Waynesburg girls track and field team moving in right direction
YORK RUN – Waynesburg Central girls track & field coach Bill Speakman has a couple big holes in the lineup to fill, but the Lady Raiders took some strides in the right direction Friday with a 95-45 non-section victory at Albert Gallatin. Gone to graduation are sprinter Katie Aldhizer and pole vaulter Randi Patton. Speakman not only has to find a way to pick up the lost points, he is also on the lookout for someone to pick up the intangibles.
“They scored a lot of points, but the provided real good senior leadership,” praised Speakman.
Finding someone to pick up the leadership role might take some time on a team Speakman described as “freshman heavy.”
Speakman is looking to Tiffany Stansberry to fill part of that role and the freshman responded in by winning the 100 (13.68) and shot put (29-1) while helping the 400 relay to a first place.
The Lady Raiders swept the throws with wins by Lori Wise in the javelin (81-11) and Ali Walsh in the discus (75-6).
“We have a couple of specialists (in the throws). We’re nice and deep there,” said Speakman, adding Meredith Winters in the mix in the shot put.
The 800 and 1,600 will be in the more than capable hands of Maria Shepas. The sophomore, daughter of Waynesburg College head football coach Rick Shepas, qualified for the state meet in cross country last fall and Speakman is expecting similar results from her in the spring.
“We’re looking for big things from her this year,” said Speakman. Shepas won the 800 (2:46.06) and 1,600 (6:01.25) and ran the anchor leg of the winning 400 relay.
The Lady Raiders, beginning with Jocelyn Lindsay, have won at least one medal in the pole vault since the event became a medal sport in the WPIAL. Speakman believes the streak will stay alive in the capable hands of Morgan Bland.
Albert Gallatin doesn’t have a pole vault pit, so Bland didn’t have an opportunity to compete.
“I would like to get a vault in to see where she is in the season,” said Speakman.
The jumpers will be young, not a positive in Section 5-AA where the disciple will be highly competitive.
“The kids will be multi-tasking in the jumps. That’s the most concern for me right now,” said Speakman.
As for what he was seeking in the opening meet with Albert Gallatin, Speakman said, “It was a nice tune-up, a nice warm-up, to see where we might be able to move people. We want to see whether some of those shoes can be filled.
“It gives the freshmen a good look at the flow of a meet. It’s a good look at competition.”
Waynesburg opens the Section 5-AA section on the road Tuesday at Chartiers-Houston.