Our Philosophy – “Developing Champion Student Athletes”

The Philosophy of the Gahanna Girls Track and Field program is to build a strong student athlete foundation through hard work, discipline and focus. We strive to be the best student athletes we can be in the classroom, on the track and in the field as we push towards the highest level we can achieve within each area.  At Gahanna, our goal is to reach and exceed the high standards we hold ourselves up to and meet challenges head on. We hope to provide post high school opportunities for our athletes by attending high exposure meets but ultimately student athletes from our program learn successful life lessons which provide a solid platform for continued success moving forward no matter the chosen path.

Our Program

Gahanna Lincoln is a High School Track and field program that maintains high competitive standards.  We compete at the highest levels in the State of Ohio each outdoor weekend and pride ourselves on being a well-rounded team with many athletes competing at the “Elite” level in a wide variety of events.  Academics are extremely important in our program and evidence of that is the fact that all 4 GL female athletes who qualified to the 2025 Ohio State Outdoor Championships qualified for “Academic All-Ohio” based on their cumulative GPA being 3.5 or above and participating in the State Meet
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Our People (2025 Captains)

Aliyah Bennett (Senior)

Sprinter
2023 State Champion in 4×400 Relay
2023 State Runner-up in 4×200 Relay
2024 State 6th place in 4×200 Relay
2024 Academic All State
2025 State 3rd place finish in 4×200
2025 State Qualifier in 200m
2025 Academic All State
Favorite Quote- “People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together”  -Michelle Obama

Masyn Brown (Senior)

Sprinter
2024 State 6th place in 4×200 Relay
2024 Academic All Ohio
Favorite Quote-  “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations”  -Dr.  Mae Jemison

Ruby Lewis (Senior)

Distance
2024 GL CC Captain
2025 State Qualifier in 3200m
2025 GL CC Captain

Favorite Quote-  “I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all” -Simone Biles

Our People (Coaches)

Roger Whittaker – Head Girls Coach – 36 Years
Bowling Green State University
-2 Years Varsity Baseball
-2 Years Varsity Track and Field
Columbus Linden Mckinley HS graduate
-3 Years Varsity Football
-3 Years Varsity Baseball  (All City League, All Metro)
-1 Year JV Boys Basketball
-1 Year Varsity Indoor Track and Field
Monroe Jr. HS (Columbus City Schools)
-2 Years Track and Field Team
11th Ave Elem, Trevitt Elem, Lexington Ave Elem. (Columbus City Schools)
-3 Years (85lb,100lb,120lb) Linden Eagles Youth Football Organization

GLHS Current Coaching Specialty Areas– All Sprint Relays, All hurdles, Jumps

Prior Athletic coaching positions-
9 years as Assistant Boys and Girls Track Sprint Coach at Gahanna Lincoln HS under Coach Ed Rarey
3 years as Assistant Football RB Coach at Gahanna Lincoln HS under Coaches Phil Koppel and Colin Messaros
8 years as JV Girls Basketball Coach at Gahanna Lincoln HS under Coach Tracy Beverly
1 year as JV Boys Basketball Coach at Columbus Beechcroft HS under Coach Satch Sullinger
1 year as 8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach at Gahanna Middle School West
Occupation:
*5th grade and Head Teacher, Lincoln Elementary school in Gahanna, 27 years.  (*retired)
Special Education Teacher, Gahanna Lincoln HS- 8 years
Family:
Wife- Cherie
Sons- (2) Jason, Travis
Daughters- (4) Tori, Sheena, Alexei, Jaeda
Grandaughter- (1) Rheyna
Dog (1)- Coconut
Residence:
Gahanna, Ohio
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Last 13 years Team/Individual Highlights and Coaching Honors:

