Tearing Up The Track
SLIPPERY ROCK — It was a memorable performance in Emma McDermott's final District 10 championship meet.
For Anna Kadlubek, it was a sign that the next two years should offer even more thrills.
In either case, the Slippery Rock senior and sophomore, respectively, turned in a big effort Saturday at Slippery Rock University.
Both competed in and qualified for states in four events. McDermott won the long and triple jump while Kadlubek placed first in the 400-meter run and second in the 200 dash. Both also contributed to the Rockets' 4x100 relay team that won and the 4x400 squad that finished runner-up to Wilmington.
The efforts were instrumental in Slippery Rock claiming the district's Class AA team championship, finishing 10 points ahead of Hickory.
“We're so excited,” exclaimed McDermott. “I can't even put it into words. We haven't won a district (team) title in so long.”
“It was 2009. That was the last time we won a district championship,” said Slippery Rock coach Tom Meling. “That team had a lot of great athletes like this one.”
Saturday's outcome was especially sweet for McDermott, who made the state meet in two events as a freshman in 2016. Her sophomore campaign was lost to a knee injury.
“Last year, I was just getting back into the swing of things,” she said, “but I'm a goal-setter, no doubt.”
“You could tell last year, she just didn't have confidence yet with that knee,” said Meling. “Last winter, she was running free with it during basketball. She rose to the occasion today.”
McDermott's winning distance in the triple jump was 36 feet, 5¼ inches. Teammate Emily Sarver was second with a personal-best 34-8.
“My freshman year, there was me and a hurdler for us (Brady Dalton) who went to states,” McDermott said. “I'm super-excited to have Emily going out with me in the same event. We were rooting for each other. We push each other and it's a lot of fun.”Like McDermott, Sarver is a senior.“I want to end my career with a strong showing at states,” said Sarver. “Our coaches tell us that we're the best in the district (in the triple jump). It's pretty cool when it happens like that.“Last year was a year of fouls for me. I fouled a lot, but I got my stuff together this year. I got the routine down.”Slippery Rock's first win on the track Saturday came in the 4x100 relay. Sierra Nagy and Tessa McHattie joined McDermott and Kadlubek to run a school-record time of 50.06 seconds. Hickory was .38 seconds behind the Rockets.“This was the first time since around mid-season that it was the four of us running that relay,” said Kadlubek. “We have to have certain steps to make sure we're getting the baton to each other at the right time.“We'd done really well in practice the last few days. The handoffs were perfect. Our goal was definitely to win. Hickory is a big rival for us and we knew they'd be fast.”The 4x400 relay also included Ashley Shea and Michaella Roth. Fittingly, the Rockets again placed just ahead of Hickory.Kadlubek made up for a short deficit with the Hornets on the anchor leg. Had the Rockets finished behind the Hornets, the foursome would not have earned a berth into the state meet.“Anna got the baton and knew she had to catch that girl,” Meling said. “She did, then held on.”Also qualifying for states was Slippery Rock freshman Gianna Bedel, who was second in the high jump.
