By Todd Irwin
Bedford's Carrie Baker didn't know what she was seeded going into the 63rd annual West Central Coaches Invitational Track and Field Meet Friday at Mansion Park.
Article Photos
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Penn Cambria’s Carly Petney wins the Class AA 100-meter dash Friday.
And that was fine with her.
"I think I do better whenever I don't know," Baker said, "because I don't have time to get nervous. The closer it gets to the race the more nervous I get."
That approach worked for her in fine fashion in the 38-team event as she won the Class AA 400-meter dash and the pole vault.
"I'm having a good day today," Baker said. "Everything is falling into place for me. I'm feeling good. I just wanted to come out and run a good race today, and get a personal best."
There were other area girls who shined. Capturing their events were Altoona's Nikki Kerns (Class AAA 100 hurdles), Tussey Mountain's Allyson Gearhart (Class AA 300 hurdles), Penn Cambria's Carly Petney (Class AA 100 dash) and Northern Bedford's Maria Snyder (Class AA 3200 run).
Altoona's Abby Wagner placed second in the Class AAA triple jump with a distance of 36-2. Somerset's Jayna Coyle (36-11) won the event. Wagner's teammate, Ashley Lidwell took third in the 1600-meter run in 5:32.38 behind Derry's Hannah Scipio (5:24.99) and State College's Nora Adams (5:28.08).
Altoona's Katelyn Goodman was third in the javelin with a throw of 107-10, while Bradford's Emily Marshall (113-05) and State College's Kimberly Lightner (111-01) place first and second, respectively.
The Lady Lion relay teams all took third. The 400-meter relay team finished in 51.87 behind State College (50.76) and Mifflin County (51.00). Altoona's 3200-meter relay team finished in 10:20.14 behind State College (9:42.49) and Mifflin County (9:45.74). The 1600-relay team (4:09.12) placed behind State College (4:04.41) and Bradford (4:08.76).
Bishop Guilfoyle's Kaitlin Meck finished second in the Class AA high jump with a height of 5-0, getting nudged out by Elk County's Nicole Florio, who also jumped 5-0. Forest Hills' Kelly Beyer finished third, also with a jump of 5-0.
Huntingdon's Alissa Sellers finished second in the long jump with a distance of 16-4. just nudged out by Forest Hills' Brooke Smay (16-4.50).
Baker won the pole vault with a height of 10 feet, 9 inches, finishing ahead of Huntingdon's Hannah Cunningham (9-9) and Westmont Hilltop's Christine Connors (9-9).
"One of the biggest things was I hit most of my vaults on the first attempt," Baker said, "so that was a big step toward, hopefully districts and states from there."
Baker won the 400 in a personal best time of 1:01.35, finishing ahead of Berlin Brothersvalley's Sarah Luprek (1:01.56) in a District 5 battle, and Northern Cambria's Liz Cunningham (1:01.63) was third.
"I just knew I had to get out and see if I could keep up with Luprek because she's in my district, obviously," Baker said. "So, that was important to me. Today was a big step toward getting me a little bit of confidence."
Baker also ran the 800-meter run and finished fourth in 2:25.15, finishing behind Elk County Catholic's Kennedy Weisner (2:13.91), who was named the meet MVP, and St. Marys' Adair Gennocro (2:17.75) and Shannon Bridges (2:22.81).
"I'm not going to focus on trying to win it," Baker said before the 800. "I just want to focus on running a time that's under 2:26. If I do that, it will be a good day for me."
Kerns won the 100 hurdles in a state-qualifying time of 15.17, edging out DuBois' Dani Sciremammano (15.56) and South Western's Steph Shaw (15.98).
Kerns finished second in the 300-meter hurdles with a state-qualifying time of 45.38, just getting beaten to the finish by Bradford's Emily Marshall (45.37). DuBois' Cassidy O'Donnell (46.69) was third.
Gearhart captured the 300-meter hurdles in 48.45, beating Elk County's Abbi Petrosky (48.24) and Johnsonburg's Chelsea Benson (49.44).
