Beth-Center girls win Section 6-AA triangular at California
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard California’s Ashley McIntosh and Crystal Wright (left) and Beth-Center’s Brooke Lincoski and Hannah Lacey exchange batons as they run in the girls’ 400-meter relay Tuesday at California Area High School.
California’s Kailyn Clancy finished first in both the girls shot-put and discus during a triangular meet Tuesday with Beth-Center and West Greene at California Area High School. (Photo by John F. Brothers)
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard Beth-Center’s Shane Finley (left), West Greene’s Rebecca Phillips and California’s Eilish Miller (right) battle for the lead during the girls’ 1,600-meter run Tuesday at California Area High School. Phillips went on to win the race with Miller finishing second and Finley taking third place.
The Beth-Center girls track & field team pulled over .500 on a windy Tuesday afternoon at California’s stadium by defeating West Greene, 77-51, and edging the host Lady Trojans, 71-70.
California salvaged a split with a 74-62 win over the Lady Pioneers.
The Lady Bulldogs are now 3-2, while California is 1-1 and West Greene is 0-2.
The Lady Bulldogs’ Hannah Lacey had a productive day after winning the 100 (12.97) and 200 (27.71), and anchoring the 400 relay to a first-place finish in 55.15 seconds and the 1,600 to first in 4:57. The time in the 100 was a PR (personal best), and her winning time in the 200 was close to a PR.
“I try to race against the clock,” explained the sophomore. “The wind was coming at our backs in 100, but it hit us sideways in the 200.
“I just want to improve (in every meet).”
Teammate McKenna Lohr won the javelin with a throw of 90-½, and the Lady Bulldogs did well in all three events to pick up key team points.
Alexis Marchando (400, 1:13) and Megan Snodgrass (triple jump, 28-4) also had overall first-place finishes for the Lady Bulldogs.
California’s Kailyn Clancy had a strong start to the 2014 season by winning the shot put (44-9) and discus (115-2).
The double medal winner in shot put and discus last year in both the state and WPIAL finals opened with a PR in the shot put, her favorite event.
“I want to go over 45 (feet) in the shot put and 120 in the discus this year,” said Clancy. “I try my best to get farther than I did last year. I never have thrown that far this early in past years. Sometimes I improve by inches, sometimes it’s feet. I like it better when it’s by feet, though,” smiled Clancy. “I can tell when I do it right. I can tell when it leaves my hand.”
The Lady Trojans’ Brooke Clemens (100 high hurdles, 19.52), Brooke Bilitski (high jump, 4-8) and Danni Koehler (long jump, 13-11) also took first place overall in the triangular.
West Greene’s Rebecca Phillips had a long, yet productive day by winning the 1,600 (6:35) and 3,200 (15:52). She battled California’s Eilish Miller and Beth-Center’s Shane Finley for most of the four laps.
“It was my first 1,600 in a year, so I wasn’t sure where I stood. I like to pace off other girls. It was good competition,” said Phillips, who will attend St. Francis (Pa.) this fall to run. “The 3,200 was my first competitive 3,200. I just wanted to get a base one in.
“I want to improve my times, and states is my ultimate goal. I want to go out on a good note and injury free.”
Phillips also commented on the wind.
“On the first bend, the first 100, it was tough. It seems it’s always against you, not for you.”
The Lady Pioneers also had first-place finishes from Emily Courtwright (300 intermediate hurdles) and Mikayla Post (800), as well as from the 3,200 relay team.