ADAMS TWP — Though this is just Amanda Zahumensky's second season on the Freeport girls track and field team, she has a sense of urgency.

Zahumensky is a senior hurdler and knows she has the next three weeks to leave her mark at Freeport High.

"I played softball my first couple years of high school," she said. "Then, last year, Coach (Bill) Dillen got me to come out for track and field."

"Amanda's a good athlete and I knew there were a few events she could be good in," said Dillen.

Her first season yielded a trip to the WPIAL finals in the 100-meter hurdles, but Zahumensky wishes she would have performed better.

"I kind of freaked out during the qualifying heat and didn't do well," she said.

Zahumensky has made the 100 event her specialty and didn't compete in the 300 hurdles at Tuesday's WPIAL Class AA Northern Qualifier at the Mars Athletic Complex.

"I told Coach Dillen that I like to focus on one event and, for me, that's the 100," Zahumensky said.

She certainly set herself up for a strong showing at the WPIAL Championships May 14 at Baldwin High by topping the field Tuesday with a time of 15.8 seconds. Her career best is 15.5 she set last year.

"Track is pretty big in my family. My mom's from DuBois and she did really well in high school. It would mean a lot to me to do well at WPIALs and make states."

Zahumensky wasn't the only Yellowjacket who earned a good seeding at next week's championship meet.

Nick Gentile (1:58.3 in the 800 run) and John Douglas (51 feet, 2C\v inches in the shot put) both finished first, while Tyler Pajerski tied for the top spot in the pole vault at 11-6.

Gentile also helped Freeport's boys 3,200 and 1,600 relay squads advance.

Marcel Ittner (100 dash, 400 relay and 1,600 relay) will be running in three events next week, as will Mitch Shaw (400 relay, 200 dash, 1,600 relay).

In the girls meet, Amanda Zacchia will compete in the 100 and 300 hurdles and in the 1,600 relay.

"There were a few disappointments and I'm not going into any names there," said Dillen. "But, overall, I'm pleased with who made it through to next week."

Summit Academy's John Jenkins is headed to the title meet in three events.

The senior was tops in the long jump (21-5C\v), tied for No. 1 in the high jump at 5-10 and placed second in the triple jump at 42-3.

"My best event is the long jump and I've gone 23-7 in that," he said.