STUMBLE DOESN’T KEEP DEMARS DOWN
Ballston Spa freshman wins 3,000 steeplechase to qualify for states
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. » The best in Section II once again squared off on the Shenendehowa High School campus during the second day of New York State Public High School Athletic Association state qualifying meet.
In one of the day’s first events, Ballston Spa freshman Faith Demars overcame an early miscue to capture the 3,000-meter steeplechase and qualify for her first NYSPHSAA meet in Endicott next week.
“I was very nervous,” Demars said. “During the whole bus ride I was so worked up about it.”
Her distance coach, Gary Preece put her at ease and told her ‘You got it.’ ”
The six-lap event — with three barriers (steeples) including one with water — developed into a two-person race with Demars following Colonie sophomore Kathryn Tenney around the Clifton Park oval until the third time around when Demars fell onto her hands and knees in the water hazard.
“I haven’t really fallen like that before, it just motivated me,” Demars said. “I’m like ‘Oh, this is bad, I have to push a little bit more now.’”
Demars had to overcome a steady wind during the entire race and recover from her fall, but the freshman retained her composure and used her wit to pull up and then past Tenney late in the race.
“I knew she was going to go out really, really hard so I let her take the wind a little bit and then she died out a little bit, so I knew I had to go in order to win,” Demars said about her seven-minute, 14.54-second victory. “On the straightaways I was letting her take the wind from me. Being as small as I am it’s hard to fight the win.”
The Scotties freshman enjoys running in wet track shoes, over and through a water barrier seven times around the track.
“I just like the challenge, I think its fun to go over the barriers and even though it is kind of really hard because I’m small and it’s hard to go over them,” Demars said. “It’s different than just running on the track. I find it more fun.”
Tenney finished second at 7:20.87, but failed to meet the NYSPHSAA at-large time to qualify for next week’s event. Saratoga Springs junior Samantha Vetter was third at 7:31.80 and Blue Streaks senior Mari Ellen Penzer was fourth at 7:38.22.
While it was just a formality, Shenendehowa senior thrower Jillian Shippee again posted the top
distance in the shot put and once again advanced to the NYSPHSAA meet as well as having her sites on nationals in two weeks.
“I was excited about today; this is my state qualifier in my high school career, so I was just trying to take it all in.” Jillian Shippee said. “It’s my last home meet, so I wanted to take it all in and punch my ticket to the state meet next week.”
The national title holder in the hammer at the indoor level and defending state champ in the indoor shot put event is looking forward to another top-level meet.
“It would be great to de- fend the title I got in indoor,” Shippee said. “That’s my goal, but there is a lot of competition out there right now this outdoor season. There’s a bunch of girls over 43 (feet) and it’s going to be really close. I’m excited; it’s going to be great competition.
“Next week I want to actually try and go for a 45-, 46-, that would be a beautiful thing,” Shippee said. “I would be so excited if I hit that next week. I don’t care what anyone else hits, I just want to hit 45-, 46-, but I know that would be real competitive for the title next week.”