Uniontown slips by Lady Falcons, 75-71
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Finishing 1-2-3 in the girls 100-meter high hurdles were (from left) Connellsville’s Lauren Herman, Uniontown’s Celina Francis and Connellsville’s Ashley Capo during Monday’s Section 2-AAA meet at Connellsville’s Falcon Stadium. Francis finished first in the 300 intermediate hurdles as the Lady Raiders edged the Lady Falcons, 75-71.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Connellsville’s Ashton Grimm takes first in the girls 100-meter dash in Monday’s Section 2-AAA meet against Uniontown at Connellsville’s Falcon Stadium.
CONNELLSVILLE — A point here, a place there, often times is the difference in dual track meet.
That was the case in Monday’s Section 2-AAA meet at Connellsville because the Lady Falcons had 10 first-place finishes, but the Uniontown girls returned home with a slim 75-71 victory.
Uniontown improves to 2-0 in the section and 2-1 overall, while the Lady Falcons slip to 0-2 in both section and overall.
The ultimate decider of the meet was the 1,600 relay, won the Uniontown quartet of Neeley Anderson, Celina Francis, Christina Homer and Khia Harris in 4:43.
The 3,200 relay team of Jade Bellotti, Homer, Katie Burgess and Julie Gerber kick-started the Lady Raiders on the track with a first-place finish in 10:59.
Gerber then returned to the track near the end of the meet to win the 3,200 in 12:23.
The skies were grey and overcast, and the wind whipped around Connellsville Stadium throughout the meet. The gusts affected all athletes, especially those who had to lap the track more than once.
“The wind was tough, especially on the straightaway,” explained Gerber. “I was leaning into it. It’s pretty much all you can do. You get used to it.”
With the Lady Raiders on the road because of their home track, Gerber used the site of the upcoming FCCA Track & Field Meet to put in a strong workout.
“I was trying to get a time and use it more of a workout,” said Gerber.
Jade Bellotti (1,600, 5:43; 800, 2:42), Celina Francis (300 intermediate hurdles, 53.0), and Khani Young (high jump, 5-0; triple jump, 29-2) also had individual first-place finishes for the Lady Raiders.
The Lady Falcons’ Ashton Grimm had another stellar individual performance, winning the 100 (14.1), 400 (1:04) and 200 (29:05). She also anchored the victorious 400 relay (55.0) to have a hand in 20 of Connellsville’s 71 points.
Lauren Herman (100 high hurdles, 18.0) and Ashley Capo (long jump, 14-2½) also won their individual events and ran a leg of the winning 400 relay.
With the wind regularly knocking the bar off the high jump and battering jumpers, Connellsville jumping/sprint coach Jace McClean said there’s not much to do.
“If you’re jumping, you can wait to the wind calms down. With the wind swirling so much, you couldn’t do much. If you’re running, just lean into the wind,” said the veteran coach.
The Lady Falcons’ Justine Waggel cleared 6-feet to win the pole vault. Connellsville had success in the throwing events with Nicole Wood (discus, 101-11), Madison Wiltrout (134-10), and Ashley Pritts (shot put, 32-11) all finishing first.
“If there here and having fun, that’s success,” said McClean. “The ones who are dedicated are definitely improving.”