![Colonel Crawford’s Roston, Holt prepare for \](https://i0.wp.com/www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2025/06/03/PBUC/84003175007-mira?auto=webp&crop=392,221,x0,y0&format=pjpg&width=1200&w=860&resize=860,0&ssl=1 "Colonel Crawford’s Roston, Holt prepare for \")
NORTH ROBINSON – State is going to be a little different for Colonel Crawford seniors Mira Holt and Gabby Roston this weekend.
Both are now four-year qualifiers and have earned multiple All-Ohio honors over the years, but they’ve primarily done it together.
This year, Roston qualified in just the pole vault while Holt will compete in the long jump, 100-meter dash, and 400-meter dash. It’s the first time Roston has only had one event at state, and the first time Holt made it as an individual.
“It was definitely a lot harder this year, but I’m really grateful that I got the opportunity to be able to go again,” Roston said. “I put a lot of like hard work, so I’m just happy that I got to go all four years.”
“It’s definitely different than in past years because I’m used to doing the relays,” Holt added. “It’s kind of all I’ve really done in the postseason, and I figured I’d have the 4×4 there this year again because we’ve had it the last three years. It’s gonna be a change, but I’m excited.”
The right mindset is key
Heading into regionals, Roston knew she couldn’t afford any slip ups. At Fostoria, five girls came in seeded at 11-0 or better, with two more at 10-6.
And in the finals the four automatic qualifiers were champion McKenzie Montgomery of Gibsonburg at 12-0, along with the trio of Coldwater’s Ava Schmitmeyer, Lucas’ Rebekah Case, and Columbus Grove’s Lauren Auchmuty at 11-8.
Roston was sixth at 11-4 with Margaretta’s Alayna Biehl ahead of her by virtue of attempts. At some other regionals, girls who didn’t clear 10-0 are heading to state due to the qualification method across Ohio.
“I was just trying to stay positive<” Roston said. “I always jump better when I’m happy, so I was just like trying to laugh and have fun with all the girls there. And it was really cool to get a jump at something that’s like state.
“It was preparing me because a lot of those girls are gonna be on the podium come Friday. I just knew I had to be in the top six, and that’s all I was thinking about mostly.”
It earned her an at-large bid where she’ll join a field of 18 featuring 12 girls with seeded heights of 11-0 or higher. Roston’s regional was so difficult that the girls who finished 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th cleared heights better than, or matching, six state qualifiers from around the state.
But with that now behind her, she can put all of her proverbial eggs into one basket.
“It’s the only time I’ve really just got to focus on it because normally I have to run the 4×4 during pole vault warm-up,” Roston said. “But I think it’ll be fun this year to do my thing and not have to worry about having to run a relay, just focus on myself for a bit.
“If I get 11-6, 11-8, 12-0, I’ll probably get on the podium.”
Holt has had added motivation
Fresh off winning the Northern 10 long jump title as a junior with a leap of 15-0¼, Holt was eager to carry that momentum into the postseason the following week.
Unfortunately, districts didn’t go as planned.
“Last year I had the opportunity to, but I fouled all my jumps — it didn’t go great,” Holt said. “From that point on, I knew I wanted to get there this year. And I’m excited to be able to do at Jesse (Owens Memorial Stadium).”
She added almost two feet to her junior year best this season jumping 18-3¼ at the Bob Royer Invitational in early May. It’s still the second-best jump in Division III this year.
And when it came to her sprints, she often left competitors in her dust.
But at regionals — like Roston — she knew she’d have to push herself to another level.
“Before we were at Heath which is one of the (slower regionals),” Holt said of the site change this year. “But I saw PRs in the 100 and 400, so I think it definitely helped push me.”
She clocked a 12.51 in the 100 and 58.53 in the 400 to secure the fourth automatic bid in both events; 16-10 in the long jump was good enough for third.
“I knew I needed the top four spots, even though fifth probably would qualify out of our region,” Holt said. “But I wanted to get in the top four because I didn’t want to be sitting and waiting around to see, that definitely pushed me just to go a little faster.”
And even though her best friend Roston will be down in Columbus with her, Holt will have to rely on herself on the track and runway.
“It’s a little harder because usually you have your relay team there with you if you need confidence or whatever on the day of, they’re always there for you,” she said. “But going in as an individual, I know I’m gonna have to mentally prepare and have a strong mindset because it’s only me in the race, just have to focus on myself.”
Holt will run in the second heat of the 100 at 10:20 a.m. and in the first heat of the 400 at 11:00 a.m. on Friday. Roston and Holt will simultaneously compete in their respective field events later that day at 1:00 p.m.
zholden@gannett.com | 419-617-6018 | Twitter/X: @Zachary_Holden