Petney was the sixth seed going into the 100 trials, but she was the first seed going into the finals, where she won in 12.82. Forest Hills' Marlee Schrift (13.09) was second, and Tyrone's Jordy Swogger (13.22) was third.
"I was nervous because I was tied for fifth place," Petney said. "It felt really good. They pushed me a lot."
Snyder, who finished third in the 1600 in 5:18.83, breezed to the 3200 win for the second year in a row on a wet track, this time in 11:24.54. Johnsonburg's Rachel Guyer (11:52.92) finished a distant second.
"I was really looking forward to it," Snyder said. "It felt good. "I ran a little better time last year. I won the 3200 last year, but I raced against [Central Cambria's] Kendall [Seymour], so that really pushed me last year. I was hoping there would be other girls in it [to push me], but there wasn't. I hope I'll get to where I'm pushed a little bit.
Snyder was also part of the the Northern Bedford 3200-meter relay team that claimed third place. Alyssa Smith, Leah Hershberger and Katie Reighard finished in 10:13.64 behind St. Marys (9:57.33) and Forest Hills (10:11.93).
"It's a really nice meet, and I really look forward to coming to it. When there are girls pushing you, it really helps you. It helps you get tougher mentally."
Notes: Forest Hills won the Class AA team title with 98 points, and Elk County (86.5), Westmont Hilltop (43) and Northern Bedford (32.5) rounded out the top four. ... Derry Area's Hannal Scipio was the Class AAA meet MVP. ... State College won the Class AAA team title with 141 points, and Altoona (99.66) was second. DuBois (75.33) was third, and Bradford (65.83) was fourth.
CLASS AAA GIRLS
Key, team standings: 1, SC-State College, 141; 2, AA-Altoona, 99.67; 3, DB-DuBois, 75.33; 4, BR-Bradford, 65.83; 5, MC-Mifflin County, 6, SW-South Western, 55; 7, DY, Derry Area, 42.33; 8, SA-Somerset Area, 31; 9, CM-Central Mountain, 27.33; 10, HB-Hollidaysburg, 24.33; 11, IN-Indiana, 23.33; 12, CF-Clearfield, 19; 13, PX-Punxsutawney, 13; 14, BF-3.5
100 dash: 1, Valentine, SC, 12.79; 2, Smith, JT, 12.95; 3, Bonness, SC, 13.1; 4, Walters, MC, 13.11; 5, Aungst, HB, 13.23; 6, Coleman, SW, 13.34; 7, Shomo, CF, 13.35; 8, Loht, MC, 13.42.
200 dash: 1, Walters, MC, 26.39; 2, Hay, SC, 26.55; 3, Toner, CM, 26.63; 4, Hatch, AA, 27.30; 5, Aungst, HB, 27.32; 6, Loht, MC, 27.35; 7, Langley, DB, 27.6; 8, Heichel, CF, 27.79.
400 dash: 1, Book, SC, 59.5; 2, Smith, JT, 59.88; 3, Hurley, IN, 1:00.82; 4, Heckman, SA, 1:01.7; 5, Boddorf, PX, 1:01.79; 6, Toretti, SC, 1:02.39; 7, Becker, MC, 1:03.73; 8, Black, HB, 1:04.59.
800 run: 1, Sheffo, BD, 2:16.09; 2, Cousins, SC, 2:16.1; 3, Long, MC, 2:20.01; 4, McNaugthon, SC, 2:21.08; 5, Preston, HB, 2:21.50; 6, Heckman, SA, 2:29.25; 7, Becker, MC, 2:32.01; 8, Port, AA, 2:33.79.
1600 run: 1, Scipio, DY, 5:24.99; 2, Adams, SC, 5:28.08; 3, Lidwell, AA, 5:32.38; 4, Crawford, SC, 5:34.84; 5, Strohecker, MC, 5:36.4; 6, Port, A, 5:38.19; 7, Eaton, BR, 5:40.60; 8, Race, BR, 5:49.28.
