Gaul caps career with fifth place in discus
SHIPPENSBURG — Gianna Gaul was sitting in seventh place as she stepped into the circle for the final throw of her high school career on a sunny, cloud-free Saturday afternoon at Shippensburg University.
The Belle Vernon senior delivered, throwing 128-1 on her sixth and final attempt of the girls Class AAA discus finals to move up two places to fifth overall.
Selinsgrove’s Courtney McCartney threw 139-1 to win the gold medal.
Kutztown junior Jocelen Ruth won the silver medal with a throw of 134-2. Cocalico’s Emily Stauffer was third with a throw of 133-2, and Lake Lehman’s Emily Johns placed fourth at 132 feet.
Gaul edged Manheim Twp.’s Alex Zimmerman by one inch.
Gaul bettered her mark by nearly three feet on her final throw, although she didn’t look so comfortable in the early stages of the competition.
Plus, the competition needed nearly two hours to complete, so Gaul, who threw in the second flight, had a lot of sitting around to do.
“I felt a little off in warmups,” said Gaul, adding about the length of the competition, “I just sat in the shade and relaxed.”
Gaul had a lot of emotions as she approached her final scholastic competition.
“I was nervous and excited. I was just trying to do the best I could,” said Gaul. “I told myself this was going to be my last throw. Go all out and improve my mark, and I did.”
Gaul now looks to continue her academic and athletic career this fall at Seton Hill University, where she joins fellow Belle Vernon graduate Jessica Slagus.
Slagus competed in her first NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships about the same time Gaul was throwing and just missed All-America status with a 10th-place finish.