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Murphy, Lazorka earn medals in AA triple jump

SHIPPENSBURG – The scene in the triple jump area at Seth Grove Stadium on Saturday afternoon looked a lot like something one might have seen at the West Central Coaches, Bellwood-Antis Invitational or Northern Bedford Invitational meets.

Nine girls from District 6 and District 5 were among the 30 in the Class AA triple jump field.

“It was so much fun. We all talked and hung out,” Bedford senior Caitlyn Lazorka said. “It was really, really great to share that experience with everyone.”

Of the Mirror coverage area’s five participants, Lazorka and Bishop Carroll’s Maddie Murphy were the lowest seeded and probably the least likely to do something big in the event – Lazorka only qualified by achieving the state standard on her last attempt of the finals at the District 5 meet, while Murphy, just a freshman, wasn’t even triple jumping at the beginning of the year.

Things, though, came together for Murphy and Lazorka at the right time. Both achieved personal records as they were the only area girls other than those from Central Cambria to win medals on the second day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

Murphy jumped 36 feet, 1.25 inches on her first attempt of the day, and it stood up to give the Carroll freshman a seventh-place medal. Lazorka, meanwhile, checked in at 35-11.25 to reach the medal stand with an eighth-place finish.

“I didn’t think I could do it,” Murphy admitted. “I just worked for it.”

Murphy only was ranked 16th coming into the event. Murphy’s medal jump exceeded her previous best – which she achieved at the District 6 meet just to qualify for states – by more than 4 inches. The distance at districts was 8 inches longer than the farthest she had jumped prior to that.

“I wanted to get a good one each time I jumped, but that just kind of happened,” Murphy said of surpassing 36 feet for the first time ever on her first attempt at states. “On the last phase, I have to make sure I get up in the air higher and throw my arms up. If I do that, I’ll go farther. I think I did that on the first one.”

You’ll forgive Murphy if she isn’t quite sure. This is pretty new to her.

The Lady Huskies already were a couple of meets into the season before the coaches decided to try their athletic ninth grader in the triple jump.

“I tried it. I liked it,” Murphy said.

Freshmen often are overwhelmed on their first trip to the state meet. Murphy, though, said seeing so many familiar faces in her event benefited her.

“Knowing all the girls and what they can do, it helped. It didn’t make me as nervous,” Murphy said.

One of the most familiar of those faces was Lazorka’s – both girls competed against each other this season in the Laurel Highlands Conference.

Through her first five jumps at the District 5 meet, though, it didn’t look like Lazorka would be advancing to Shippensburg. Then she pulled out a 35-6 to punch her ticket, entering states as the 21st seed.

Her medal effort came on the third jump in trials.

“I think it’s a combination of both (operating better under pressure and desperation),” Lazorka said of her ability to come up biggest at the most important time. “Everyone usually gives it all they have their last jump. It was my last jump forever. I just wanted to get it out there. It happened.”

Lazorka said technique makes a good triple jumper, but her speed sprinting into the jump also was key. The athletic Lazorka actually had to adjust on Saturday because of her velocity.

“In trials, I had to keep moving back because I was running so fast,” Lazorka said. “When I run faster, I always jump better.”

Penn Cambria’s Lauren Michina – the District 6 champion – made the finals in the event but ended up one spot out of the medals, recording a top distance of 35-10.

Bishop Guilfoyle’s Preslee Litzinger came in 16th at 35-2.5, while Everett’s Stephanie Ketterman jumped 34-2.25 to wind up in 23rd.

Fort Cherry’s Koryn Jozwaikowski won the event by 4 inches, leaping 37-9.

Other area athletes

Two area sprinters advanced to Saturday’s semifinals before being eliminated from the medal chase.

In the Class AA 200, Bishop Guilfoyle’s Alyssa McGhee was fifth in her heat, clocking in at 26.21. Hollidaysburg junior Ali Wyland was in action in the Class AAA 100 dash semis, where she posted a time of 12.63, which placed her eighth in her heat, not high enough to advance.

Four area girls competed in field finals on Saturday but did not medal.

Bellwood-Antis’ Alexis Gerwert finished in a tie for 13th in the Class AA pole vault, clearing 10-0. In the Class AAA discus, Altoona sophomore Lindsey Hallinan came in 19th; she threw 96-6. Hollidaysburg freshman Darci Frazier long jumped 17-0.25, good enough to place 22nd in Class AAA. Bedford’s Alexis Imler threw the shot 30-5.75, placing her 27th in Class AA.

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