Lady Raiders win tiebreaker to edge Fillies
The Uniontown and Laurel Highlands girls finished Thursday’s Section 5-AA meet tied, 75-75, but the Lady Raiders gained the edge with nine first-place finishes.
Uniontown’s Hannah Foster led the charge with two individual first-place finishes and swimming the anchor leg on two winning relays.
Foster finished first in the 200 IM (2:26.34) and 100 breaststroke (1:12.30). Both times met the WPIAL qualifying standard.
Foster has already qualified for four individual events. The sophomore medaled in both the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke in last year’s WPIAL meet.
“A lot will depend on where I’m ranked, but I’ll always go with the breaststroke,” said Foster. “I’ll look at the 50 free. Honestly, I’ll see how I’m ranked (in events).”
Foster’s focus is more on the present, than future decisions.
“I’m trying to get my times down. That’s my biggest concern right now,” said Foster. “I think I’m a little behind. We had a week off because of snow days.”
Foster is focused on one particular event.
“I want to try to get below my (school) record in the breaststroke of 1:07,” added Foster. “I want to get in the low 25s, high 24s in the 50 freestyle and get down to my PR.
“I want to win two WPIAL medals and a PIAA medal would be really exciting. It’s definitely possible.”
The Lady Raiders’ Jacquelyn Jeffreys (50 freestyle, 27.25), Emma Young (diving, 155.75), Hannah Sabatula (100 butterfly, 1:33.37), and Joss Rutter (100 freestyle, 1:00.93; 100 backstroke) also had individual first-place finishes.
Addie Ciez was part of three first-place finishes for Laurel Highlands, winning the 200 freestyle (2:05.63) and 500 freestyle (5:43.95) and swimming the third leg on the victorious 200 medley relay. Her times in the individual events met the qualifying standard.
Senior Hanna Lucente was the anchor leg on the Fillies’ winning 200 medley relay, finished second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle.
Lucente had a basic approach to the meet.
“I just want a PR in my events. “I’m a ½-second off on everything,” said Lucente. “The difference is a turn, an off stroke or a bad start.”
Lucente is looking to close her career with a lane in the district meet.
“My goal is to get to the WPIALs. We are three seconds away in the medley relay. My best shot is to go as a relay. Each person needs to drop around a second. Everyone has to have a good race,” said Lucente.
Lucente plans to participate in track after the swimming season is over, and then has a pretty good idea of what her future plans will be.
“I’m looking forward to the future, a fresh start and new experiences,” said Lucente. “I want to be a meteorologist. I’m hoping to go to Florida State.”