McCann to keep running at Allegheny
Melissa McCann describes her career at Laurel Highlands as a blur, but that comment had nothing to do with how fast she ran past the competition.
McCann won Track MVP honors at every FCCA County Track meet in which she participated. For the mathematically challenged, that adds up to four Track MVPs.
She will continue running at Allegheny College in the fall, while studying environmental engineering. The five-year program will require her to transfer for the last two years, either to Case Western Reserve, Pitt, St. Louis or Columbia.
McCann was such an outstanding student and athlete at Laurel Highlands that she was honored to be chosen as the top female scholar/athlete in a very impressive senior class at LH.
In fact, McCann was selected among the top six in the Herald-Standard circulation area and won a iPad, television and the chance to start a new Chevrolet Spark that was ultimately won by Frazier’s Charlie Manack.
“I think I was fifth in line,” McCann recalled. “It was pretty exciting, but I didn’t get a chance to get in the car. It looked like the boy before me (Manack) was having some sort of trouble, so I thought I’d get a chance. But he had the right key.”
When asked to look back at her high school career, McCann remembered running in the FCCA event as a freshman.
“I was completely unaware that the title even existed,” she said. “Jerrica Belt had a good meet, too. In fact, we ended up sharing the award. After that, the competition changed, but the goal was always the same.”
She added that she will miss all of her teammates at LH.
“Looking back now, it was just a blur,” she said. “I remember running in the summer before my freshman year and I don’t think I stopped until graduation. My teammates are like sisters to me. I wish nothing but the best for all of them and I’m sure they wish the same thing for me.”
McCann excelled in the middle distances, but believes her repertoire will increase at the next level.
“I’ve already started training for next year,” McCann said. “The coach has me in the sprinter-middle distances category, so I think I’ll be running the 200, 400 and 800.”
As for her course of study, McCann believes she can make a difference in the world by “looking for a more sustainable energy source.”
Lofty ambition for a very ambitious young lady.