Quarzo cruises to Track MVP honors, again
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Frazier’s Kendall Shaporka tries to keep pace with Brownsville’s Gionna Quarzo in the 800 during Saturday’s FCCA Track & Field Championship at Uniontown’s Bill Power Stadium. Quarzo pulled away to win in 2:27.21 as the Brownsville junior successfully defended her Track MVP award.
Connellsville's Elli Cook releases the shot put during the FCCA Track & Field Championship Saturday at Uniontown.
Frazier's Skye Eicher crosses the finish line ahead of Brownsville's Jamilah Copeland (left) and Aniya Tarpley (right) to win the 100 in Saturday's FCCA Track & Field Championships at Uniontown's Bill Power Stadium. Tarpley shared the Field MVP with Connellsville's Elli Cook.
Gionna Quarzo covered 6,400 meters Saturday and the Brownsville junior was rewarded for all those laps by repeating as the Track MVP at the annual FCCA Track & Field Championship at Uniontown’s Bill Power Stadium.
Connellsville senior Elli Cook repeated as the Field MVP, sharing honors this year with Brownsville’s Aniya Tarpley.
The Lady Falcons won the team title with 154 points, but it was the Connellsville girls taking the trophy this time around. Brownsville, the defending team champions, placed second with 125 points.
Quarzo, who ran the 3,000 meter at the Penn Relays on Thursday, anchored the Lady Falcons’ 3,200 relay to a second-place finish. Connellsville’s Rachael Grimm tracked down Quarzo in the final 300 meters of the final lap to give her Lady Falcons a first-place finish in 10:56.
“I knew she was fast,” Quarzo said of Grimm. “So, I went hard on the last lap. My legs were hurting today because of the Penn Relays.”
Frazier’s Kendall Shaporka ran on Quarzo’s shoulder through the first 400 meters, but the Brownsville junior turned on the jets to win the 800 in 2:27.21. Shaporka finished second in 2:37.23.
No such drama in the two distance races with Quarzo winning the 1,600 in 5:11.72 and 3,200 in 11:01.96.
Quarzo saw the county meet as an opportunity to for a quality workout and be there for her team.
“I’m happy with the time I got. I got 10:29 (in the 3,200) once and really want to get that time at states,” said Quarzo. “It’s not always about winning. My focus is my time, not place. I run my time and those girls run their time, good for them.
“I know my friends look up to me. I want to be a good role model for them.”
Cook didn’t place in the shot put, but was second in the discus (88-9) and won the javelin (111-3) for her 18 points. Tarpley won the triple jump (32-7½) and finished second in the long jump (15-0) for her co-MVP point total.
Cook was pleasantly surprised with her winning throw in the javelin, but a bit disappointed with her effort in the discus.
“That’s a good throw for me. It’s a PR. I didn’t expect to win javelin,” Cook said. “It was not a good throw in the discus. Honestly, it should’ve been a better distance.”
Cook didn’t expect to be in contention for MVP honors last year, and knew what to expect this year.
“I know the girls. I knew what to expect,” said Cook, adding, “It’s an honor. I’m proud of it.”
Frazier’s Skye Eicher (100, 12.56; 200, 26.38), Connellsville’s Grimm (400, 1:01.38), 1,600 relay (4:36.17), Sydney Dally (pole vault, 8-0), and Neveah Hamborsky (100 high hurdles, 17.65), Albert Gallatin’s Emily Sanders (300 intermediate hurdles, 48.58) and Lauren Minerd (long jump, 15-6½), Laurel Highlands’ 400 relay (53.69), Angel Buwawa (discus, 102-7), and Emily Buwawa (shot put, 34-10), and Brownsville’s Emma Seto (high jump, 4-10) also won county titles.