Apr 25, 2004 By Jim Downey 3 min read

With a point here, a point there, plus several outstanding individual performances, the Laurel Highlands girls track and field team held off the rest of the county to retain the team title Saturday at the 2004 Fayette County Coaches’ Association Track & Field Meet held at Uniontown’s Bill Power Stadium. Connellsville girls won the top individual awards with Shannon Kovack taking the Track MVP and teammate Amanda Sines parlaying two gold medals into the Field MVP.

Kovack lined up in four events on the track, finishing first in the 1,600 (5:40) and 3,200 (12:34), second in the 800 (2:31) and first as the anchor leg to Gabby Carbonara, Jenny Kooser and Molly Mullaney in the 3,200 relay (10:32). The senior earned 24 points for the MVP trophy.

“I wanted to run hard and win the MVP. I knew what I had to do,” the St. Francis University recruit said. “My legs were tired from last week. I think everyone was tired from this week.

“I’m not as strong in track as I am in cross country. I’m happy with the MVP.”

With the 2003 Field MVP at Robert Morris University now, Sines saw this as her time to take the award won by former teammate Christina Roadman. The junior won the shot put (35-2) and discus (110-1) to finish with 16 points.

“I expected to throw further in both events today, but there was no one to push me. It’s just me out there,” Sines said.

With the dual meet schedule closing this week, Sines is looking at the time before the WPIAL team playoffs and individual qualifiers as a time to improve.

“I need the time to work on my technique,” added Sines.

Danielle LaPresta led the push to the team title for the Fillies by scoring a team-high 20 points. The senior finished first in the 400 (1:01.8) and 800 (2:26), had a second in the 3,200 relay and then capped her day by running the anchor of the victorious 1,600 relay team.

“Today definitely made up for by bad Tuesday. It was like a Black Tuesday,” said LaPresta, referring to Tuesday’s loss at Connellsville.

With only a smattering of athletes from outside Section 2-AAA competing, most of the field was of a known quantity something LaPresta believes benefited her.

“The more people you know, the more you know how to run the race,” LaPresta said. “I was pushed in all of the races except the 3,200 relay. “

There’s not much of a break in the schedule with a meet at Albert Gallatin on Monday and at Uniontown on Tuesday, but LaPresta sees a light at the end of the tunnel with such a busy schedule.

“I had a busy two weeks, but it will get me in shape for the big meets. It’s a good preparation for the big stuff coming up.”

Though only a freshman, Uniontown’s Breehana Jacobs make her presence felt. Jacobs won the 100 (in a record-breaking time of 12.1 seconds), 200 (25.81) and anchored the team of Rebecca Geisel, Candace Adams, and Brea Belt in the record-breaking of 50.39 seconds in the 400 relay. Somehow she managed to find some time to win the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 51/2 inches.

“I expected to get an 11.9 in the 100, but I did my best today,” Jacobs said. “I really enjoy running track. I think it’s my calling.”

Uniontown’s Courtney Sanner (javelin) and Lauren Madison (high jump), Connellsville’s Colleen McLaughlin (pole vault) and Lauren McCormick (300 intermediate hurdles), and Laurel Highlands’ Colbie Foreman (100 high hurdles) and Casey Conn (triple jump) also won county championships.

The Fillies won the team title with 127 points, just seven points ahead of Connellsville. Uniontown was third with 79 points.