Unionville will be well represented at the PIAA state meet as ladies qualify for the big show
By Dave Conard Sports Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com
Unionville senior Christin Mapa will run the 300 hurdles in her first state meet
COATESVILLE—As a freshman, entering your first time in the “pressure cooker” that is the PIAA District One championship meet can be a daunting task.
Unionville ninth grader Olivia Young has climbed her share of hills just to get this point, as she has earned her way to one of the biggest stages for track and field.
“I would have never guessed I would ever be her in the beginning of the year,” said Young. “Over the summer getting ready for school I jut wanted to make the varsity team.”
On Saturday, the Indians youngster seemed un phased by the field of some of the keystone’s best mile runners as she battled her way to a seventh place medal and a spot in next week’s PIAA State championship meet at Shippensburg University in the 1600 meter run.
In the first two laps, Young tried to stay in contact with the leaders, giving her an opportunity to make her move when the time came and as the bell lap approached she was able to slide into the gap and set her sights on the runner she needed to surpass.
“Our goal even back to cross country season is to never go out too fast,” added Young.
Unionville’s Gretchen Mills just missed qualifying in the 800- meter run for states
“When that bell rang I knew I needed to pass four girls, so I jut got my kick going and went to work picking them off.
Young will have plenty of company and support next week at the Pennsylvania State track and field championships at Shippensburg University, as she will be joined by senior hurdler Christina Mapa along with sophomore Courtney Smith (10:57.80) and junior Anne Birkenmaier (11:07.04) who qualified in the 3200-meter run.
Unionville junior Kim Lapczynski ran the 200-meter dash in a time of 25.66, which was fast enough for thirteenth place and was quicker than the mandated qualifying time for the state meet.
In the 300-meter hurdles final, Mapa finished sixth which automatically qualified her for the big dance next week, along with the fact that she posted a qualifying time as well with a run of 45.10.
Indians hurdler Christina Mapa ran neck and neck with eventual winner Micheala White through the first 200 meters
“I am very excited to qualify for states,” said Mapa who will be in her first state meet as a senior. “Yesterday (Friday) was the big race to make sure I had a place, once I got that it was easier today to just go out and run my race. I just tried to focus on the hurdles, I try to get a new PR every time I race I was so close to making it last year, that I set that as my goal this season.”
Event 304 Girls 1600 Meter Run AAA Finals
1 Gerlach, Tori 12 Pennridge 4:53.18 SQS
2 Sheva, Marissa 9 Pennridge 4:55.70 SQS
3 Sargent, Sara 11 Pennsbury 4:57.50 SQS
4 Grossman, Hannah 12 Strath Haven 4:58.08 SQS
5 Harvey, Meghan 12 Oxford 4:58.86 SQS
6 Eisman, Amanda 12 WC Henderson 5:02.52 SQS
7 Young, Olivia 9 Unionville 5:03.09 SQS
8 Galligan, Grace 10 Springfield Delc 5:04.47 SQS
Event 307 Girls 300 Meter Hurdles AAA Finals
1 White, Mikaila 12 Spring Ford 44.65 SQS
2 Jacques, Sydnee 11 North Penn 44.91 SQS
3 Tan-Torres, Seline 11 Methacton 44.96 SQS
4 McDowell, Paige 11 CR South 45.02 SQS
5 Knauer, Kelly 12 CB East 45.09 SQS
6 Mapa, Christina 12 Unionville 45.10 SQS
7 McIntosh, Quiana 11 Pottstown 45.24 SQS
8 Coley, Kayla 11 Cheltenham 45.62 SQS
800 –meter run Finals
1 Keenan, Emma 11 Gwynedd-Mercy 2:08.08*SQS
2 Bolles, Olivia 11 Villa Maria 2:14.34 SQS
3 Dusellier, Emily 11 Souderton 2:14.81 SQS
4 Towell, Devon 11 WC East 2:14.89 SQS
5 Sullivan, Holly 10 O J Roberts 2:15.26 SQS
6 Long, Amanda 12 Upper Perk 2:17.01 SQS
7 Kruman, Hannah 11 CR North 2:17.47 SQS
8 Tracy, Michelle 12 WC Henderson 2:18.15 SQS
9 Mills, Gretchen 9 Unionville 2:19.23
10 Winkler, Becca 12 Lower Merion 2:19.93
Event 309 Girls 200 Meter Dash AAA
1 Evans, Jody-Ann 11 Quakertown 24.56QSQS -3.2 2
2 Richardson, Zakiyyah 12 Pennsbury 24.94QSQS -0.1 1
3 Milligan, Zayna 11 Norristown 25.08QSQS -1.5 3
4 Pinkney, Natalia 11 Pennridge 25.25QSQS +0.0 4
5 Bell, Alexis 11 Norristown 25.36QSQS -3.2 2
6 Watson, Rowanna 11 Norristown 25.41QSQS +0.0 4
7 Tramel, Jamie 10 Truman 25.51QSQS -0.1 1
8 Van Zant, Allison 12 Penncrest 26.04Q -1.5 3
9 Daniels, Elizabeth 12 CB East 25.59QSQS -0.1 1
10 Stefanosky, Missy 12 Octorara 25.63QSQS +0.0 4
11 Burgess, Carol 9 Great Valley 25.86QSQS -3.2 2
12 Garay, Lydia 10 Ridley 26.14Q -1.5 3
13 Lapczynski, Kim 11 Unionville 25.66qSQS -0.1 1
14 Hunter, Ade 10 Bensalem 25.76qSQS -0.1
Event 310 Girls 3200 Meter Run AAA
1 Gerlach, Tori 12 Pennridge 10:24.19*SQS
2 McGovern, Meghan 12 North Penn 10:31.77*SQS
3 Steinke, Kara 10 Methacton 10:43.99 SQS
4 Eder, Veronica 11 CB East 10:47.64 SQS
5 Boulger, Kelly 10 Coatesville 10:49.53 SQS
6 Scott, Kate 11 CR North 10:53.61 SQS
7 Smith, Courtney 10 Unionville 10:57.80 SQS
8 Sheva, Caitlyn 11 Pennridge 10:59.16 SQS
9 Birkenmaier, Anne 11 Unionville 11:07.04 SQS
10 Herman, Ann 12 Pennsbury 11:08.65 SQS
11 Huuki, Louise 10 CB East 11:16.19
12 Holl, Sarah 12 Upper Dublin 11:16.34
13 Bucci, Angel 12 Upper Darby 11:17.68
14 Fisher, Emily 10 Unionville 11:26.45
Class AAA Triple jump
20 Lapczynski, Kim 11 Unionville 34-02.50
Unionville's Olivia Young claimed a seventh place medal in an elite field in the 1600-meter run
Way to go Christina!!! We are all pulling for you. You made us all very proud.
Great coverage… Way to go Olivia Young and the rest of the Indians..very impressive indeed!