2013  OCC Ohio Division Outdoor League Champion
2013  Girls Division 1 Outdoor District Champion
2013  OHSAA Outdoor Region 3 Runnerup
2013 OHSAA Division 1 Outdoor Girls 13th place
2013 OCC Ohio Girls Coach of the Year
2013 Ohio Division 1 Girls Coaching Ethics Award Winner
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2014 OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2014 OCC Ohio Division Outdoor League Champions
2014 Girls Division 1 Outdoor District Champion
2014 OHSAA Outdoor Region 3 Runnerup
2014 OHSAA Division 1 Outdoor State  Girls 3rd place
2014 OCC Ohio Girls Coach of the Year
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2015 OATCCC Division 1 Girls TEAM INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS!
2015 OATCC C Division 1 Indoor 4×200 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2015 OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
MiAngel Daniels OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 60mh STATE CHAMPION!
2015 OCC Ohio Division Outdoor League Champions
2015 Girls Division 1 Outdoor District Champion
2015 OHSAA Outdoor Region 3 Champions
2015  OHSAA Division 1 Girls TEAM OUTDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS!
2015 OHSAA Division 1 Outdoor 4×200 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2015 OHSAA Division 1 Outdoor 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2015 OATCCC District Coach of the Year
2015 OCC Ohio Division Girls Coach of the Year
2015  USTFCCCA  State of Ohio Division 1 Girls Outdoor Coach of the Year
2015  Candidate for USTFCCCA  National Girls Coach of the Year
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2016 OATCCC Division 1 Girls TEAM INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS!
2016 OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 4×200 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2016 OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2016 OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 4×800 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
MiAngel Daniels OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 60mh STATE CHAMPION!
2016 OCC Ohio Division Outdoor League Champions
2016 Girls Outdoor District Champion
2016 OHSAA Outdoor Region 3 Champions
2016  OHSAA Division 1 Girls Outdoor TEAM STATE RUNNERS-UP
2016 OHSAA Division 1 Outdoor 4×400 STATE CHAMPIONS!
2016 OATCCC District Girls Coach of the Year
2016 OCC Ohio Division Girls Outdoor Coach of the Year
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2017 OATCCC Division 1 Girls  TEAM INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS!
2017 OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 4×200 STATE CHAMPIONS!
2017 OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 4×400 STATE CHAMPIONS!
2017 OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 4×800 STATE CHAMPIONS!
2017 OCC Ohio Division Outdoor League Champions
2017 Girls Outdoor District Champion
2017 OHSAA Outdoor Region 3 Champions
2017 OHSAA Division 1 Girls OUTDOOR TEAM STATE RUNNERS-UP
MiAngel Daniels OHSAA Outdoor Division 1 outdoor 100mh STATE CHAMPION!
2017 OHSAA Division 1 Outdoor 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS
2017 OCC Ohio Division Girls Coach of the Year
2017 OATCCC District Coach of the Year
2017 Induction into Gahanna Lincoln Athletic Hall of Fame
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2018 OATCCC Ohio Division 1 GirlsTEAM INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS!
2018 OATCCC Indoor Division 1 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
Shynae Deas OATCCC Indoor Division 1 800m STATE CHAMPION!
2018 OCC Ohio Division Outdoor League Champions
2018 Girls Outdoor District Champions
2018 OHSAA Outdoor Region 3 Champions
2018 OHSAA Division 1 Girls TEAM OUTDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS!
Madison Martinez OHSAA Outdoor Division 1 STATE 800m CHAMPION
2018 OHSAA Division 1 outdoor Girls 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2018 “This Week News” Girls T&F Coach of the Year
2018 OCC Ohio Division Girls Coach of the Year
2018 USTFCCCA State of Ohio Division 1 Girls Outdoor Coach of the Year
2018 Candidate for USTFCCC A National Girls Coach of the Year
2018 OATCCCA District Coach of the Year
2018 NFHS Girls Coach of the Year for State of OHIO
2018 NFHS Girls Coach of the Year for Eastern US Region
***2018 NFHS Girls NATIONAL GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR!***
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2019 OATCCC Ohio Division 1 Girls TEAM INDOOR STATE RUNNERSUP
