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WPIAL Individual Track & Field Championships

By Jim Downey 4 min read

Brownsville’s Cardine leads way for local girls HOOKSTOWN – To win four individual WPIAL medals and three berths into the PIAA Championships is pretty remarkable. To do so in the time frame Brownsville’s America Cardine completed the feat makes it all the more impressive, especially given the awful weather conditions.

The junior reprised her finish from last year with medals and state berths in the 200, 300 intermediate hurdles and long jump plus an eighth-place medal in the 100 high hurdles Tuesday at the WPIAL Individual Track & Field Championships held on a rainy, miserable day at South Side Beaver High School.

Waynesburg Central’s Morgan Bland kept a school tradition alive when she tied for fifth in the pole vault to qualify for the state meet while the Southmoreland 1,600 relay team turned in its best performance of the year to finish fifth and a spot in state finals.

The PIAA Championships will be held at Shippensburg University on Friday-Saturday, May 26-27. The top five finishers in each event automatically qualified while those who finished sixth through eighth advanced if the qualifying mark was met.

Cardine was actually competing in three events at one time with preliminary heats in the 100 high hurdles and 200 sandwiched around attempts in the long jump. With the traditional break in the action after the preliminaries waved because of the nasty weather, she had to run the finals of the hurdles before the long jump finished.

The effort was worth it all as Cardine finished eighth in the 100 hurdles (16.9) and qualified for the state meet by finishing fourth in both the 200 (27.5) and 300 intermediate hurdles (47.98) and fifth in the long jump (15-91/2).

“It was real hard to run back-to-back races in three of them,” explained Cardine. “By the time I ran the high hurdles it was time for me to check in for the 200. I warmed up for the high hurdles between jumps (in the long jump). I could’ve really used the 20-minute intermission. I was really tired for the high hurdles (final).”

Complicating her tremendously busy schedule was a constant rain, varying from chilly drizzle to a downpour that fell at the start of the 200 final.

“The rain played a part in the times I ran. But, it was raining for everyone,” said Cardine. “I couldn’t see. It was blurry. I was fighting the wind in the long jump and was more cautious over the hurdles.

“I understand they have to get the meet over with, but when it’s raining that hard (during the 200 and intermediate hurdles), they should have given it a little more time.”

Although she fell short of her goals, Cardine was nonetheless pleased with her day.

“I had hopes to make it in all four, but I’m very happy to make it in three again,” said Cardine.

Bland made it eight medals in as many years for Lady Raider pole vaulters while earning her first trip to the state meet after tying for fifth with a vault of 8 feet, six inches. The rain caused delays throughout the competition.

“You slip right down the pole,” explained the effervescent sophomore, who had flames painted on her fingernails. “I was allowed to vault over once because my hands slipped right down the pole when I was getting ready to vault. Your muscles cool down. It’s hard to stay warm.”

Bland, who finished sixth last year, easily cleared the opening height of 7-6, and had no problems at 8-6. She missed all three at 8-9. Mount Pleasant’s Abbey Way won the gold with a vault of 10 feet.

“I have a great coach (Butch Brunell) and never worried about it,” said Bland.

As for qualifying for the state meet, Bland said in a gleeful tone, “It’s amazing. I’m so glad I’m there, but I want at least 10-6.”

Audrey Graft set the opening pace for the Lady Scots’ final relay, and K.J. Richardson extended the lead over the field in the first heat of the 1,600 relay. Stephanie Wiltrout and Jamie Henry didn’t waiver as the Southmoreland won the heat in 4:13.21 and finished fifth overall, less than .20 seconds from fourth, to advance to the state meet.

Mount Pleasant’s Taylor Funk finished fourth in the 100 high hurdles to advance to the state meet while teammate Way was eighth in the high jump and seventh in the long jump. Funk won a second medal after placing seventh in the 300 intermediate hurdles.

Jefferson-Morgan’s Melody Cox (8th, 100; 7th, 200) and Beth-Center’s Candice Gould (8th, long jump) medalled but did not qualify for the state finals.

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