Apr 28, 2004 By Jim Downey 3 min read

The Laurel Highlands girls track and field team capped a busy four-day stretch Monday afternoon by finishing the Section 2-AAA regular season with an 88-62 victory at Uniontown. The victory came through rain, cold glaring sunshine, snow, hail and high winds. “No matter the weather conditions, a victory over Uniontown is a good day,” Laurel Highlands girls coach Ron Morris said. “There’s a lot of stress on the body. We’ve asked a lot of the kids in the last couple days.

“The kids came through, but it always helps it was against Uniontown.”

Morris and the coaching staff managed to pick up victories at Albert Gallatin on Monday and over rival Uniontown without wearing down the Fillies.

“We tried to run girls in one event, except maybe two events for the shorter distances,” said Morris. “Against Uniontown, we tried to attack their weak spots in the 800, 400, shot put and discus.”

The plan worked with eight of nine points in the 800, eight in the 400, nine points in the discus and six of nine in the shot put. Danielle LaPresta doubled in the 400 and 800 as did Amanda Fuller in the shot put and discus. Colbie Foreman won the 100 high and 300 intermediate hurdles for the Fillies. Bethsy Medina won the pole vault with the Fillies sweeping the relays.

“Danielle LaPresta did a great job, and Amber Fuller is getting better and better in the shot put,” praised Morris. “They’re were a lot of great performances.”

The staff continued to tweak the lineup, and according to Morris it paid off in the performances of Bethany Work.

“I think I’ve convinced Bethany Work she can run the 1,600 very effectively,” said Morris of his underclassman, who held off a pair of Uniontown runners to win the 1,600.

Next up for the Fillies (6-1, 7-1) will be the WPIAL team playoffs next week, but not before they get a chance to rest and recoup for the May schedule.

“It will be a much needed rest, for both the coaching staff and athletes,” Morris said.

Uniontown girls coach Bob Manges was obviously disappointed with the result, but was upbeat with the direction his team is moving in.

“We were 3-5 last year and are 5-2 this year with the only losses to the two teams above us in the section,” said Manges, whose Lady Red Raiders close the regular season Thursday with Senior Night against McGuffey. “That’s a big step in one year. With the junior high program, I think we’re starting to establish an overall program at Uniontown.”

“Laurel Highlands is still better than us. I thought we would catch some breaks, especially after going second and third in the 100 high hurdles, but we dropped the baton in the 400 relay.”

With swirling winds and snow pelting the track, the 400 relay team had problems on the second and third handoffs, eventually causing Uniontown to be disqualified.

“It was weather related. It happens. You just don’t like for it to happen against Laurel Highlands.”

Despite the disappointments, Manges saw a lot of positives in the meet.

“Breehana Jacobs is awesome,” Manges said of the freshman that won the 100 and 200. “Lauren Madison keeps doing what she does in the high jump and Courtney Sanner is becoming a good javelin thrower.”

Jacobs won the long jump with teammate Rebecca Geisel taking first in the triple jump. Sanner won the javelin with Jill Monahan leading a Uniontown sweep in the 3,200.