Sanner carries on family tradition
WHITEHALL – Uniontown’s Mallory Sanner was the lone girl that qualified in the area for the state meet with a second-place finish in the girls javelin until Belle Vernon’s Jocelyn Connelly took the track in the 800. The senior beat the state-qualifying standard of 2:18.47 by finishing fourth at 2:18.41 to qualify for the state meet in her first year of track & field and give the area two qualifiers Thursday at the WPIAL Individual Track & Field Championships at Baldwin High School.
Sanner threw 143-1 to finish as a runner-up to Elizabeth-Forward’s Tori Paterra. Paterra’s throw of 162-9 shattered the old record of 141-5 that was set in 2004.
“I broke my PR of 133-11,” Sanner said. “I just had to stay consistent and keep making good throws.”
The Lady Raider senior qualified for the state meet as a sophomore, but suffered a setback last season after tearing her ACL.
“Tearing my ACL really hurt me last year,” Sanner said. “It was tough getting offers from schools and it was hard getting back at it. I really wanted to qualify.
“I also wore my knee brace, which I didn’t at West Mifflin and I think it helped.”
Sanner follows in the footsteps of her older brother, Doogie, and older sister, Courtney, which is something she is proud of.
“It is a real honor to represent Uniontown,” Sanner said. “My brother and sister qualified and it was nice to get back to the state meet.”
Sanner, who plays volleyball and basketball, has been throwing since ninth grade when she finished ninth at the district meet and would like to hit her PR at states.
“I’m aiming for 145,” Sanner said. “I would be happy if I hit that distance. I knew that I had to put everything I have into the javelin this year. It’s an honor to go to states multiple times.”
Connelly was a soccer player before deciding to give track a shot. She also credits the boys team and her coaches.
“Running with the boys has really helped me a lot,” Connelly said. “I was just hoping that nobody passed me coming down the stretch. I’m really happy that I’m going to states.”
Connelly and the rest of her teammates don’t have the luxury of track & field facilities, which can be frustrating for a Class AAA athlete.
“It is tough because you can’t do a lot of speed work, but we make do,” Connelly said. “I never thought I could do this at the beginning of the season. I think I started to believe at the Baldwin Invitational. I was also happy to hit my PR.”
Belle Vernon’s Brianne Roman was eighth in the long jump at 17 feet, but the Lady Leopard junior didn’t qualify for states.
“I was three inches shy of making it to states,” Roman said. “I could have done better. Running in the 400 relay interrupted my jumps. The pressure messed me up. I hope I can make it next year.”
Lady Leopard freshman Jessica Slagus finished without a medal, but the Lady Leopard threw 114-11. Laurel Highlands’ Maria Pierce had a throw of 105-6.
Uniontown’s Dara Reeves was 10th in the triple jump at 35- 1/2, jumped 16-6 in the long jump and was ninth in the 300 hurdles with a time of 47.87.
Laurel Highlands’ Clairesa Johnson was 23rd in the 300 hurdles at 50.65.
In the high jump, the Lady Raiders’ Emilee Madison jumped 4-9 and the Fillies’ Brook Burns finished with a leap of 4-11.
Connellsville’s Kylie Pilot finished at 16-3 1/2 in the long jump.
Uniontown’s Julie Friend was 22nd in the 3,200 at 12:03.97.