3200 run: 1, Scipio, DY, 11:48.63; 2, Balogh, SC, 11:51.46; 3, Eaton, BR, 11:54.49; 4, Krieger, SC, 12:13.04; 5, Race, BR, 12:20.4; 6, Snyder, SA, 12:25.07; 7, Lidwell, AA, 12:32.25; 8, Rodgers, JT, 12:35.99.
100 low hurdles: 1, Kerns, AA, 15.17; 2, Sciremammano, DB, 15.56; 3, Shaw, SW, 15.98; 4, Love, SC, 16.11; 5, Shawver, MC, 16.17; 6, O'Donnell, DB, 16.42; 7, Albright, AA, 16.93; 8, Swanner, SW, DQ.
300 intermediate hurdles: 1, Marshall, BR, 45.37; 2, Kerns, AA, 45.38; 3, O'Donnell, DB, 46.69; 4, Lake, MC, 46.77; 5, Rinfrette, BR, 48.1; 6, Martin, CM, 48.55; 7, Sciremammano, DB, 48.83; 8, Albright, AA, 49.04.
400 relay: 1, State College, 50.76; 2, Mifflin County, 51.00; 3, Altoona, 51.87; 4, DuBois, 51.95; 5, Clearfield, 52.01; 6, South Western, 52.53; 7, Hollidaysburg, 53.29; 8, Bradford, 53.67; 8, Bellefonte, 53.67.
1600 relay: 1, State College, 4:04.41; 2, Bradford, 4:08.76; 3, Altoona, 4:09.12; 4, Mifflin County, 4:17.38; 5, Hollidaysburg, 4:17.64; 6, South Western, 4:25.58; 7, DuBois, 4:28.39; 8, Clearfield, 4:31.05. 3200 relay: 1, State College, 9:42.49; 2, Mifflin County, 9:45.74; 3, Altoona, 10:20.14; 4, DuBois, 10:22.95; 5, Punxsutawney, 10:27.7; 6, Braford, 10:38.37; 7, Central Mountain, 10:39.78; 8, Clearfield, 10:44.84.
High jump: 1, Karcher, IN, 5-0; 2, Kerns, AA, 5-0; 2, Corby, DB, 5-0; 2, Weston, AA, 5-0; 5, Walbridge, CM, 5-0; 6, Hryn, DB, 4-10; 7, Gonsman, HB, 4-10; 8, Gadesey, DY, 4-8.
Long jump: 1, Coyle, SA, 17-1.5; 2, Toner, CM, 17-0; 3, Shomo, CF, 16-8; 4, Wagner, AA, 16-7.5; 5, Martin, CM, 16-7; 6, Altomare, SC, 16-0; 7, Dean, PX, 15-9.5; 8, Sciremmano, DB, 15-6.5.
Triple jump: 1, Coyle, SA, 36-11; 2, 2, Wagner, AA, 36-2; 3, Gademsey, DY, 35-5; 4, Robison, SC, 34-8.5; 5, Sciremammano, DB, 34-8.5; 6, Dean, PX, 34-8.5; 7, Luciano, AA, 34-8; 8, Shomo, CF, 34-2.5.
Shot put: 1,Denapoli, DB, 37-10; 2, Redd, SW, 36-2; 3, Frisina, BR, 34-5; 4, Weaver, SW, 33-7.5; 5, Goodman, AA, 32-10; 6, Book, BF, 32-0; 7, Laich, AA, 31-8; 8, Marshall, SC, 30-8.5.
Discus: 1, Arey, SW, 112-8; 2, Denapoli, DB, 111-11; 3, Frisina, DR, 110-8; 4, Darazio, DY, 100-4; 5, Glover, SW, 99-6; 6, Smith, HB, 96-10; 7, Mossgrove, IN, 92-2; 8, Marshall, SC, 92-7.
Javelin: 1, Marshall, BR, 113-5; 2, Lightner, SC, 111-01; 3, Goodman, AA, 107-10; 4, Gray, IN, 106-11; 5, Weaver, SW, 104-6; 6, Arey, SW, 100-11; 7, Thompson, CF, 100-10; 8, Mellgard, CF, 98-2.
