In good Grace: Trimmer leads Lady Raiders to Section 2-AAA title
FINLEYVILLE 鈥� Uniontown鈥檚 Grace Trimmer missed most of the season while in concussion protocol, but she returned in time to help her teammates secure the Section 2-AAA title on Thursday at Mingo Creek Park.
Trimmer breezed to a first-place finish in 19:38 on her first time on the course. She ran her first race last week at Connellsville and is just happy to be doing what she enjoys.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad to be back,鈥� Trimmer said with a big smile. 鈥淚 am trying to take it slowly. It鈥檚 been really rough. I feel like I鈥檓 back with my lungs.
鈥淚t was so frustrating for four weeks. I couldn鈥檛 run over a mile. It was agony just sitting there.鈥�
Trimmer noted she improved over last week鈥檚 run at Connellsville.
鈥淚 did feel better today than I did last week at Connellsville,鈥� said Trimmer. 鈥淚鈥檒l take that break so I can peak at the right time.鈥�
Laurel Highlands鈥� Isabella Baker was second in 21:19 and teammate Taylor Schwertfeger was third in 21:54.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have Grace back. It鈥檚 nice to have that person ahead of you to push you,鈥� said Baker.
Baker ran the course recently and picked up a pointer or two on where and how to attack.
鈥淚 learned to go out a little quicker and pick up time on the hills,鈥� said Baker. 鈥淭he hills are worse on the way back.
鈥淢y goal was to PR today and I had a five-second PR.鈥�
Baker has her sights set on the district meet.
鈥淢y goal is to get my time down in the 20:30s by the WPIAL meet,鈥� said Baker.
Connellsville freshman Abigail Zavatchan was fourth with a time of 22:12.
Uniontown began its run to clinch the section title by taking five of the next six finishers.
Arrington Scott (5, 22:18), Charley Murtha (6, 22:35), Paisley Murtha (7, 22:36), Hannah Foster (9, 22:56), and Emma Young (10, 23:10) all had top-10 finishes.
The Lady Raiders defeated Albert Gallatin (15-50), Connellsville (18-45), Ringgold (16-47), and Laurel Highlands (23-37) to finish with an 8-0 record.
Laurel Highlands picked up wins against Albert Gallatin (15-50), Ringgold (25-30), and Connellsville (25-30) to close with a 6-2 record. Ringgold edged Connellsville (27-29) and beat Albert Gallatin (15-50) for a 3-5 record.
The Lady Falcons defeated Albert Gallatin, 15-50, for a 5-3 record.
Connellsville senior Zoey Thomas was 12th with a time of 24:28 after moving up in the pack throughout the race.
鈥淚 picked them off one at a time. I was just passing schools in different jerseys,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淢y pace was pretty steady. I picked off people in the second half of the race.
鈥淲e wanted to finish with a winning record. There was some pressure, but we went out and did our job.鈥�
With Lily Brenneman nursing an injury, Emma Bartkus was the top finisher for Ringgold in eighth place with a time of 22:39.
Albert Gallatin鈥檚 Mia Medved was with the leaders, but dropped out midway through the race.
Teammate Ashley Comaty was 15th with a time of 26:19.