Top Trojans
CRANBERRY TWP —Tara Lucot and Trevor Paschall have turned in superb seasons for North Catholic's track and field teams.
But if they have it their way, the best is yet to come.
Lucot's top efforts in the 400-meter run, 800 and long jump are each among the top five efforts in Butler County this spring.
Paschall has done the same in the 100, 200 and 400.
Both are Cranberry Township residents.
A senior, Lucot attended Vincentian Academy for three years before that school closed its doors. The transition to North's girls team was a smooth one.
“It's hard going to a new school with a new team and coaches,” she said, “but the other members of the team have been very accepting of me. I'm having a lot of fun and that is a majority of the reason I'm doing well.”
Lucot recently set aside running the 1,600 in favor of the 400. She ran the latter for the first time at the South Fayette Invitational and finished with a time of one minute, two seconds.
“I've always had good speed and kick,” she said. “The 400 just seemed like a better fit for me.”
But it is in the long jump where Lucot could achieve the most to close out her scholastic career. She dabbled in the event prior to this year, but the best distance she managed was 15 feet, 1 inch.
After joining North's program, she was introduced to jumping coach Terry Fischer.“The long jump is a lot more complicated than it seems,” said Lucot, “but he has worked with me on the technique. I'm doing what I need to do to be successful and have been able to (set a personal record) almost every meet this season.”Her best long jump is now measured at 17-3½.“I have high hopes in the long jump, including making it to states.”She can accomplish that at Wednesday's WPIAL Class 2A championship meet at Slippery Rock University.Paschall, a junior, plans to compete there in his three individual events.He considers the 200 to be his best event.“I don't have the strongest start out of the blocks and that hurts me in the 100,” Paschall said, “but I have time to make up for it in the 200 and just go all-out down the stretch.”Paschall remained committed to track last year despite the absence of organized workouts.“I went to the track every day to get work in,” he said. “I figured it would pay off at some point.”At last month's Mars Invitational, Paschall placed first in the 100, 200 and 400 and earned Track MVP honors. The next week at the Baldwin Invite, he won the 200 and 400.“It's cool to come in as the top dog,” he said. “I have high expectations of myself, but I just take it one day at a time.”Following are the top efforts this season from North Catholic track and field standouts Tara Lucot and Trevor Paschall.Tara Lucot400 run: 1:01.53; 800 run: 2:19.51; Long jump: 17-3.5Trevor Paschall100 dash: 10.88; 200 dash: 22.14; 400 run: 49.27
