Cal girls upend visiting Waynesburg, 73-56
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California’s Ashley McIntosh wins the girls’ 300-meter high hurdles, setting a new school record Tuesday during their Section 6-AA meet against Waynesburg Central at California Area High School.
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Waynesburg Central’s Maddie Brooks sends the shot 28-1 to win the girls’ shot put at their Section 6-AA meet with California Tuesday at California Area High School.
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California’s Jenna Miller sails to the sand during the long jump in Tuesday’s Section 6-AA track meet with Waynesburg Central at California Area High School.
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Waynesburg Central’s Emma Tustin (middle) wins the girls’ 100-meter hurdles with a time of 18.6 seconds during Tuesday’s Section 6-AA meet against California at California Area High School.
COAL CENTER — California’s Ashley McIntosh had a pretty strong Section 6-AA meet Tuesday against visiting Waynesburg Central, won by the Lady Trojans, 73-56.
The victory marks the first time the California girls defeated the Lady Raiders.
Waynesburg freshman Maddie Brooks had a strong individual performance by finishing first in the shot put (28-1) and discus (79-9).
The cool, crisp, yet sunny afternoon, was made just a bit chillier with a sweeping breeze across the track, not necessarily to the liking of Brooks.
“I like it when it’s 60 and sunny. The colder it is, my hands cramp, moreso in the discus,” explained Brooks.
Every meet is part of the learning curve for the freshman.
“I wanted to get first in my two events. There’s more stress (in high school). There are more experienced people,” said Brooks.
The Lady Raiders’ Lindsee Zimmer continued her strong performances on the track, winning the 1,600 (5:58), 800 (2:50), and 3,200 (13:53).
McIntosh won the triple jump (32-4½) and long jump (14-1), and then finished first in the 300 intermediate hurdles in a school-record time of 50.7 seconds. She also ran the opening leg of the Lady Trojans’ victorious 3,200 relay.
McIntosh got out of the blocks fast in the 300 intermediate hurdles and maintained her stride throughout most of the Âľ-lap race.
What inspired the junior to her best time in a relatively new event?
“I was running for the bathroom,” McIntosh said with a smile, then, with more analysis, added, “The first couple races this year I was not sure how to pace myself. Today, I wanted to go out (hard) the whole time.
“All the way up to the last hurdle, I felt pretty good.”
Although she is a record-holder on the track, McIntosh feels that’s not her best event.
“My best event is the triple jump,” said McIntosh. “Last year I was two inches from the top eight in the WPIAL finals. That drives me. I was practicing all summer.”
Dajah Walker (100, 14.1; 200, 30.4), Sami Kluz (400, 1:11), Marissa Bitonti (javelin, 123-4), Annalis Gillespie (high jump, 5-10), and the Lady Trojans’ 400 relay (55.8) also had first-place finishes.
California improves to 3-1 in the section, while Waynesburg goes to 5-1.