proud of all of the Knights featured in the story: Julia Pusateri, Kacee Soehnlen, Kalee Soehnlen, Athena Walsh, Coach Crawford were all named to the All-Decade Team. Rachael Adams, Aubrey Dempsey, Rosa Forcione, Megan Hoffman, Victoria Laubacher, Taylor Looby, Hannah Ohman, Emma Pusateri, Molly Pusateri, and Hannah Soehnlen were all listed in the Honorable Mention Category. Our Track and Field Team has a strong tradition of excellence!
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We hope you'll enjoy reading more about the Lady Knights named to the Canton Repository All-Decade Team:
Julia Pusateri, St. Thomas Aquinas, Class of 2011
RESUME: Started what became a dominant run by St. Thomas Aquinas over the next few years. ... Won a Division III state championship in the 1,600 meters and finished third in the 800 at state in 2011. ... Four-year letterwinner in track and cross country.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Won five events during a four-year career at Toledo. Competed at the Mid-American Conference’s cross country and track and field championships.
Kacee Soehnlen, St. Thomas Aquinas, Class of 2017
RESUME: Won six Division III state championships — all on relays — and helped lead St. Thomas Aquinas to two straight team titles from 2015-16 after a runner-up finish in 2014. ... Earned four state titles as a member of the Knights’ 3,200-meter relay team. Helped Aquinas set an all-time Division III state record time of 9:05.84 at the 2016 state meet. ... Two-time 800 relay state champion.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Competed at Ohio State before transferring to Walsh. ... Finished second in the 800 in a collegiate-best 2:15.63 at this year’s Great Midwest Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Kalee Soehnlen, St. Thomas Aquinas, Class of 2017
RESUME: Won a record eight Division III outdoor state championships during the decade. Helped St. Thomas Aquinas win two straight team titles from 2015-16 after a runner-up finish in 2014. ... Two-time state champion in the 800 meters. Holds the Stark County record in the 800 (2:10.29). ... Set Ohio Division III girls and county 3,200 records with a time of 10:24.57 at the 2017 Larry Cogan Warrior Invitational. ... Won four straight state titles as a member of the Knights’ 3,200 relay. Helped the relay set an all-time Division III state record time of 9:05.84 at the 2016 state meet.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Recently completed her third season as a member of the Ohio State women’s cross country and track and field teams. ... Won the 2017 Joe Piane Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational in a career-record 17:43.6. Qualified for the national meet for the first time last fall. ... Ran personal-best track and field times of 2:18.56 in the 800 meters and 5:00.68 in the mile at this year’s Meyo Invitational.
Athena Welsh, St. Thomas Aquinas, Class of 2016
RESUME: Won seven outdoor state championships and helped lead Aquinas to two straight Division III team titles from 2015-16 after a runner-up finish in 2014. ... Joined Fairless’ Joel Marchand as the only Stark County distance runners to sweep the 1,600 and 3,200 titles at the state meet. ... Closed out her career with three straight state titles in the 1,600. Owns the all-time county record (4:49.06). ... Helped lead Aquinas’ 3,200 relay team to three straight state titles. Anchored the relay to an all-time Division III state record of 9:05.84 at the 2016 state meet.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Ran cross country and track at the University of Toledo. ... Won the 2019 Mid-American Conference indoor championship in the 5,000 meters. Ran a school-record and personal-best 15:58.98 in the 5,000 later that year at the Raleigh Relays. ... Won the 3,000 in a career-best 9:36.76 at the Doug Raymond Invitational. Also ran personal bests of 4:43.15 in the mile at the 2018 Spire Midwest Indoor Open and 4:33.62 at the 2017 Ball State Challenge.