2019 OATCCC  Division 1 Indoor 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2019 OCC Ohio Division League Champions
2019 OHSAA OUTDOOR District Champions
2019 OHSAA OUTDOOR Regional Champions
2019 OHSAA Division 1 Girls OUTDOOR TEAM 3rd Place
2019 OHSAA Division 1 Girls OUTDOOR 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2019 OCC Ohio Division Girls Coach of the Year
2019 “This Week News” Girls T&F Coach of the Year
2019 OATCCC District Coach of the Year
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2020 OATCCC Ohio Division 1 Girls TEAM INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS!
2020 OATCCC Division 1 Indoor 4×400 Relay STATE CHAMPIONS!
2020 Lacey Stringer OATCCC Division 1 Indoor Shot Put STATE CHAMPION!
***REMAINDER OF SEASON CANCELLED DUE TO COVID***
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2021 OATCCC Ohio Division 1 Girls TEAM INDOOR STATE RUNNERUP!
2021 Camden Bentley OATCCC Division 1 60m hurdle STATE CHAMPION
2021 OCC Ohio Division League Champions
2021 OHSAA OUTDOOR  District Champions
2021 OHSAA OUTDOOR Regional Champions
2021 OUTDOOR Camden Bentley 300m hurdle STATE CHAMPION!
2021 OUTDOOR Camden Bentley 100m hurdle STATE RUNNERUP!
2021 OUTDOOR Alyssa Shope 3200m STATE CHAMPION!
2021 OHSAA Division 1 Girls OUTDOOR TEAM STATE RUNNERUP!
2021 OCC Ohio Division Girls Coach of the Year
2021 OATCCC District Coach of the Year
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2022 OATCCC Ohio Division 1 Girls TEAM INDOOR STATE 3RD PLACE
2022 4X200 Relay Indoor STATE CHAMPIONS!
2022 OCC Ohio Division League Champions
2022 OHSAA OUTDOOR District Champions
2022 OHSAA OUTDOOR Region 3 Champions
2022 OHSAA Division 1 TEAM OUTDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS
2022 OHSAA Division 1 OUTDOOR STATE RUNNERUP 4X100 RELAY
Camden Bentley OHSAA OUTDOOR Division 1 STATE 100m Hurdles STATE CHAMPION
Camden Bentley OHSAA OUTDOOR Division 1 STATE 300m Hurdles STATE CHAMPION
2022 OHSAA Division 1 OUTDOOR STATE 4X200 CHAMPIONS
2022 OCC Ohio Division Coach of the Year
2022 OATCCC District Coach of the Year
2022 NFHS OHIO STATE COACH OF THE YEAR
2022 Candidate for NFHS NATIONAL GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR
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2023 OATCCC Division 1 Girls TEAM INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS
2023 4X200 Relay INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS-   NEW STATE RECORD
2023 Camden Bentley OATCCC Indoor Division 1 STATE CHAMPION 60h.-NEW STATE RECORD
2023 4X400 Relay INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS
2023 Daisha Decree OATCCC Indoor Division 1 STATE CHAMPION Long Jump
2023 Daisha Decree OATCCC Indoor Division 1 STATE CHAMPION Triple Jump
2023 Amryne Chilton OATCCC Indoor Division 1 STATE CHAMPION 400m NEW SCHOOL INDOOR RECORD 56.51
2023 OHSAA Division 1 TEAM OUTDOOR STATE CHAMPIONS
Camden Bentley OHSAA OUTDOOR Division 1 100m Hurdles STATE CHAMPION- NEW STATE RECORD! 13.27 NEW SCHOOL RECORD 13.25
Camden Bentley OHSAA OUTDOOR. Division 1 STATE 300m Hurdles STATE CHAMPION NEW SCHOOL RECORD 42.00
Daisha Decree 3rd Place Long Jump NEW SCHOOL RECORD 18’11”
2023 OCC Ohio Division League Champions
2023 OHSAA Region 3 Champions
2023 DIVISION 1 OUTDOOR STATE 4X200 RUNNER UP NEW SCHOOL RECORD 1:38.04
2023 DIVISION 1 OUTDOOR 4X400 STATE CHAMPION
2023 OCC Ohio Division Coach of the Year
2023 OATCCC COACH OF THE YEAR
2023 NFHS OHIO STATE COACH OF THE YEAR
2023 NFHS SECTION 2 (Oh,Pa,Ky,WV,Va,Ind) COACH OF THE YEAR
2023 NFHS CANDIDATE FOR NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR 
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2024 Indoor OATCCC Division 1  Runners up in 4×200
2024 Keena Sanders OATCCC Indoor 3rd place in 400
2024 OCC Ohio Division TEAM League CHAMPIONS
2024 OHSAA District 2 TEAM Runnerup
2024 Keena Sanders OHSAA REGIONAL 400 CHAMPION
2024 Keena Sanders OHSAA DIVISION 1 OUTDOOR 400 3RD PLACE
2024 OHSAA OUTDOOR 4×200 Meter Relay 6th place
2024 OCC Ohio Division Coach of the Year
2024 INDUCTED INTO OATCCC HALL OF FAME
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2025 Indoor OATCCC Division 1 Runners up in 4×200
2025 OCC Ohio Division TEAM LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
2025 OHSAA District 3 TEAM CHAMPIONS
2025 4×200 OHSAA REGIONAL Runners up
2025 OHSAA Moriah Dixon 5th Place
2025 OHSAA 4×200 3rd Place
2025 OCC Ohio Division Coach of the Year

