CHERRY TWP — Maura Kimmel has her sights set high.

The Moniteau senior thrower advanced to the PIAA Class AA Track and Field Championships in both the shot put and discus last season, but left Shippensburg University with an unsettling feeling.

Kimmel was ninth in the discus, just missing out on a medal, and 14th in the shot put.

“I didn't have a real good showing out there,” Kimmel said. “I didn't throw very well there. I really just want to go back and do better.”

She's already leaps and bounds ahead of where she was last season.

Kimmel threw 36 feet, 8¾ inches in the shot put at the state meet last spring, but during this past indoor season she threw 43-6.

That throw would have netted her a second-place finish at the outdoor state meet last season.

The Moniteau outdoor shot put record is 41-4 set by Jayne Beatty in 1980.

“She definitely has a good chance to break that this season,” said Moniteau girls track and field coach Sue Scialabba. “She threw that far during indoor season. I know it's a big goal of hers. She spent all winter in the weight room.”

Kimmel already has the school record in the discus with a throw of 139-6. That event isn't competed during the indoor season.

“I can't wait to throw the discus again,” Kimmel said.

Kimmel recently signed her letter of intent to attend the University of Pennsylvania.

She said she also considered Cornell and the University of Massachusets, but decided Penn was the best fit.

“I didn't go into the recruiting process with a favorite or with any expectations,” Kimmel said. “Penn did sort of stand out and I would have to say it ended up being my favorite.”

Kimmel is also branching out into a new event this spring.

Kimmel will throw the javelin as well as the shot and discus for the Warriors.

“She has the leadership qualities you look for,” Scialabba said. “She's throwing the javelin for the first time this season because the team needs her to throw it. We don't have as much depth in that event.”

Kimmel, though, is also focused on another big goal.

She wants to go to her future college digs and throw at the Penn Relays.

She's already applied and has already met the requirements in the discus. Now, it's just a matter of whether or not she gets chosen to compete.

“I'm really excited for this season and I hope I can compete at the Penn Relays,” Kimmel said. “That would really make this season special.”

Kimmel also has a lofty goal for what she wants to achieve in the discus this year.

“I'd like to throw in the high 150s,” she said.

Kimmel admitted that sometimes she's her own worst enemy when she throws and she has been working at the mental part of her makeup.

“My coach (Ryan Protzman) always said you have to want it that day,” Kimmel said. “I tell him I want it always, but he doesn't always believe me. I just have to get out of my own head.”

Kimmel said she also has to work on believing she is worthy of winning top competitions.

She also said she has to remember why she is doing all of this to begin with.

“Confidence is a huge part of it,” Kimmel said. “But really I just want to focus on having fun, having a good time. That's what it's all about.”

Following are the returning Butler County area girls track and field athletes who qualified for the state championship meet last year. Included with each participant are her current class and the events she competed in at the PIAA event.Butler: senior Emily Horstman (200)Seneca Valley: junior Rachel Hensler (3,200); sophomore Isabelle Biase (800)Knoch: 3,200 relay team; senior Mandi Moxie (1,600)Freeport: 1,600 relay team; senior Zoe Pawlak (javelin)Karns City: 400 relay team; sophomore Emily Hegedus (long jump)Moniteau: seniors Maura Kimmel (shot put and discus) and Brittany Lindsay (shot put); junior Gabby Stewart (100 and 200)Slippery Rock: 400 relay team (senior Lydia Roth, junior Brady Dalton, sophomore Claudia Allen)