Sensational Solo Performance: Juliette Laracuente-Huebner Wins Team Track Championship
An unprecedented accomplishment took place at the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches state indoor track and field meet hosted at the SPIRE Institute in northeast Ohio. Juliette Laracuente-Huebner, a senior from Marengo Highland High School, not only won four individual titles and set new records, but she also secured the team championship Single-handedly.
A First in the History of the Indoor State Meet
The state indoor track meet, with a history spanning 18 years, had never seen a female athlete achieve such a feat. Highland girls track coach Chip Wendt confirmed that “no girl in the history of the indoor state meet has ever done that.” He added that a couple of male athletes in Division-I had managed this, but no girl in any division had done so before.
Laracuente-Huebner set multiple records during her remarkable performance. In the high jump, she established a Divisions II-III meet record, achieving a height of 5-8.25, which was only slightly below her personal best of 5-9. She set a division indoor state meet record in the long jump with a leap of 20-3.5, a mere quarter-inch short of her personal record.
In the 60-meter hurdles, Laracuente-Huebner surpassed her previous best of 8.77 by clocking 8.56 in the final after an 8.74 in the prelims. She also set an all-divisions indoor state meet record in the triple jump, recording a personal best of 41-8.75. Laracuente-Huebner faced the challenge of participating in several events at once. However, she effectively managed her day with assistance from the OHSAA officials, who, according to Wendt, were accommodating to her and other athletes.
A Remarkable Indoor Track Career
Throughout her indoor track career, Laracuente-Huebner has won 10 state championships, including three peats in all jumps and this year’s hurdles title. She has also claimed the Division II long jump state championship twice during the outdoor season.
When asked by reporters how she has been able to have prolonged success in a variety of events. Her answer was simple hard work.
If Im not working hard someone out there is out there working to get better than me.I always want to make sure I put my best foot foward and my best self out there on the track.
Laracuente-Huebner hard work is paying off. Be on the lookout for her next year at the one level as she continues her track career at University of Cincinnati.
