Apr 6, 2003 By Rob Burchianti 3 min read

Ron Morris is hoping to send several girls to the PIAA Track and Field Championships in what is shaping up to be another outstanding season for Laurel Highlands.. The Fillies coach already has one state medallist in track this year, however.

Diane Gmiter recently placed second in the shot put in the indoor track and field championships held at Penn State.

Gmiter, a senior, heaved a throw of 39 feet, six inches at the final after recording tosses of 37-6 at Slippery Rock and 40-91/2 at West Virginia University in preliminary meets.

“She’s the first girl from Laurel Highlands to earn an indoor state medal in track,” Morris said. “Another one of our girls, Mikie Monaghan, was the first girl from Fayette County to win an indoor medal in any sport. She did it in cross country.

“It was an outstanding effort by Diane, and she’s only going to get better as this season progresses. She’s got the longest throw in the WPIAL this season by about two feet.”

Gmiter, the daughter of Gery and Cathy Gmiter of Hopwood, threw 38-8 in the Fillies’ Section 2-AAA romp over visiting Elizabeth-Forward on Thursday.

“It’s a little bit of a different atmosphere,” Gmiter said of throwing indoors as opposed to outdoors. “You have to get used to it, but throwing is throwing. You have to compete every time you get in the circle.”

Gmiter, who was accompanied to Penn State by her mother and Morris, had a good feeling about the championship meet.

“I was pretty confident with how I was throwing,” Gmiter said. “And I definitely want to keep improving.”

Gmiter, who also throws the discus and javelin for Laurel Highlands, began competing in the shot put as a freshman.

“I used to run in junior high,” Gmiter said. “As for throwing, a friend of mine said to come along and throw with her when I was a freshman. I tried to do what I was supposed to do and it went pretty well. Once I got started, I got hooked.”

Along with Morris, Gmiter credits Kerry Whitman for her steady improvement in the shot put.

“Coach Whitman is the reason I am where I am in this event,” Gmiter said of the former Brownsville javelin state champion.

Where Gmiter is right now is among the elite shot putters in the WPIAL.

“I always try to focus on the next meet and try not to look too far ahead, but my ultimate goal is to get to the states in the outdoor season, too,” said Gmiter, who earned a WPIAL medal last year in the shot put. “I finished fifth, but I missed the states by 21/2 inches. I want to go the next step up this year.”

That’s a step she’s already conquered in the indoor track season.