Apr 24, 2002 By Jim Downey 3 min read

From top to bottom, the Laurel Highlands girls track team just had too much depth for rival Uniontown in the Section 2-AAA season finale. The Fillies closed the regular season Tuesday night with a convincing 116-34 victory at Bill Power Stadium. The Fillies finish undefeated for a second consecutive season with a 6-0 mark. Laurel Highlands clinched a spot in next week’s team playoffs at a day, site and time to be determined.

Laurel Highlands girls coach Ron Morris had nothing but accolades for his squad in all aspects of the meet.

“We did a great job on the track and a fantastic job in the field. I think we might have swept the throws,” Morris said before taking a moment to look into the future. “I think the pieces are coming together. Slowly, hopefully surely.

“I want to commend the multiple winners. Deena Blanc had three firsts. Lauren Slampak and Mikie Monaghan had two. Danielle LaPresta won the 200 and was on two relays. Jessi Evans won the 800. It shows (our effort) is spread out and the depth of our team.”

Morris knows it’s a team effort the whole way, lauding the effort of many involved in the section title. “The section title is shared with the whole team, the coaching staff and the parents.

Slampak was happy to be a busy camper. Running from event to event kept her warm as the temperature dropped throughout the meet.

“I’ve been keeping busy. I’ve been able to stay warmed up. (The cold weather) keeps me focused on what I have to do,” the winner of the triple jump (32-6) and 200 (27.9) said of Tuesday before turning her attention to Saturday’s county meet.

“It’s always good competition. It’s something to push for. I usually get my best marks.”

Diane Gmiter had a trifecta in a way by winning the shot put, finishing second in the javelin and taking third in the discus. The thrower wasn’t hampered by the weather much, but, then again, she was throwing against Uniontown.

“I don’t think I did too bad today. The weather didn’t slow me down much. I always get fired up against Uniontown,” Gmiter said.

Almost through an early season wrist injury, Gmiter feels she’s ready to go with the big meets in the upcoming weeks.

“It’s taken a while to get the strength back, but by the end of the year I know where I have to be and I’m going to get there.”

The Uniontown girls (3-3, 5-3) had some problems in the 100 and 400 relay, but coach Ed Yauger acknowledged his girls finished a lot of what they set out to do.

“We always look for a PR (personal best), and we did a lot of that tonight. That’s all you can ask from a team. You always want to run against higher competition (like Laurel Highlands). You want to run against quality athletes.

“It could have been better, but, all in all, there were more PRs set and that’s what it’s all about.”

Meagan Coneybeer won the 100 high hurdles for Uniontown, and Scarlett Graham showed more than a glimpse she is back to standards set two years ago, something that pleased Morris.

“I’m glad to see Scarlett Graham’s back. She did a nice job tonight.”

Laurel Highlands and Uniontown will meet again Saturday morning at Connellsville in the Fayette County Coaches’ Association Track and Field Meet. The throwing events begin at 10 a.m. with the track events to follow.