Girls Track and Field: Sprinter Ally Brediger leads talented Avon team

On an Avon girls team loaded with talent on its large roster, sophomore Ally Brediger stands out. She's more than just a highly talented sprinter. She's a catalyst. Brediger led the Eagles last year at the Division I state meet with second-place finishes in the 100 and 200 meters, propelling Avon to a fourth-place team finish. Brediger clocked 11.92 seconds in the 100 to finish behind Huber Heights Wayne senior Te-aira Branham Patrick (11.88). Westerville senior Alyvia Mentlow won the 200 over Brediger, 23.93 to 24.07. Brediger's time in the 200 was a school record and the second-fastest all time in Lorain County, trailing only Tianna Madison's 24.02 at the 2003 Division I state meet. Brediger was also a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 teams that advanced to state. The 4x100 just missed podium honors, finishing ninth (48.64). The 4x400 was 14th (3:58.68). Avon finished fourth of 66 teams with 45 points, placing behind Hillard Davidson (55), Pickerington Central (50) and Mason (48). The fanfare around the state meet at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium is tough to beat. But there's a lot more that motivates Brediger. "I feel like the pressure I've always thought of as a privilege," she said. "The adrenaline is like 10 times more. It helps me actually in a way to be more calm, to block out all the noise and to be focused in on what I love to do." Brediger's athletic accomplishments have continued. She was a member of the Division II volleyball state championship team and is coming off a successful indoor track season. She finished second in the 400 (55.90), third in the 60 (7.56) and was a member of the third-place 4x400 (3:58.84) at the OATCCC Division I State Indoor meet March 7 at SPIRE Institute. The Eagles were third of 48 teams that scored. "Track and field is just something that I felt close to. I feel like I've always loved running," Brediger said. "I used to do soccer and I always loved it. As soon as I had my first track practice, I just loved it. My teammates, the environment was just amazing." Brediger's performances at state in the 100 and 200 were the best ever produced by a Lorain County freshman girl, and best overall since Madison swept the 100 and 200 in 2002 and 2003 as a junior and senior. "I feel like I've trained for it in a way, to just block out everything," said Brediger. "Just like in life, that's what you have to learn to do with sports. I was just very ready for it. The only thing that I had been working for was that race. I was able to block out everything else." Brediger was undefeated in the 2025 outdoor season in the 100 and 200 until the state final. She was the only Division I freshman girl to qualify for state in both events. "I try to think of it as we are all there for one thing," she said. "Everyone wants to win. It all comes down to that no matter how long you've been there, whatever your times are. Everyone is at the same level once you get to the state meet. That's all that it is." Brediger's love for track goes back to middle school. She led Avon to a pair of Division I state titles as a seventh- and eighth-grader. She won back-to-back state titles in the 100 and was second twice in the 200. She also won the 400 state title as a seventh-grader. Avon middle school track coach Ben Cable saw her play basketball in the seventh grade and asked her to run track. "So I tried it out. I ended up falling in love with it," Brediger said. "I knew pretty much from the beginning that I liked the shorter events, but the 400, too, since I played soccer. It was something that I had the endurance for. "The 200 is probably my favorite out of the three. I love running the curve. I like it just because it's a good in-between distance. I feel like there's enough room making up for mistakes." Brediger was on fire in the open sprints throughout the 2025 season, but never more so than at the Southwestern Conference meet. She won the 100 (11.78) and 200 (24.13) in meet-record times, breaking a pair of 15-year-old records held by Midpark's Kaila Barber. Her winning 100 time ranks right behind Madison's county-record 11.72 from 2003. Brediger teamed with Paige Justice, Molley Kennedy and Madison Gettings for a third SWC meet record in the 400 relay (48.00). It broke the record of 49.36 set in 2016 by Amherst. The Eagles won their third straight SWC title and sixth overall. They scored a meet-record 211 points, breaking the 2014 record of 196 held by Brecksville. "I'm pretty confident in my start, being calm and getting out with a good reaction time," said Brediger. "If I had a weakness, it would be finishing the races and my speed endurance at the end of my races." Brediger competed at the New Balance National Indoor Championships in Boston on March 13-15, running the 60, 200 and 400, and was a member of the 4x400. "Obviously I have a lot more goals to hit," she said. "I know there's a lot more that I can accomplish. I'm just trying to trust the process and the plan of everything. I trust my coaches and all the work that I put in. The goal is to win, but I'm having fun seeing where it takes me." The competition level is so elevated year-to-year at the state level, Brediger is attempting to do whatever is necessary to stay ahead of the curve. "I've always trained with people that are around my speed and people that I know can push me in all my sports," she said. "I train with girls and guys. I've been grateful to have that, both here at Avon and with my club team (Oberlin Spikes). Here at Avon I have someone to push me at every single part of my race, even with the boys if I decide to run with them." Brediger also helped Avon with its district and regional meet title defenses. She won the 200 at district in a meet-record 24.33, breaking the second-oldest girls district record of 24.90 set in 1995 by John Marshall's Rochelle Russell. She also won the 100 (11.99) and teamed with Molley Kennedy, Justice and Madison Gettings to win the 400 relay (48.63). At the Port Clinton regional, Bredinger chalked up three wins plus a second. She won the 100 (11.87) and 200 (24.28) and teamed with Jayla Antrum, Kennedy Clere and Kaitlyn Reese to win the 4x400 (3:55.13), coming from behind to defeat Brunswick (3:56.08). "She's a process-driven child," said Avon girls coach Sam Ulery. "She's one of the few that will work for what she's accomplished. Everything she does is with purpose. She knows she's got talent but that she also works very hard to maximize that talent. "She's a multisport athlete that loves to compete whether it's volleyball or track or anything else that she's done. She's humble about it. She doesn't brag about it. You don't see a lot of flashy things. She just goes out and puts in the work. It's exciting to watch." Contact Paul Heyse at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.