Cavanaugh moves on in Shippensburg
SHIPPENSBURG – The only thing that could prepare Bentworth freshman Brenna Cavanaugh for the bustling atmosphere of the PIAA Track & Field Championships was the sinking feeling of disappointment.
That’s what she experienced after placing 19th in the Class AA long jump (15-7½) to open the meet. Minutes later, after not reaching the finals of that event, Cavanaugh had to hustle to the starting line for the 100-meter hurdles
The long jump cleared any nervousness she felt looking up at the stands at Shippensburg University. She followed it up with her first memorable performance at the state championships.
Cavanaugh finished fifth in the second heat of the hurdles in 15.94 and qualified for today’s semifinals, which will begin at 10 a.m. The top-four in each heat and the four fastest times advanced. The finals, which include the top-three from both semifinal heats and the next two fastest times, are set for 12:15 p.m.
“I think it went pretty well. I can definitely do better,” Cavanaugh said. “My start was really good. I was counting my steps, but I can still improve. I’m going to.”
She was seeded eighth in the event and was defeated in her heat by four seniors. With a personal best of 15.40 earned last week, Cavanaugh has her eyes set on the finals.
How she arrived at Shippensburg involved a bit of creativity. Not only do the hurdles require a sense of reckless abandon, but technique is everything. Practice translates to success, but Cavanaugh did not always have that luxury this season.
Bentworth High School does not have a track, forcing her and head coach Jerome Nixon to travel to Chartiers-Houston or focus on sprints. Prior to the PIAA championships, she trained at Washington & Jefferson to utilize the facility’s weighted hurdles.
Nixon did not want to leave a stone unturned when it came to preparing Cavanaugh.
“He told me that no one is here. We are alone at practice,” Cavanaugh said. “I should be used to it. He told me to go out there and do what I’m used to. I definitely didn’t think there were going to be this many people here. It kind of surprised me.”
What did not surprise her was the competition. The top-seed, Markeeta Thomas of Paul Robeson, ran a 14.59, while second-seeded Cassidy Jenkins, of Lakeland, took first in Cavanaugh’s heat at 14.75.
Though she is happy to call herself one of the top 14 competitors in the state, Cavanaugh will not settle for anything short of the finals.
“I kind of choked up a little bit on my jumps. I was nervous for the long jump, but I got them all out of the way and I settled down for the hurdles,” Cavanaugh said. “I’m really pushing for the finals. That’s been my goal.”
Monessen junior Raymond Sitton, who won the WPIAL Class AA title last week in the 110-meter hurdles, advanced to today’s semifinals, despite struggling in the first heat of the preliminaries.
Sitton took sixth in the heat with a time of 16.13. The semifinals are at 10:15 a.m. with the finals at 12:25 p.m.
“I felt myself losing speed. I switched legs and it slowed me down,” Sitton said.
Meanwhile, McGuffey senior Max Livingood also advanced in the event by taking fifth in his heat (15.81).
“It didn’t go very well. I ran pretty slow. I had a slow start and my leg has been bothering me,” Livingood said. “I might practice tonight and try to be more focused”
Cavanaugh was not the only freshman making a debut at the state meet. South Fayette’s Rachel Helbling took fourth in the first heat of the Class AAA 400-meter dash with a time of 57.70, narrowly missing today’s finals.
“My start could have been a little bit better,” Helbling said. “I pushed really hard and tried to catch up, but it was too late.”
California freshman Annelise Gillespie did not reach the opening distance to continue competing in the Class AA high jump.
Others who did not advance include Canon-McMillan senior Caden Meier in the Class AAA 400-meter dash, Canon-McMillan’s boys 3,200-meter relay team, Ringgold’s Bailey Cooper in the girls’ Class AAA 100-meter hurdles, Peters Township’s Chloe Grzyb in the AAA 1,600-meter run, Peters Township’s Nick Wolk in the 1,600-meter run, Waynesburg’s Ben Bumgarner in the AA 1,600-meter run, Washington’s Ben Heim in the AA 800-meter run, Peters Township’s Laura Ehrenberger in the AAA 800-meter run, Beth-Center’s Hannah Lacey in the AA 200-meter dash, South Fayette’s girls 1,600-meter relay team, Washington’s boys 1,600 meter relay team, Canon-McMillan’ boys 1,600-meter relay team and Canon-McMillan’s girls 400-meter relay team.
Two local athletes competed in field events Friday and had similar finishes.
McGuffey senior Ryan Stienstraw, who won the WPIAL Class AA title in the javelin, took 17th in the event Friday morning with a throw of 157-11. Washington senior Zack Blystone finished 18th in the Class AA shot put with a put of 47-8.
In the girls’ AA long jump, Washington’s Aliyah Moye finished 15th and Fort Cherry junior Koryn Jozwiakowski was 17th.
The finals for 14 more field events will occur today.
Jozwiakowski won the WPIAL Class AA title in the triple jump last week with a jump of 37-9 and as the sixth seed today.
Other local athletes competing for a medal in their field events today include McGuffey’s Rachel Czulewicz in the AA javelin, Canon-McMillan’s Haley Yenchik in the AAA pole vault and Fort Cherry’s Brelan Skinner in the AA long jump.