Leopards dominant in girls competition
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
Behind some stellar performances from underclassmen and consistency from its senior leaders, Belle Vernon Area claimed the girls’ team title Monday at the annual Scott Frederick Mid-Mon Track Classic at Ringgold High School’s Joe Montana Stadium.
The Leopards finished with a team total of 196 points. Host Ringgold was second at 104 points with California third at 84 points.
“The girls have been sensational all year so far,” BVA head coach Chris Stasicha said. “They’ve been running well, jumping well … all of the field events, especially in the jumps. We went one, two, three in the high jump. One, two in the long jump and triple jump. It was a good day for all the girls, they got us a lot of points.”
Senior Grace Henderson, an Akron recruit, picked up 28 points for her squad, winning the 800m run and the high jump. Her time in the 800 was 2:28.73 and her winning leap measured 5 feet, 3 inches.
“I think it’s been a pretty good day,” Henderson said. “I’m a little tired today after doing the (Butler) invitational over the weekend.”
Henderson finished second to Brownsville’s Jolena Quarzo in the 1600m, also known as the Alexzandra Loos Memorial Run. Quarzo, who set a new meet record, finished nearly 20 seconds ahead of Henderson.
“It’s a friendly, fun little rivalry,” Henderson said of racing the Quarzo family. “Going up against them, I know if I hang with her I’m probably going to end up with a personal record.”
Henderson has taken a leadership role for the Leopards and was happy to see the young girls get off to a good start in the event.
“It’s great to come here as a senior and have our team do so well,” Henderson added. “Watching the younger girls come out and compete the way they did, it shows they’re going to be really good at this event.”
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