Rocket Launchers
SLIPPERY ROCK — Maryann Ackerman and Anna Kadlubek emerged from their final District 10 track and field meet as champions — in more ways than one.
The seniors for Slippery Rock's girls team both won a pair of events Saturday at Slippery Rock University, with Ackerman winning the Class 2A javelin and discus while Kadlubek captured the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
The efforts helped the Rockets win the district team title by scoring 78 points, edging out Wilmington's 76.
It is Slippery Rock's third team title in program history, joining the 2009 and 2019 squads.
“I bring up us going for the team title every year in March,” said Rockets' coach Tom Meling. “Whether or not we are able to do it, that's our goal.
“Why not,” he asked. “Go out and try to be the best.”
Kadlubek was satisfied that the day included individual and team success.
“Winning the team title is a goal for all of us,” she said after receiving her first-place medal in the 200. “I definitely wanted to help the team win today, especially for Tom because he cares so much for us.”While Slippery Rock's performance was led by four individual titles, Meling was quick to point out that they were supported by other efforts.“Natalie Double was fourth in the javelin,” he said. “Our 4x800 team was seeded (12th) and placed seventh. You need those efforts to win this meet.”Kadlubek won the 100 in 12.52 seconds and the 200 in 25.60, just .05 seconds from matching her school record in the event.“I was trying to break it today, but getting to states gives me another chance to do it,” she said. “There's a lot of great competition at this meet. To win two titles in my last time here, it's awesome.”Kadlubek recently ran a time of 12.39 in the 100, just .15 seconds from that school standard, giving her another goal to shoot for at states, scheduled Friday at Shippensburg University.Ackerman owns the best girls javelin throw in school history at 147 feet, five inches. She managed 140-4 Saturday to claim her second district title in the event and won the discus with a heave of 114-9.“I qualified for this meet in the discus two years ago and was hoping to get to states, but I placed just fourth,” she said. “This gave me a chance to redeem myself.”Just a few years ago, Ackerman hesitated at the thought of taking on throwing events for Slippery Rock's junior high team.“I just never really wanted to throw,” she said. “All my friends on the team ran, so I wanted to run, too.“But Kirby (Burns, junior high throwing coach) finally convinced me. I started throwing the discus in eighth grade and picked up the javelin in ninth grade.”The Rockets' boys team also featured a double-winner in Ethan Folmer.The junior won the Class 3A high jump (6-1) and the triple jump with a personal-best leap of 44-11½.“Winning the high jump was kind of a surprise,” he said. “I've been in a slump with that and was just hoping to go 5-9 today.”Folmer entered the meet ranked No. 1 in the district in the triple jump at 44-1.With two jumps left, he was in third place behind Meadville's Khalon Simmons and Cathedral Prep's Ethan King-Vincent.Folmer then turned in a 43-9 to take the lead before his 44-11½ in his final jump.Simmons settled for second place at 44-7¼.“I was pretty upset with myself (in third place),” Folmer said. “My landing in the triple is still shaky, but I'm excited about winning and going to states as a district champion in two events.”“We knew Ethan had the ability (to win the triple jump),” said Slippery Rock jumping coach Robin Springirth. “He's very athletic and it was nice to see him put it all together.”
