Track notebook: Fort Cherry runner has a lot on her mind
In her races, Mara Whalen has to compete against the field … and herself.
The Fort Cherry freshman is as talented as they come, finishing second in the grueling 400 dash at the WPIAL Class AA Track & Field Championships at Baldwin High School Thursday.
Defining which competitor is more dangerous is the easy part for Whalen. But she says she spends too much time worrying about that instead of concentrating on her own performance.
In qualifying for the state tournament, Whalen took silver in the 400, finishing with a time of 60.88. She was one second behind another freshman, Emma Pavalek of Beaver, and a few paces ahead of Emily Prasko of Burgettstown (61:01).
“It was one of my worst races,” Whalen said. “I was out of my head and I think I was too busy focusing on the other girls. I’m trying to get better mentally. The 400 is more mental than physical. Before every race, I try to think about running the best that I did before. It’s not me against the girls next to me. It’s me against the clock.”
Mixed emotions
Entering the final stretch of the of the 800 run, South Fayette senior Silas Mays was looking ahead but worrying what was coming up on him.
Battling for second place – the top four automatically qualify for the state meet in Class AAA – Mays was expecting those trailing him were going to steal his last chance at advancing to Shippensburg, where the PIAA Championships will be held next weekend.
Not only did Mays hold on for third place, he broke a personal record with a time of 1:55.27, nearly two seconds faster than his previous best.
“I think I was still in shock for a long period of time,” Mays said. “Coming in, I wasn’t even thinking about being in the top 4. It really wasn’t even in the equation. I was thinking in that final stretch that there has to be someone passing me soon but it never happened. It’s crazy. There were just so many emotions.”
Mays finished the 800 in eighth place last year to medal but not qualify.
“Honestly, (at states) I just want to beat this time,” Mays said. “If I could get another (personal record), that would be great. I’m pretty excited.”
Joining Mays at the state meet will be senior teammate Sam Snodgrass, who has been a regular at competing at that level in the 1,600 run.
The top-seeded Snodgrass finished outside the automatic top-4 qualifiers, but was able to advance by beating the qualifying time with a 4:24.01. Snodgrass finished in fifth place.
“I was really looking to win it,” Snodgrass said. “I was a little impatient and started my kick a little early. I ended up getting outkicked in the end. I’m happy to make it to states but not pleased overall with the place. I feel blessed to be able to have the chance of reaching one of my main goals, running under 4:20, because it wasn’t going to happen (at the WPIAL Championships).”
Snodgrass made the PIAA Championships last year but failed to advance to the finals in the 1,600. And with only a few races remaining in his high-school career, he knows what needs to be done to improve on Thursday’s fifth-place finish.
“I have to be more patient,” Snodgrass said. “What I’ve learned over my four years of racing the 1,600 is that it’s all about patience. You have to wait and time that final kick. That’s when you go.”
Selected finishes
Two local placewinners in the Class AA girls javelin are headed to the state tournament. Marissa Bitonti of California took third with a throw of 123-1 and Kennedy Kuhns of Beth-Center was fourth with a 119-1 effort. … The Fort Cherry 400 relay team of McKenzie Faure, Morgan Zickefoose, Jadyn Hartner and Whalen took third place with a time of 51.81. … Katrina Lepro of Fort Cherry qualified in the long jump with a 16-7 effort. Brenna Cavanaugh of Bentworth won the event with a leap of 18-6.