Andy Close
BROOKVILLE, Pa. – It wasn’t quite back-to-back in the traditional sense, but Sheffield’s Emily Foster will be making a return trip to the PIAA track and field championships.
Foster, a sophomore who won the high jump as a freshman a year ago, finished in a tie for second at 4-10 with DuBois Central Catholic’s Hope Jacob and Punxsutawney’s Maeve Hanley.
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District 9 takes its top two qualifiers automatically to states, and after a brief discussion with D9 officials, it was determined that all three athletes are indeed heading to the PIAA championships.
And they did so in rainy conditions early in the day at Brookville.
“In the beginning, I felt good, I felt confident,” Foster said. “Then the rain came and it got a little what and I got a little scared of slipping. You can’t use your speed as much because you don’t want to slip on your approach.”
This was the second consecutive season that a freshman won the event, with the honors going this time around to Redbank Valley’s Mylee Harmon, who cleared 5-0. It was one of four victories for Harmon, who won the Jim Manners award as the top point-getter in the meet.
For Foster, she was motivated to have another strong performance as a sophomore.
“There’s a lot of pressure,” she said. “Being here before definitely helps with the pressure though,” Foster said.
Coach Jason Snell couldn’t have been happier.
“We’re thrilled for Emily,” Snell said.
The medal was one of two in the high jump for Sheffield on Friday, as junior Lucas McNeal finished fifth at 5-7. Union A-C Valley’s Hayden Smith, the defending champion in the event, won, clearing 6-5.
McNeal also competed in the 4×100 relay team with Michael Mihalic, Leihden Wotorson and Landon Mead. The quartet finished with a time of 46.15, good for ninth place in an event won by Brookville.
