Cal girls keep playoff hopes alive with sweep
California's Deja Walker (far right) and the rest of the field explode out of the starting block at the sound of the gun in the girls 100-meter dash during Thursday's Section 6-AA track & field meet with California, Frazier and Jefferson-Morgan at California Area High School.
Frazier's Khristyne Barch soars toward the sand pit in the girls long jump during Thursday's Section 6-AA triangular track & field meet with California and Jefferson-Morgan at California Area High School.
California's Dominique Gaston hits her mark in the girls long jump during Thursday's Section 6-AA triangular track & field meet with Frazier and Jefferson-Morgan at California Area High School.
Frazier's Annya Kossol clears the bar in the girls' high jump during Thursday's Section 6-AA triangular track & field meet with California and Jefferson-Morgan at California Area High School.
COAL CENTER — The California girls were too strong and too deep for visiting Frazier and Jefferson-Morgan as the Lady Trojans swept the home Section 6-AA triangular on a beautiful, cloudless, pleasant Thursday afternoon.
California defeated the Lady Commodores, 104-36, and the Lady Rockets, 113-23, while Frazier earned a split with a 73-22 victory against Jefferson-Morgan.
The Lady Trojans had a number of top-flight performances, including Deja Walker in the sprints. The freshman won the 100 (14.0) and 200 (30.1), and anchored the victorious 400 relay. She also secured points in the long jump with her effort of 12-8.
Walker was pleased with her performance, especially in the 400 relay.
“We set the school record in the 400 relay. I wanted that record today. We tied it last time,” a smiling Walker said. “I did okay in the long jump. I ran 14.1 (seconds) in the 100. My PR (personal best) is 13.6.”
Walker is settling into her first year of high school track.
“I’m getting into a rhythm and improving every time, so that’s good,” said Walker. “Our goal was to beat the record (in the 400 relay). Hopefully, we’ll do good at the WPIALs.”
Destiny Gudel (1,600, 7:00; 800, 2:49), Haylee Higinbotham (400, 1:12), Marissa Bitonti (discus, 64-10; shot put, 26-1), Alexis Kronander (3,200, 16:27), and Ashley McIntosh (triple jump, 32-4½; long jump, 14-10; 300 intermediate hurdles, 54.0) all had overall first-place finishes for the Lady Trojans.
Annya Kossol said she had pretty good day jumping on the nice sunny day as the Frazier junior jumped 14-7 in the long jump, 31-9½ in the triple jump, and 4-10 for the best jump in the high jump.
She also ran the opening leg of the Commodores’ 400 relay.
“My best is 14-7 this year in the long jump, so 14-4 was okay,” said Kossol. “I run the first leg of 400 relay with two freshmen and a first-year senior. It’s a learning process. I like the 400 relay. It has more of a team aspect.
“The 31-9½ is good for this season in the triple jump. My PR is 34-1. My goal is to crack 5 feet in the high jump.”
Kossol qualified for the state meet in the triple jump last year, and the goal is to be back in Shippensburg this May.
“My goal is to go for triple and high,” said Kossol. “It’s in my head every time I go to the track. My goals are 34-5 in the triple jump, 15 feet in the long jump and 5 feet in the high jump. I’ve done 5 feet in practice.
“Every week I try to aim for states. I look forward to going to the state meet.”
The Lady Commodores’ Alena Blaszczak had the best throw in the javelin, 124-2, and Abby Smith finished first overall in the 100 high hurdles (19.4).