Lady Chucks track/field finish up season at States
SHIPPENSBURG — The Punxsutawney Lady Chucks track and field team finished up their second day at States held at Shippensburg University, with the 4x800-meter relay and senior Jordan Hicks competing.
Hicks went on to race to 19th out of 24 in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:26.60.
“After coming back from a personal-best split in the relay, Jordann had a tough time having the same momentum going after the first lap in her 800,” said Punxsy coach John Snyder. “She’s a competitor and gave it her best but just wasn’t able to find the same energy as she had at Districts.”
He added, “Jordann has had a solid high school career, making it to States each year, and she has played a major role on our relays. I know she will do some very good things in running as she continues it at Geneva College.”
Hicks went on to join Riley Miller, Taylor Bair and Emily McMahan in the 4x800 relay team, which took 10th out of 25 teams with a time of 9:49.49 and missed the medal stand by 1.41 seconds. Though, the team did improve six places from their seeding.
The time of 9:49.49 improved their seasonal best by 13 seconds, and their finish was the fourth best on the Punxsy All-Time Performance List. It was also the fastest time since 2007, and all four ran a new personal-best split of either 2:29 or faster.
“The girls have seen nice improvements as the season has progressed and raced their best when it counted most at Districts and now at States,” said Snyder. “It’s pretty amazing to think that the time they ran to get 10th place this year was actually faster than the fourth-place finisher and state-medalist team at states last year; Punxsy High School Track and Field is definitely doing very well.”
During the first day of competition, the Lady Chucks saw Mary Grusky take ninth in the javelin (128-01), while Samantha Griebel took 19th in the high jump (5-00).
Also, the 4x400-meter relay team of McMahan,
Hicks, Miller and Bair took 24th with a time of 4:23.50.
“I am really pleased with all of the girl’s efforts over the weekend, as we brought a talented and hardworking bunch and they performed well,” said Snyder. “Mary and the 4x800 relay being close to reaching the podium was fantastic to see and a good motivator.”
He added, “With consistency in their training, I believe our girls have the ability to come and compete with the best and I think they all saw that this weekend.”