Willard High School Celebrates First Female State Champion in Track History

COLUMBUS — A historic milestone has been reached at Willard High School as senior La Mya Hicks secured the institution’s first-ever female individual state championship in any sport. This remarkable achievement occurred during the Ohio High School Athletic Association Jesse Owens State Track and Field Championships held on June 4 at Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Hicks clinched the Division IV girls long jump title with an impressive opening jump of 18-02.25, outpacing North Union’s Gabby Lindsey, who finished second with a jump of 17-09. “It is crazy to be the first girl in my school to win this,” Hicks expressed. After finishing 11th in the state meet last year, she dedicated herself to improvement, stating that her previous experience fueled her drive to excel this season.

Reflecting on her journey, Hicks noted, “It took a lot of learning and a lot of practice. Last year was my first year even doing long jump. I was surprised when I made it last year, but knew this year was going to be different. I worked so hard to get here.”

Hicks was not the only standout from Willard, as fellow senior Cora Clark also made waves by finishing third and earning All-Ohio honors with a jump of 17-07.50. Clark had barely qualified for the finals, recording a preliminary jump of 16-04. “It is so special to me,” Clark remarked. “I came in as a plus 3, barely made it to finals and then hit a PR in the finals to finish Top 3. It is so incredible.”

Both athletes credited their shared experience for their success, with Hicks appreciating Clark’s presence during the competition. “It was so cool to have Cora here because this is her first year trying long jump,” Hicks said. Clark added, “I am glad it did and I am so happy we ended up No. 1 and 3. La Mya has such a positive mindset, and it helps so much to have someone like her to warm up with.”