May 25, 2003 By Jim Downey 3 min read

SHIPPENSBURG – Emily Mathason’s career is taking off while Shanna Yourchik’s was coming to a close. The Greene County training partners both medalled Friday with Yourchik, the Jefferson-Morgan senior, jumping 5 feet, two inches to tie for fourth place and Mathason, a sophomore at West Greene, tying for sixth place, also with a jump of 5-2, because of more misses.

The two jumpers are practice partners at Waynesburg Central’s track because neither school has facilities.

The fourth place medal completes the steady rise Yourchik has made in three trips to the PIAA high jump finals. She missed out on the medals as a sophomore with a ninth place finish, moving up to sixth place last year.

“My goal was the top three, but I placed better than I did last year. I’m pleased with that. I didn’t clear 5-2 in practice,” Yourchik said, the first Lady Rocket to earn a state medal.

Yourchik had no problems from the starting height of 4-8, easily clearing her way through 4-10, 5-feet and 5-2. The senior’s woes began when she moved on to 5-4, her personal best height in the event. Her best attempt was on her second run only to have her calf or foot hit the bar.

Yourchik failed to advance in the 100 high hurdles Friday, finishing 18th overall with a time of 16.57 seconds.

Mathason not only kept her training partner going during the miserable weather Friday morning, the first West Greene girl to medal was the official cheerleader in the jump pit. Mathason was all smiles throughout the competition, especially when she stood on the medal stand although she lost a coin flip for the medal. She’ll receive hers at a later date.

“I’m excited. This is cool,” a smiling Mathason said.

Like Yourchik, Mathason had a smooth ride through 5-feet, needing a second attempt to clear 5-2. She failed in all three attempts at 5-4, hitting the bar with her shoulder on her best shot at the height.

“I’ve only jumped 5-2 once before in a meet and I did it here today,” Mathason said.

Sounding as though she just won an Oscar, Mathason doled thanks out to her assembled family at the meet, her parents, grandparents, brother and sister, saying, “I couldn’t have done this without them.” She wasn’t awed by the environment, but was pretty amazed by the scene around her.

“I wasn’t nervous at all. I guess the adrenaline, the crowd kept me going. The television was weird. It was live,” Mathason said.

The dreary conditions didn’t bother either jumper.

“I was used to this in regular meets,” Yourchik said, while Mathason agreed the poor weather conditions were nothing new.

Both jumpers appreciated having a friendly face in the top meet in the state.

“I was congratulating everyone. It’s always nice to have someone you know jumping with you,” Yourchick said.

“I’m so happy for Shanna. It encouraged me because it really helps to have someone who knows what you’ve been doing all year to cheer you on,” Mathason said.

Another point of agreement was the desire to return, a run Mathason hopes to reach in the same manner Yourchik did.

“I wish I was coming back next year,” Yourchik said.

“I’m going to focus more on the high jump next year. I want to come back her. Three girls of the top eight are seniors,” Mathason said.