State track: Catholic Central freshman wins high jump

Catholic Central high jumper Mallory Mullen has a new title: state champion.

Mullen, already well established as a multiple meet and record-setting freshman, topped all that by clearing 5 feet, 7 inches and winning the Division III state track and field championship at Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on Friday night.

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That also puts her in contention to be a rare four-time state champ. Any chance she has considered that? “No,” she said. “I’m just caught up in the moment.”

Good answer.

Mullen and Lyssi Snouffer of Delaware Christian both cleared 5-7, but Mullen had no misses through that height and Snouffer, an All-Ohioan in volleyball and basketball, had two misses.

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Both missed three times at 5-8. Mullen went out first. That left Snouffer a final jump. When she missed, Mullen and Irish coach Mark Klopfenstein celebrated a rare Catholic Central state title.

Mullen gave several assists to her Irish teammates (she had none in middle school last year), Springfield High School (where the Irish train because they have no track), Northwestern High School (which allows her to use the high jump pit) and finally Klopfenstein.

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“I couldn’t have done it without my coach, Mark Klopfenstein,” she said. “He means a lot to me. And my teammates. I didn’t have teammates in middle school, so it means a lot to me having them with me and supporting me.”