Lady Red Devils make all the right choices at states
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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
SHIPPENSBURG -- Annaliese Niebauer has earned a reputation as one of the top distance runners in the state, but she was notably absent from the 3200-meter run at the PIAA Class 2A track and field championships on Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium at Shippensburg University.
Niebauer finished second to Forest Hills' Delaney Dumm in the District 6 meet, and Dumm went on to earn a silver medal at states, but Niebauer opted to scratch it even though it was likely she would have medaled.
The Central Cambria junior had a larger goal in mind -- the 3200-meter relay gold medal.
The sacrifice paid off Saturday when Niebauer took the baton from Abigail Sheehan with her team neck-and-neck with Greenville and pulled away, giving Central Cambria the cushion it needed to bring home gold with a time of 9:30.53 ahead of runner-up Greenville, which finished in 9:43.97.
"It was a feeling unlike any other," Niebauer said. "It was so amazing. I wish we could have that feeling forever."
Niebauer said being fresh played a role in the team getting the victory.
"It felt good, and it definitely paid off," Niebauer said. "I think if I would have run a fast two-mile, I wouldn't have run the way that I did."
Niebauer's two laps were her fastest of the season.
"We pride ourselves on always having good relays," Central Cambria coach Randy Wilson said. "She saw that they had a top seed, and she said she'd rather try and run for gold with the team than go for an individual medal for herself. She said she would rather see four girls leave here with a medal instead of just one, which was huge. She dropped an unbelievably fast time today, which was by far, her fastest of the year."
Alaina Sheehan started the race for the Lady Devils and trailed Greenville's Karis McElhaney when she handed off to Abigail Sheehan.
"I knew since I was first that I had to push myself and try to get the lead for my teammates," Alaina Sheehan said. "I knew they would have my back if I didn't, but I ran as hard as I could."
Abigail Sheehan made up the deficit during her two laps.
"I knew if I pushed hard enough and I tried to get her, my teammates would be able to finish it," Abigail Sheehan said. "I caught her right at the end after really pushing the last 200."
That's when Niebauer took control of the race.
"My strategy was to try and build a gap and maintain what my teammates had gotten," Niebauer said. "I wanted to come through and make them proud."
Abigail George finished the job and won by a comfortable margin before she ran into her teammates' arms to celebrate the state title.
"I knew I needed to push, because you never know what other girls the other teams have," George said. "It's so amazing and exciting. This is a dream come true for us, honestly."
George appreciated having a lead when she took the baton.
"It was a weight off my chest," George said. "I knew I still had to push, but there was at least a lead to help me with that."
It was the latest in a series of relay state titles by the Central Cambria girls program, and Wilson said a key to his teams' success over the years has always been the Lady Devils' depth.
"You see four girls running today, but there are other girls who work their butts off just as hard," Wilson said. "The reason we are good, is because these aren't the only girls who ran the 4X800 this year. It is a battle to get on this team, and it's a testament to all the girls, not just the ones on the podium. All of the girls push each other."
In other action Saturday, Portage's Cami Burkett recorded a personal-best time of 26.31 while earning a seventh-place medal in the 200 dash, won by Tatum Norris of Susquehanna Community in 24.94.
"My goal was to try to catch the girl ahead of me, and I did, so I was pretty happy with that," Burkett said. "I'm so excited, because my family and friends were here to support us, and it's a great feeling to place with them here."
Lydia Worthing of Bellwood-Antis won an eighth-place medal in the 2A pole vault by clearing 10 feet.
"My goal was to get a medal, so I completed my only goal," Worthing said. "I wanted to get 10-6, but I'll get it next year. Last year, I thought I'd never get better than 9-6, but I improved this year, and that gives me confidence I'll grow even more next year."
Worthing hugged her vault coach and held her medal high after stepping off the award stand.
"There's a lot of practice and hours that go into it," Worthing said. "This is what it's all about."
SUBHED: Notable finishers
N State College's Shannon Mullin won a silver medal in the 3A long jump.
N Forest Hills' Delaney Dumm won a silver medal with a time of 10:46.05 behind only Brownsville's Jolena Quarzo, who set the state record by more than six seconds in 10:19.41.
N Bedford's Autumn Becker won a silver medal in the 300 hurdles in 44.87.
N The Bedford 400 relay team of Ava Sipes, Becker, Jillian Beck and Grace Sarver won a bronze medal in the 2A event. Bedford's 1600 relay team of Becker, Meah Eshelman, Sarver and Natalie Lippincott won a seventh-place medal in the 2A race in 4:08.09.
N Chestnut Ridge's Ava Whysong won a fifth-place medal in the 800 run with a time of 2:18.52. Central Cambria's George was 12th in 2:22.35.
N Ridge's Madison Hillegass won an eighth-place medal in the triple jump with a leap of 36-4. Tyrone's Natalie Saltsgiver was 24th with a distance of 32-2.5.
N Hollidaysburg's Lily Jodon finished tied for 17th in the 3A high jump by clearing 5 feet.