Getting the job done: LH girls solid throughout lineup for 102-47 win
The Laurel Highlands girls scored points in all three phases of Wednesday’s meet to open Section 2-AAA play with a 102-47 victory over visiting Ringgold on a picture-perfect spring afternoon.
Laurel Highlands’ Katie Chiado had a productive day with first-place finishes in the 100 high hurdles (17.37) and 300 intermediate hurdles (47.99). She placed second in the long jump with a leap of 15-7½ and led off the 400 relay that finished second to the Lady Rams.
“I definitely wanted to PR in all my events. You have to take advantage of it today because the weather is perfect,” said Chiado. “I feel like I did (what she wanted to accomplish.
“I got my base times today and I just want to keep getting better.”
Chiado wasn’t pressed in the 300 intermediate hurdles, basically running herself against the clock, not the field.
“I feel when you’re going against someone, you’re pushed more. I just try to focus on my race,” said Chiado.
Chiado is aiming to qualify for the WPIAL championship in all four events.
“I’ll try to (qualify in four events),” said Chiado. “I feel I did okay in the long jump, but I feel I can do better.
“I want to get into the 40s (seconds) in the intermediate hurdles and I want to get into the 16s (in the high hurdles).”
Chiado added, “I put pressure on myself. I want my times to go down and my jumps to get longer by the next meet.
“Every meet I should get better.”
The senior signed to play soccer in the fall at Pitt-Greensburg, so this is her final track season.
“I’m going to miss track. This is my last go-around in track. That’s sad,” said Chiado.
Teammate Diondra Brown won the 100 (12.83) and 200 (26.98). Taylor Schwertfeger (400, 1:03.45), Isabella Baker (800, 2:37.64), 1,600 relay (4:43.38), 3,200 relay (10:55.26), Alexandra Mattey (shot put, 26-2½; discus, 78-7), Neela Hill (high jump, 4-10), Jaden Brambley (pole vault, 11-0), and Righteous Richardson (triple jump, 31-10½) also had first-place finishes.
Ringgold freshman Lily Brenneman carried the distance races, winning the 1,600 in 5:27.46 and 3,200 in 12:24.80.
“It went okay,” Brenneman said of her races. “I was just going for a time in the mile. I was just running tempo in the mile. It was about time. I wanted to get in the 5:20s for the mile.
“I think the two-mile can be way faster. I was just tempoing it today. My goal is to qualify for states in the two-mile.”
Brenneman noted the work she did over the winter indoor season is transferring outdoors.
“This winter we really worked on pacing, and I think I got really better at that,” explained Brenneman.
Brenneman is looking to extend her season into late May by qualifying for the district and state meets. She might be adding another race to add to her chances.
“I think it’s about times, really, but I want to make it to the WPIALs and state meet. “I ran the 800 last week and I am really close in that, so maybe I’ll try (to qualify) at that.
“I would say the mile is my favorite event, but the two-mile is challenging.
“My goal in the mile is 5:15, but I need 5:10 to go to states so I need to slice about five seconds. I think I can do it.”
The Lady Rams won the 400 relay in 55.89 seconds. Alexa Jolly finished first in the javelin with a throw of 86-10. Abigael Nicolas cleared 15-9 for first place in the long jump.