Lady Trojans slip by B-C to sweep section meet
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
California’s Ashley McIntosh clears the final hurdle on her way to a first-place finish in the girls 100 high hurdles at Thursday’s Section 6-AA triangular meet with West Greene and Beth-Center at California Area High School.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
West Greene’s Rory McGowan takes the baton from Jade Ritenhouse during the girls 400-meter relay Thursday in the Section 6-AA triangular meet with California and Beth-Center at California Area High School.
Beth-Center's Ayla Stopko lands in the sand during the girls triple jump competition in the Section 6-AA triangular meet Thursday with California and West Greene at California Area High School.
Beth-Center's Sydney Urbine won the girls 100-meter dash during Thursday's Section 6-AA triangular meet with California and West Greene at California Area High School.
California's Alexis Kronader hands off the baton to Emma Sprowls in the girls 1,600-meter relay in Thursday's Section 6-AA triangular meet with West Greene and Beth-Center at California Area High School.
Beth-Center's Casey Falcon wins the girls 1,600-meter run in the Section 6-AA triangular meet with West Greene and Beth-Center Thursday at California Area High School.
CALIFORNIA — The Beth-Center coaching staff manipulated their lineup to get the most points possible with the hope of slipping by California in Thursday’s Section 6-AA meet with West Greene.
The plan just fell short, though, with the Lady Trojans eking out a 72-69 win over the Lady Bulldogs. Both teams defeated West Greene, with California winning 124-12 and Beth-Center handing the Lady Pioneers a 111-14 loss.
The California girls held the advantage in the jumping events with a 22-5 edge. The Lady Trojans won the throwing events, 16-11. The home team had five first places to four for Beth-Center. The teams both had seven second-place finishes, with Beth-Center holding an 8-6 edge in third-place points.
The Lady Trojans’ Ashley McIntosh accounted for 20 points, winning the 100 high hurdles (16.62), 300 intermediate hurdles (48.59), long jump (15-3), and triple jump (33-4½).
McIntosh had an anxious moment in the intermediate hurdles.
“I almost PR’d (personal best) in the 300 intermediate,” McIntosh said of her time. “I tripped on the last hurdle. I thought I was so done for.”
Beth-Center’s Kinlee Whited finished second in 52.3 seconds.
“I competed against her last year in the WPIAL (finals). I’m like, ‘Oh no, it’s a good thing I was ahead’ because I tripped on the last hurdle,” McIntosh said of her race against Whited.
McIntosh has a simple approach to meets, win as many points as she can.
“That is the goal every meet. I’m out there to do my best every meet,” said McIntosh. “My end goal is states. That was my main goal last year.”
The goal of making the state meet was made easier with the California prom in early May.
As for how many events in the state meet, McIntosh added, “Whatever gets me to states. Then, I’ll solely focus on that event.”
Marissa Bitonti swept the throws for California, winning the shot put (28-1), discus (75-2), and javelin (120-10). Anna Gillispie won the high jump with a top effort of 4-2. The Lady Trojans opened the meet by winning the 3,200 relay in 15:35:17.
Sydney Urbine accounted for 10 individual points with first-place finishes in the 100 (13.36) and 800 (2:54.63), and ran the anchor leg on the Lady Bulldogs’ 400 relay and 1,600 relay teams to first place.
Urbine was all about her role in the team’s success.
“We were one second away from the school record in the 400 relay,” said Urbine. “As a team, we all put in the time and effort to do this together. Placing and having our girls together, this was going to be a close meet.”
Beth-Center also had first-place finishes from Casey Falcon (1,600, 6:51.40), Lexie Marchando (400, 1:05.37), Whited (200, 28.74), and Emily Jenkins (3,200, 15:40.57).