Pole vault: 1, Love, SC, 11-0; 2, Palencher, DY, 10-6; 3, Harman, SW, 10-6; 4, Coppella, BR, 10-6; 5, Mulher, AA, 10-0; 6, Henderson, DY, 10-0; 7, Nese, SC, 9-0; 8, Minemyer, JT, 8-6.
CLASS AA GIRLS
Key, team standings: 1, FH-Forest Hills, 98; 2, EC-Elk County Catholic, 86.5; 3, WH-Westmont Hilltop, 43; 4, NB-Northern Bedford, 35.5; 5, JB-Johnsonborg, 34; 6, SM-St. Marys, 32; 6, U-United, 32; 8, PV-Penns Valley, 29.5; 9, J-Juniata, 29; 10, K-Kane, 28.5; 10, WD-Windber, 28.5; 12, B-Bedford, 26; 12, PM-Penns Manor, 26; 14, BA-Bellwood-Antis, 23.5; 15, HD-Huntingdon, 21; 16, BB-Berlin Brothersvalley, 17; 17, TY-Tyrone, 15; 18, NC-Northern Cambria, 13; 19, BE-Bald Eagle Area, 11; 19, PC-Penn Cambria, 11; 21, TM-Tussey Mountain, 10; 22, MD-Meyersdale, 8; 22, BG-Bishop Guilfoyle, 8; 24, CR-Chestnut Ridge, 7; 24, BM-Bishop McCort, 7; 26, PO-Philipsburg-Osceola, 5; 26, BC-Bishop Carroll, 5; 28, CV-Curwensvile, 2; 28, CH-Cambria Heights, 2; 30, SH-Southern Huntingdon
100 dash: 1,Petney, PC, 12.82; 2, Schrift, FH, 13.09; 3, Swogger, TY, 13.1; 4, Bealonis, WH, 13.13; 5, Vaughn, MD, 13.16; 6, Bence, PM, 13.22; 7, Davis, WH, 13.32; 8, Hershberger, NB, 13.53.
200 dash: 1, Schrift, FH, 26.61; 2, Bealonis, WH, 26.88; 3, Swogger, TY, 26.92; 4, Bence, PM, 27.11; 5, Hershberger, NB, 27.14; 6, Luprek, BB, 27.25; 7, Davis, WH, 27.38; 8, Vaughn, MD, 27.94.
400 dash: 1, Baker, BD, 1:01.35; 2, Luprek, BB, 1:00.56; 3, Cunningham, NC, 1:01.63; 4, Fleming, HD, 1:01.98; 5, Helsel, BM, 1:02.95; 6, Kostan, FH, 1:03.49; 7, Henry, CH, 1:03.52; 8, Maestri, BM, 1:03.53.
800 run: 1, Weisner, EC, 2:17.95; 2, Gennocro, SM, 2:17.75; 3, Bridges, SM, 2:22.81; 4, Baker, BD, 2:25.15; 5, Snyder, H, 2:25.26; 6, Cunningham, NC, 2:29.57; 7, Crook, BA, 2:30.17; 8, Yoder, PV, 2:31.54.
1600 run: 1,Weisner, EC, 4:53.87; 2, Gennocro, SM, 4:59.00; 3, Snyder, NB, 5:18.83; 4, Yoder, PV, 5:3.74; 5, Crook, BA, 5:37.02; 6, Dorian, WH, 5:37.51; 7, Johnson, CV, 5:38.7; 8, Fether, U, 5:41.14.
3200 run: 1, Snyder, NB, 11:24.54; 2, Guyer, JB, 11:52.92; 3, Sorg, EC, 11:55.04; 4, Dippold, EC, 11:57.72; 5, Fether, U, 12:10.14; 6, Limbaugh, PV, 12:13.69; 7, Glennon, WH, 12:16.83; 8, Simendinger, PC, 12:32.07.
