SPRING 2019 FIELD: Caitlyn Marx Salem

Caitlyn Marx wasn’t at her best for the OHSAA State Track and Field Tournament, but she had confidence in herself and that made all the difference.

The senior at Salem spent most of her high school career on the radar of Division I coaches as a discus thrower. She entered her final season committed to throw for Oregon State and yet, she did not carry herself as someone with that sort of talent.

After three seasons of failing to make the podium at state despite being one of Ohio’s highly-touted field athletes, Marx showed why she has Pac-12 talent. She powered through a hip injury while winning a district and regional title en route to a state runner-up finish in Columbus.

“I’m starting to be more confident in my abilities and in what I’ve done at practice. That fed into the success that I had this year,” Marx said. “In past years, I didn’t believe that I could do it even though the numbers were there. I just didn’t support myself.”

Marx took second with her best throw coming at 140 feet. Van Wert’s Kirsten Clay won with a throw of 145-08. During the regular season, Marx became the best discus thrower in school history by throwing 155-10.

“I just stayed positive. Even if I had a bad meet, there was still a chance that I could have a good meet the next time I go out,” Marx said. “[Bad results] don’t predict the outcome of the next meet.”

Marx put in the work. She goes to the gym five to six times a week and stops for nothing. She even did workouts the morning of her graduation ceremony. Marx typically worked out alone.

“I really enjoy it. Most people don’t think it’s fun and I do,” Marx said. “I want to be successful in this sport and I want to see myself do better things.”

She took up throwing after she was approached by the mother of one of her friends, Salem girls track coach Amy Cochran.

“It’s grown on me a lot,” Marx said. “I always thought volleyball [would be my favorite sport], but I came to love track more.”

Marx plans to major in education at Oregon State. She’d like to pursue the career path of Cochran.

“She coaches and teaches and I think that’s what I want to do,” Marx said. “She has a lot of fun with it. I want to follow in her footsteps and do the same.”

— Brian Dzenis, The Vindicator