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ASSISTANT COACHES AND ASSOCIATES:

Justin Hammond – Assistant – 36 Years Boys and Girls
Capital University graduate/Ashland University Masters Graduate in Sports Science
Pickerington HS graduate
Specialties– Pole Vault/Strength and Conditioning

Prior Athletic Coaching positions:
10 years football staff @ Pickerington Central HS
5 years 7&8 Head Wrestling @ Pickerington Ridgeview Jr. HS
9 years Assistant Wrestling at Gahanna Lincoln HS
8 years Head Wrestling Coach at Gahanna Lincoln HS
12 years as Boy’s Assistant Track and Field Coach
16 years as Girl’s Assistant Track and Field Coach
Family:
Sons (2)- Tyler, Brett

Current:
Health and PE Teacher at Lincoln HS
Freshman football coach, Pickerington HS Central
Gahanna Lincoln HS Physical Education Teacher
(*retired)

Residence: 
Pickerington, Ohio
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Jerrica Manley – Assistant – 15 Years
Kent State graduate and KSU Track and Field team member
Gahanna Lincoln HS graduate and Track and Field member (captain)
Gahanna Middle School West graduate and Track Team member
GLHS State Qualifier in 200 meter dash, finalist in 4×1,4×2,4×4
Specialties- Sprints –
Sprints
Sprint Relays
Current-
Columbus Charter School Educator
Board member and role model for Eryn PiNK Ltd
Residence:
New Albany, Oh

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Ryan Callihan – Assistant -11Years
Shawnee State University and Centerburg HS
Cross Country and Basketball at Shawnee St
Head Girls Cross Country Coach
Assistant GLHS Girls Track and Field
specialties:
distance and middle distance
Family:
Wife-                   Stacie
Daughters (2)-  Bailey, Chloe
Sons (1)-                Tyler
current:
Intervention Specialist at Gahanna Lincoln HS
residence:
Gahanna, Ohio
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Bernardo Amerson – Director of Strength and Conditioning (2006-present)
West Virginia University, Hattiesburg HS
Ohio State University Strength Staff (2006)
West Virginia University Strength Staff (2001)
Athletic Scholarship to West Virginia University Football Program 1994
Academic Honor Roll, WVU 1992 and 1996
Best Conditioned Athlete, WVU 1994-95
Iron Mountaineer Award, WVU Football 1996
*Trained over 25 Football All Americans
*Trained 10 1st Round Draft picks in the NFL
*Trained 75 athletes drafted or signed as free agents in the NFL
*Trained 3 athletes drafted or signed as free agents in the NBA
*Trained 8 athletes drafted or signed as free agents in MLB
Current:
Strength and Conditioning Coach Gahanna Lincoln HS
Residence:
Blacklick, Oh
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Steve Blackmon – College Recruiting Coordinator
Founder AAA Fitness, Gahanna Ohio
Founder of Unlimited Potential Youth Foundation
Specialties:
Provides Information to parents and athletes regarding college recruitment:
*Deadlines
*Paperwork
*Scholarship potential
*Contact with College coaches
Current:
Personal Strength Coach/Personal Trainer at AAA Fitness, Gahanna Oh
Residence:
Gahanna, Oh

Parent Booster Reps:
Laura Perryman – (Pennie)
Torri Fields – (Latorian)