Well-rested Cavanaugh has leg up on competition
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter BentworthþÄôs Brenna Cavanaugh competes in the 100 meter hurdles event on Thursday, May 12 at the WPIAL Class AA Southern Qualifier.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter McGuffeyþÄôs Katie Demi competes in the javelin event at the WPIAL Class AA Southern Qualifier.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Liam Wolf warms up for the shot put event at the WPIAL Class AA Southern Qualifier event at South Side Beaver High School on Thursday, May 12.
HOOKSTOWN – The last 30 days seemed like a year to Brenna Cavanaugh.
The talented sophomore from Bentworth High School was one of the top hurdlers in PIAA Class AA last season and bigger things were expected in this track season.
Except, well, the soreness in her left foot would not go away, even after the indoor season ended this winter.
Finally, after competing in an April meet early in the outdoor season, Cavanaugh had the foot examined and found she was on the verge of a stress fracture.
The diagnosis for recovery: rest.
Maybe that was why Cavanaugh seemed energized Thursday as she glided down the paved track at South Side Beaver High School with such little effort, clearing all the hurdles spread out over the 100-meter lane and breezing to a win in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AA Southern Qualifier.
The top eight finishers (and all ties that can’t be broken) advance to the WPIAL Championships next Thursday at Baldwin High School.
And Cavanaugh can’t wait.
“I missed all the big invitationals,” she said. “It stunk that I had to miss them. I’m really glad I’m back. I had to rest it and I was in a boot for a while. I did some swimming and that helped me to get back in shape.”
The qualifiers do not hold finals in the dashes, hurdles and some field events. But it was obvious with the way Cavanaugh blew away the second, and faster, heat that she would have won under normal circumstances. Her 15.22 was nearly two seconds faster than the field.
Last year, Cavanaugh finished third in the WPIAL Championships and was sixth in the state event.
“I want to get into the low 14s,” said Cavanaugh, who set the school record of 14.6 earlier this season. “I’m just glad I’m back.”
Jacob Shipley of Burgettstown, who has the school record in the long and triple jumps, finished first and third in those events. Shipley, fresh from a Field MVP effort at the Chartiers-Houston Invitational, won the long jump with a 21-1 leap and was third in the triple jump after going 42-9½. The latter reset his PR and the school record.
“Last year, I didn’t come out here because I was hurt,” said Shipley, who had a bad shoulder from football. “It’s all fixed now. I jumped one time here last year and it was here in a scrimmage. But I had to get my shoulder worked on.”
Shipley has high hopes for a strong end to the season.
“I really believe I can take first or second in long,” he said. “In triple, I should place good enough to go to states.”
Katie Demi, a senior javelin thrower from McGuffey, suffered her first loss in the event this year but still finished second. Demi threw 122-8, four inches behind Alena Blasczyk of Frazier and 10 feet off her best. She threw 129 at the Chartiers-Houston Invitational.
One reason for the slightly down marks was her dislike of the runway at South Side Beaver.
“I throw better when I’m throwing off grass,” she said. “I feel I get better traction with my soccer cleats on grass. I’m still happy. You look at placement here. You just want to move on.”
The other local girls winner was Koryn Jozwiakowski of Fort Cherry in the triple jump (36-9).
Other local boys winners were Ben Heim of Washington in the 800 run with a time of 2:00.61; Nate Higham of Fort Cherry, who tied for first in the high jump at 6-0; Marko Olivarez of McGuffey in the shot put (43-9½); Devon Brown of Fort Cherry, in the javelin (163-0) and Daniel Layton of Waynesburg, who cleared 11-6 in the pole vault.