Last Chance: Lady Gators鈥� Larkin posts top time in 400
NORTH HUNTINGDON 鈥� Athletes took to Norwin鈥檚 track & field facility on a miserable, rainy Thursday afternoon for one final opportunity to post a time, height or distance in the host school鈥檚 Last Chance Meet.
Geibel Catholic鈥檚 Emma Larkin made the most of the opportunity to reach a season-long goal when she broke the minute-mark in the 400 with her time of 59.15 seconds. The sophomore had a sub-minute time earlier in the season in a section meet at Southmoreland, but it was a hand-held time.
Larkin led for most of the one-lap sprint, finishing nearly 1陆 seconds ahead of the field.
鈥淵es, it is very hard because, obviously, if you have someone to go after, it pushes you,鈥� explained Larkin.鈥滻 had no idea where I was. The home stretch I basically just pumped my arms and moved my legs as fast as possible.鈥�
Larkin had another reason to crack a minute in the 400.
鈥淵es, I really want to be in the fast heat in the WPIALs so I have someone to push me. I really wanted to get under a minute,鈥� said Larkin.
Larkin has one of the fastest times in Class AA in the 300 intermediate hurdles and planned on running the 800 in the southern last chance meet Friday at West Mifflin.
鈥淚鈥檓 running 800 on Friday at West Mifflin. I haven鈥檛 run it all. I need to get a time,鈥� said Larkin.
She鈥檒l have to make some big decisions this weekend on her event list for the WPIAL championship.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the issue right now. I have some decisions to make because I鈥檓 ranked No. 1 in the WPIALs in the 300 hurdles. But, if I run the 400 before it, my time isn鈥檛 as good,鈥� said Larkin. 鈥淭here are no guarantees of anything. But, right now with the times, it鈥檚 win two WPIAL medals that aren鈥檛 No. 1 or get one No. 1.
鈥淚f I get a good time in the 800, then I鈥檓 just going to run it at the WPIALs because it鈥檚 after the 400 and hurdles. That鈥檚 not really a problem.鈥�
California鈥檚 Carter Kent was in the top 16 in the Class AA 800 on times entered to date, but was looking to improve his positioning for a spot in the faster heat. He did so by breaking his school record with a time of 2:03.17.
鈥淭oday was definitely to improve my time. I鈥檓 13th right now (in the 800). I projected I鈥檇 be the first one in or the last one out, so I definitely wanted to lower my time,鈥� explained Kent, adding, 鈥淚 lowered my time by a second-and-a-half.鈥�
Kent noted he had a notion of his pace, but running against a clock and not other runners was not easy to do.
鈥淚鈥檇 say it鈥檚 a lot harder to run against a clock because you have an estimate of what people are yelling out numbers, but when you鈥檙e racing against someone you get a lot more adrenaline,鈥� said Kent. 鈥淚 felt strong in that first lap. Somebody yelled out 60, 61 (seconds) whenever I crossed (after the first lap). Every time I ran it before I crossed at 62 or 63, so I was really happy where I wanted to be at that point. I felt like I could do it.鈥�
Connellsville senior Grace Bosnic managed to lower her time in the 300 intermediate hurdles, but it wasn鈥檛 easy to do after playing soccer the night before. She shaved a quarter of a second off her seed time when she finished in 47.12 seconds.
鈥淚 played a full soccer game yesterday, so my legs were not definitely as good as normal,鈥� said Bosnic. 鈥淚 had to play soccer yesterday. We had to get into the playoffs.鈥�
Bosnic was pleased with her effort.
鈥淚 was in but trying to get better. I think it was good. I believe I moved up two or three spots,鈥� said Bosnic. 鈥淚 knew all I had to do was try to run faster and I was confident that I would get faster.鈥�
Bosnic prefers running for first place, as opposed to running for a time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 much easier for me (to compete against other runners).. I鈥檓 very competitive with the person next to me. So, whenever I don鈥檛 know where I鈥檓 at timewise, I feel better (running against someone),鈥� said Bosnic.
Bosnic has her goal in sight for next week鈥檚 district championship.
鈥淚 need to hit 46.2 (seconds) for states. I know I can run that time and I鈥檓 pretty confident I can get it because of the competition there and the pressure,鈥� said Bosnic.
California senior Ella Neil fell a bit short of what she hoped to accomplish at Norwin, but was still satisfied with her performances. She cleared 5-陆 in the high jump and had a top effort of 33-2陆 in the triple jump.
鈥淚 came close (in the triple jump). It鈥檚 better than what it鈥檚 been lately. It鈥檚 good to know that I鈥檓 consistently in the 33s. But, of course, I鈥檇 like it to be closer to 34,鈥� said Neil
Neil was close to clearing 5-2陆, but clipped the bar on all three attempts.
鈥淚 got 5-1 the other day. I know I鈥檓 consistent at this height. I have a lot of room. There鈥檚 a few technical things I need to fix up.鈥� said Neil, adding, 鈥淚鈥檓 good for the WPIALs.鈥�
Looking forward to the WPIAL finals, Neil said, 鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to tie my PR from last year. That鈥檚 state qualifying. Of course, that鈥檚 my goal.鈥�
Brownsville senior A鈥檢yia Dade was not able to improve her times in the sprints. She finished the 100 in 12.89 seconds and 200 in 27.10 seconds.
Dade was sitting in a good position for the 200, but on the bubble in the 100.
鈥淢y 100 wasn鈥檛 better today. I needed a 12.78, but I got a 12.89,鈥� said Dade. 鈥淚 just wanted to keep my time because someone could easily run faster and knock me down.
鈥淚 came in today (with the attitude) even if I got last, I hope I got a PR.鈥�
Dade anchored the Lady Falcons鈥� 400 relay to an improved time of 51.26 seconds.
鈥淲e did PR in the 4脳100 (relay),鈥� said Dade.
Dade felt the pressure of being a senior.
鈥淚 know, so I don鈥檛 have any more time to improve my time. I think I could鈥檝e done better in my 100,鈥� added Dade.
The pole vault competition was moved to an indoor facility because of the rain. A driving rain pelted the track near the end of the meet, adversely affecting the 1,600 relay, boys鈥� high jump and triple jump, and the shot put.
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Skyler Salay improved her in the discus by nearly nine feet with a throw of 97-3, improving her chance of slipping into the Class AAA top 24.
Mount Pleasant鈥檚 Jarett Garn shaved .04 seconds off his 100 with a time of 11.21 seconds to improve his chance for a spot in the Class AA sprint. He wasn鈥檛 able to lower his time in the 200.
Connellsville鈥檚 Jonah Lindstrom and California鈥檚 Niamh McClaflin both improved in the 1,600. McClaflin dropped 10 seconds with his time of 4:42.97. Lindstrom sliced about 2陆 seconds when he crossed the finish line in 4:42.95.
The Connellsville 400 relay dropped .04 seconds to 44.78 seconds to help their tenuous spot in the top 24.