Waynesburg Central’s Higgins 4th in shot put again
SHIPPENSBURG – Helen Higgins is stuck in a rut, but it’s not a bad groove to be running in because the Waynesburg Central senior finished fourth once again in the girls Class AA shot put Saturday in the PIAA Championships held at Shippensburg University. Higgins was having her problems on the rainy, chilly afternoon, causing her to be on the outside looking in as she approached her final attempt in the preliminaries. Her final throw of 38 feet, six inches pushed her to fourth place, a spot she would hold through the final three attempts. Kim Rorabaugh of Purchase Line won with a throw of 41-feet.
“I was pretty tight throwing today,” Higgins said. “I knew I had it in me. I focused and I did it.
“My first two throws felt okay, but they weren’t explosive. I knew I had it. I had to be explosive.”
Although she reprised her 2002 finish, Higgins improved her best throw from last year. She threw 36-113/4 for her place last year.
“I improved from last year. I wanted to place better, but, oh well,” Higgins said.
“I’m friends with all these girls. I’m glad they did well.”
Michol Monaghan of Laurel Highlands ran a personal best time of 11:20.55 Saturday to finish 17th in the girls Class AAA 3,200 to complete a record-breaking career for the Fillies.
“I wanted to stay on pace, but I went out a little fast in the beginning,” Monaghan said of the eight-lap race. “I was pushing the entire race. I picked off a couple girls in the last two laps.”
The Brown University recruit complemented the field, saying, “It’s a totally different ball game when you get out here.”
Taking a moment to reflect on her final race, Monaghan said, “This is the first time my focus was on the two-mile. I believe I did the best I could. I did the best I could do today.”
Beth-Center’s Danielle Hutchinson was unable to advance Saturday to the finals in the girls Class AA javelin in her first trip to the state meet. She finished 19th with a best throw of 84-11. Mount Pleasant’s Lindsay Biller was unable to advance to the finals of the girls Class AAA triple jump.