Two months ago, jumping for the Slippery Rock High School girls' track and field team was not in Emma McDermott's plans.

She had competed at the junior high level, but was on the verge of setting track and field aside this spring.

“I was looking to focus just on spring basketball,” said the Rocket freshman, who was a guard/forward for the varsity girls basketball team this past winter.

But after several track and field coaches at Slippery Rock urged her not to limit herself to just one sport, McDermott had a change of heart.

“I joined the team a week into the season,” she said. “It was a last-minute decision.”

And one that paid off in a big way.

McDermott claimed a pair of District 10 Class AAA titles, jumping 35 feet, 11½ inches in the triple jump and 16-¾ in the long jump Saturday at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

It didn't take long for McDermott to realize she could do something special this season, despite her underclassman status.

“About halfway through the year, I started thinking of winning a district title in the triple jump,” she said. “I was still unsure about the long jump, though. Not in a million years did I think I'd win two district titles.

“I knew there was going to be some good jumpers there (Saturday) and I figured I'd have to do my best to have a chance to win.”

As it turned out, McDermott's personal bests entering the district finals still stand. She managed 36-3 in the triple jump at a dual meet earlier this season and took first place with a 16-7½ in the long jump at the Mercer County Athletic Conference Invitational.

There is still one meet left this season for McDermott to improve on both marks. The PIAA Championships begin Friday at Shippensburg University.

“I just want to put my best effort out there and enjoy my experience,” McDermott said.

Junior Brady Dalton earned for the Rockets another gold medal, winning the girls' 100-meter hurdles in 16 seconds flat.

Her latest effort comes after she placed seventh (16.68) at districts as a freshman and fifth (16.56) last year.

“At the start of this season, I was faster than I thought I would be, so my coach (Tom Meling) and I set our sights pretty high.”

Dalton won her heat Saturday with a time of 16.21.

“In both the heat and the final, I had a lead almost the entire race,” she said. “Not a huge lead, but big enough that I knew everything was OK. I didn't run my personal best (15.4), but the weather was not ideal. It was raining and I don't run my best in the rain.”

The Rockets have a successful tradition in the hurdle events and that continued Saturday, even beyond Dalton's effort. Sophomores Claudia Allen and Macy McCall earned medals by placing second and seventh, respectively, in the 100 event. In the 300 hurdles, Dalton was second and Allen fourth.

“We have an amazing coach (Meling),” Dalton said. “He is so dedicated and puts in the time. We are blessed to have him.”

Grove City was well-represented as Jonah Powell (3,200 run, 10:04.04) and Molek Walker (400 run, 50.23) won individual titles for the boys. The Eagles' 4x800 relay team of Jacob Powell, Jacob Hughes, Dillon McConnell and Braydon Pyle also placed first at 8:11.75.

In Class AA girls, Grove City's Catie Jaskowak won the 3,200 run in 11:18.8.

Eagles' coach Ben English could not be reached for comment.