It all falls into place for Lowe
BUTLER TWP — For three years, Butler sprinter Tara Lowe had the feeling she was running uphill.
The senior battled a series of ailments during that time, but now Lowe is having a dream season, recording the WPIAL's fastest time in the 100-meter dash — 11.99 seconds hand-held and 12.24 converted to Fully Automated Timing — and breaking the school record, which had been set by current coach Annessa Schnur in 1998.
"Tara's a tough kid, but can she be running a 12.2, a 12 flat? I didn't think she'd be this fast," Schnur said.
Lowe had shown promise in junior high, but a bout of mono in ninth grade hindered her performance. She also struggled with leg problems her sophomore season.
"I found out it was a tumor in my left tibia, but we didn't find out until the summer," said Lowe. "I had surgery in September of my junior year.
"It was difficult to get back into the swing of things. I tried to run, get into the big meets," she added.
During indoor track, Schnur and the Tornado coaching staff handled Lowe with kid-glove care.
"We worked on flexibility, coordination, we had her in the pool — anything to keep her in shape," said Schnur.
At some point, however, all the discomfort she was feeling began to disappear.
"By the end of indoor, I was feeling really good, and once the outdoor season started, I felt pumped," said Lowe. "I had a really positive attitude about everything."
She hit the ground running, winning the 100 at the Butler Invitational, setting the school record at the Tri-State Invitational May 1 and winning the 100 at Tuesday's WPIAL Class AAA Northern Qualifier to advance to next Thursday's championships at West Mifflin.
"I hoped for a good year, since it was my senior year," said Lowe. "I didn't imagine it would have been as good as it's been."
And breaking her coach's record was a treat as well.
"It's a phenomenal feeling," said Lowe. "As an athlete and a person, I look up to her. My hugest goal was to break the record in the 100. I pushed really hard."
Lowe also has been an integral part of the 400 relay team with freshman Paige Allen and sophomores Jasmine Bailey and Katelyn Wetzel.
The foursome competed at the recent Penn Relays. Their time of 49.7 is fourth best in school history.
"She should be applauded," said Schnur. "She never gave up. She recovered and went through so much therapy. A lot of people would say, 'That's it. Enough. I quit.' She wanted a final shot at her senior year."
Another driving force for Lowe was her dream to run in college. Last fall, Lowe fell in love with California (Pa.) University and will run track there.
Schnur, who still holds five school records, has seen the tribulations Lowe has gone through and couldn't been more proud.
"This team is so important to me," said Schnur. "It's done so much for my career and I hope when I'm done, I've helped the next generation.
"Tara's struggled for so long, she deserves it."
