Allegheny-Clarion Valley senior Baylee Blauser recently signed a letter of intent to continue her track and field career at Slippery Rock University. Pictured are, front row from left: her father (Jamie), Baylee, mother (Lori); back row: A-C Valley athletic director Dave Sherman, track and field coach Shanna Tharan, high school principal Dr. Bill Jordan and Baylee’s brother JP. Submitted Photo

FOXBURG — Not only is Slippery Rock University close to home for Baylee Blauser, it also feels like home.

Allegheny-Clarion Valley’s senior was sold.

Blauser on Wednesday signed a letter of intent to attend SRU and compete on the women’s track and field team. She will receive a partial scholarship.

“I also considered Duquesne, but my dad worked at SRU for years, so I know a lot of the people there and really like the coaches,” said Blauser, who owns A-C Valley records in the girls triple jump (37 feet, 6½ inches) and long jump (18 feet, 3½ inches).

“My coach (Shanna Tharan) wanted me to compete in some running events because I was huffing and puffing during my jumps,” Blauser said. “She said I needed to get in better shape, so I picked up the 100 and 200.”

She’s proved to be effective there as well, recently tying the school record in the 100-meter dash at 12.6 seconds.

“I plan on competing in both jumps and the 100 at the (District 9 championship meet, May 20 at Brookville High School), but my jumps will take priority,” said Blauser, who aims to come out of the meet in a better mindset than last year.

Blauser was the top-ranked triple jumper in the district last year, but could not compete for a title due to a sprained left ankle. She did salvage second place and a trip to states in the long jump, but placed 10th with a distance of 16-5¼.

Blauser knows that when healthy, she is capable of much more.

“I was probably 70 percent at the state meet. It sucked. It really did,” said Blauser, who plans to become a medical technician. “But I used it as a learning experience. I exercised a lot and lifted weights over the offseason. I competed in indoor over the winter and used it as practice to get ready for the spring.

“I was focused on getting my form back.”

Before she could get back to practicing and competing, however, Blauser needed to heal. Her ankle had suffered nerve damage. Following the state meet last May, she had to stay off of it for six weeks before attending physical therapy sessions.

Tharan, an A-C Valley product who owned the jump records before Blauser came along, believes she is primed to cap her scholastic career in style.

“Baylee has the perfect build to be a jumper. She’s tall, but is also strong, too,” Tharan said. “She was always a softball player, but took up jumping as a freshman and had picked up on the technique about a fourth of the way into the season.”