Jacobs wins three events as host of locals qualify
WEST MIFFLIN – Breehana Jacobs had more cushion than a big, comfy sofa, breezing to a trio of first-place finishes Tuesday in the WPIAL Class AAA Track & Field Southern Regional at West Mifflin High School. Jacobs was one of seven Laurel Highlands girls to finish in the top eight and earn a berth in next week’s WPIAL Championship at Baldwin High School. Uniontown had four individuals and two relays advance while Belle Vernon secured four individual berths and a spot in the 1,600 relay.
Jacobs ran by her lonesome in her four-race day, winning with meters to spare in her heat of the 100, plus the 100, 200 and 400 finals. She won the 100 in 11.8 seconds, the 200 in 24.8, and the 400 in 57.6.
The closest sprinter to Jacobs in the 100 was teammate Aleesha Washington in second place. The Laurel Highlands coaching staff pared down the sophomore’s schedule to the sprint because of a hamstring problem.
“I pulled my hamstring at Baldwin (last Friday). I worked myself too hard. I just need to slow down for a while,” said Washington. “I’m happy with my time today.”
The Fillies spread the wealth around, with a pair of throwers, two vaulters, a jumper, and a distance runner also advancing. Demi Phillipy (javelin), Jessica Zavatchen (high jump), Lauren Molchan (pole vault), and Casey Conn (pole vault) will be making return trips to the district meet. Cassie Wallace (3,200) and Maressa Guynn (javelin) earned their first berth.
Molchan needed only one vault to clear 8-6 for one of the eight spots, and was happy for the lack of work.
“We came in lower than my usual opening height of 9 feet,” explained Molchan. “I was tired, so it worked out nice.”
Molchan no-heighted (didn’t clear any height) last year, but learned some valuable lessons from the trip.
“It was just nerves,” said Molchan. “I’ve been vaulting with the Vertical Assault club. My confidence is up.”
The top four automatically advance to the state meet, otherwise, the state qualifying height is 11 feet and Molchan has a PR of 10-6.
“My coaches feel confident in me. I can do it. Last year, I was happy to be (in the finals). This year I want to finish higher and qualify for states,” said Molchan.
Wallace was like an elementary school teacher counting heads on a field trip. She wasted little time finding where she was in the big field, making sure she was always in the top eight.
“Immediately, in the first 200 meters,” said Wallace, who finished seventh. “I knew I had to be in the top eight. That’s all that mattered today. It was slower pace to I had to strategize.
“I knew there were a couple girls right behind me, so I had to run until the end.”
Wallace finished 19th at the Baldwin Invitational last week with a PR of 12:02. Her goal is to finish at least three seconds faster next week.
Uniontown senior Brea Belt won the triple jump (35-¼) and was second in the long jump (15-10¼). Teammate Emilee Madison needed to win a jump-off with two other girls at 4-9 for the eighth and final spot in the high jump. The 3,200 relay team of Chelsi Festa, Stacy Lloyd, Erika Stanish and Kelsie Herring finished fourth and tied the school record with a time of 10:07, and the 400 relay team of Lauren Wagner, Jillian Guthrie, Belt and Annabel Mosco finished fourth in 51.9 seconds.
Mosco had a busy day, securing addition berths in the 100 (12.9) and pole vault (8-6).
“It’s more than I expected,” Mosco said of her productive day. “I didn’t expect to qualify in three events. “I’d like to make the states in the 100.”
Mallory Sanner finished seventh in the javelin with a throw of around 107 feet on her first throw, and is now looking to take a shot at the state qualifying distance of 121 feet in her first trip to the WPIAL finals.
“I’m happy I’m going,” said Sanner, whose sister Courtney finished third in the javelin in 2006. “My PR is 112-11. I want the school record (123 feet). I feel I have one more good one.”
Belle Vernon didn’t have high numbers, but those who did advance were busy. Chanelle Labash (200, 400), Michelle Piscione (100 high hurdles), Jess Biddle (javelin), and Shaina Vasquez (300 intermediate hurdles) kept alive for the Lady Leopards, along with the 1,600 relay team of Labash, Whitney Ferita, Vasquez and Aimee Radic.
The qualifier was the first time the four in the relay team ran together, but the quartet did so in a school-record 4:10.
Vasquez was understandably tired after running the third leg of the relay soon on the heels of the hurdles, especially since she was running on a sprained ankle.
“I was just mentally prepared,” said Vasquez on her busy day. “I ran a PR (47.2) in the hurdles and am close to the state-qualifying time of 46.9.
“I tried to actually sprint the whole thing (her lap of the relay). At the 100-meter mark, I really had to push myself.”
Biddle will make her first trip to the finals at Baldwin, the field where she threw a PR of 118 feet last week.
“That gave me more confidence. I came in thinking I could have a chance to win,” said Biddle. “I was nervous at first, but I calmed down. It’ll be fun. I’m happy I’m going.”