100 low hurdles: 1, Bracken, WD, 15.69; 2, Niovich, FH, 15.88; 3, Petrosky, EC, 16.94; 4, Benson, JB, 17.38; 5, Weyant, CR, 17.49.
300 intermediate hurdles: 1,Gearhart, TM, 48.45; 2, Petrosky, EC, 48.66; 3, Beson, JB, 48.87; 4, D'Andrea, BC, 48.02; 5, Cunningham, NC, 49.18; 6, Long, MD, 49.53; 7, Rievel, WH, 49.78; 8, Diflauro, FH, 50.01.
400 relay: 1, Westmont Hilltop, 50.88; 2, Forest Hills, 51.37; 3, Berlin Brothersvalley, 52.49; 4, Penns Valley, 53.05; 5, Bellwood-Antis, 53.78; 6, Tyrone, 53.85; 7, Chestnut Ridge, 54.27; 8, Penns Manor, 54.38.
1600 relay: 1, Forest Hills, 4:07.59; 2, Elk County Catholic, 4:15.72; 3, Johnsonburg, 4:21.47; 4, Kane, 4:21.85; 5, Juniata, 4:23.72; 6, Bellwood-Antis, 4:25.32; 7, Bishop McCort, 4:26.1; 8, Penns Valley, 4:27.49.
3200 relay: 1, St. Marys, 9:57.33; 2, Forest Hills, 10:11.93; 3, Northern Bedford, 10:13.63; 4, Elk County Catholic, 10:27.72; 5, Johnsonburg, 10:37.25; 6, Penns Manor, 10:40.13; 7, Windber, 10:41.23; 8, Philipsburg-Osceola, 10:49.55.
High jump: 1, Florio, EC, 5-0; 2, Meck, BG, 5-0; 3, Beyer, FH, 5-0; 4, Deitle, FH, 4-10; 5, Martin, BA, 4-10; 5, Gover, PV,4-10; 7, Brown, J, 4-10; 8, Daghir, EC, 4-8; 8, Beahr, WD, 4-8.
Long jump: 1, Smay, FH, 16-4.5; 2, Sellers, HD, 16-4; 3, Wehler, EC, 15-8.5; 4, Smith, FH, 15-8.5; 5, Hershberger, NB, 15-8; 6, Ward, BE, 15-8; 7, Brown, J, 15-1.5; 8, Hughes, PO, 15-1.5.
Triple jump: 1,Smay, FH, 36-2; 2, Gover, PV, 35-00.5; 3, Bracken, WD, 34-11; 4, Brown, J, 34-2; 5, Leamer, BA, 34-1; 6, Czar, PO, 34-0.5; 7, Bucheit, K, 33-11.5; 8, Lippencott, BD, 33-1.5.
Shot put: 1, Detrick, K, 36-3 ; 2, McGaha, U, 36-2; 3, Skedel, U, 32-10; 4, Nicholson, K, 32-8; 5, Nicklas, EC, 32-7; 6, Flick, BE, 32-6; 7, Strapple, WD, 31-9.5; 8, Williams, J, 31-2.
Discus: 1, Williams, J, 121-2; 2, Nicklas, EC, 110-0; 3, Misner, PM, 107-10; 4, Hower, J, 104-8; 5, DaBella, PM 103-2; 6, Emel, PV, 103-1; 7, Fletcher, U, 102-11; 8, Skedel, U, 99-7.
Javelin: 1, Skedel, U, 131-0; 2, Strapple, WD, 124-1; 3, Zubek, FH, 123-1; 4, Imbrogno, JB, 113-9; 5, Misner, PM, 111-6; 6, Flick, BE, 110-8; 7, Nicholson, K, 109-11; 8, Walker, SH, 107-2.
Pole vault: 1, Baker, DB, 10-9; 2, Cunningham, H, 9-9; 3, Connors, WH, 9-9; 4, Batzel, NB, 9-3; 4, Kocjancic, K, 9-3; 6, Mercer, BA, 8-9; 7, Kachik, BE, 8-9; 8, Kostryk, CR, 8-9.
