Lady Leopards win first section title
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Belle Vernon’s Sydney Baciak clears the final hurdle on her way to a first-place finish in Tuesday’s Section 2-AAA meet with Yough and Connellsville at Connellsville Stadium.
Belle Vernon’s Grace Henderson takes a peek as she makes her way around the track in the 1,600 during Tuesday’s Section 2-AAA meet against Yough and Connellsville at Connellsville Stadium. Henderson finished first in four events to lead the Lady Leopards to their first undefeated season and section title.
CONNELLSVILLE — The Section 2-AAA title, or at least a share of the crown, was on the line when the Belle Vernon and Yough girls traveled to Connellsville on a raw, windy, rainy Tuesday afternoon.
A pair of victories by the Lady Leopards would result in an undefeated season and the girls first section title in track & field. Two victories by Connellsville would lift the Lady Falcons into a share of the title.
By the slimmest of margins, Belle Vernon will hoist the section plaque after edging Connellsville, 75-74, and downing the Lady Cougars, 110-31. Connellsville gained a split by defeating Yough, 115-30.
The Lady Leopards finish with a 6-0 mark, with Connellsville closing at 4-2.
Connellsville fell short of an undefeated season by four points. The Lady Falcons lost at Laurel Highlands earlier in the season, 76-73.
Freshman Grace Henderson accounted for 20 points for the Lady Leopards after winning the 1,600, 3,200, 300 intermediate hurdles and high jump.
Hannah Seitzinger (200, 400) and Ezra Johnson (shot put, 30-5½; discus, 110-3) won a pair of individual results for Belle Vernon. The Lady Leopards also won the 3,200 and 1,600 relays.
Sydney Baciak finished first overall in the 100 high hurdles and shared the best jump, 4-4, in the high jump with Henderson. She placed second in the long jump (12-8) and third in the triple jump (26-8½) against Connellsville.
Athletes had to deal with a steady rain, though not a downpour, but enhanced by gusting winds throughout the 2½ hours of the meet. The wind affected every event, especially Baciak and the field in the high hurdles.
“It was definitely the wind. It was a headwind, too,” said Baciak. “But, we’re all in the same conditions.
“Midway (through the hurdles), a big gust of wind came. I hoped I didn’t fall back.”
Getting a mark or a time was pretty much abandoned with the weather conditions, simplifying Baciak’s approach to the meet.
“It’s beat as many blues (Connellsville athletes) as we can,” explained Baciak. “We want to win the section for the first time ever.”
With section competition overall, attention turns to individual pursuits in preparation for the WPIAL Championship.
“(The season) went quick this year with stuff getting cancelled because of the weather,” said Baciak. “I still have some room to improve, for sure. I can get a better mark for the WPIALs.”
“I finished 14th at states last year in the high jump,” said Baciak, who was fourth at the district meet. “Hopefully, I’ll improve this year.”
Callie Cunningham led the way for the Lady Falcons, winning the 100 (13.8) and 800. The sophomore also made up ground as the anchor leg of the 400 relay to secure five key points. Megan Stansak (long jump, 12-10), Madison Kirk (pole vault, 6-6), Emma Bennington (javelin, 96-9) and Nichole Soforic (triple jump, 27-10)
Connellsville freshman Shelby Basinger secured third-place points in the 1,600 (6:38) against Belle Vernon. She also scored points against Yough in the 3,200 relay, 1,600 relay and 800.
“I wanted to get better times and win the relay,” Basinger said of the meet. “(Belle Vernon’s) girls are pretty fast and the weather just didn’t work out.
“I guess I should get used to this (miserable weather) more. It was a nightmare.”
The Fayette and Westmoreland county meets are this Saturday. Basinger looks to have stronger performances.
“I want to get good places and get my PR (personal best),” said Basinger. “I just want to do my best.”
Yough’s Julia Milcoff finished second in the discus against Connellsville with a throw of 94-6.
“It was hard to get a good grip on the discus. And, it was very windy. The sector was different angled. It was weird. I had to adjust to that,” said Milcoff.
The sophomore did not advance to the district Class AAA finals last year, but looks to do so this spring. She next throws Saturday at the WCCA meet.
“I just need to get a good one,” said Milcoff, whose goal is to throw at least 110 feet. “I need to throw a good one Saturday.”