Dennis represents Planets with pair of wins at Invite
ADAMS TWP — Lydia Dennis felt right at home on Friday. After all, she competes at the Mars Athletic Complex all the time.
Mars' junior took first place in both the long and triple jumps at the Mars Girls Track and Field Invitational.
Her effort of 18 feet, 3 inches in the long jump broke the Invite's previous record of 18-1, set by Quaker Valley's Tabitha Bemis in 2010. Dennis managed 37-1 1/2 in her triple jump victory and was awarded Field MVP honors.
“All of these teams come to your school's invite and you have to prove yourself,” she said. “It feels awesome to come away with two wins.”
It marked the second straight year that Dennis won both events at the invite. She also owns the triple jump record of 37-5, set in 2012. She is competing at a high level despite a pre-fracture in her right leg.
“It's getting better,” she said. “I go to physical therapy and I hope to peak, if not at WPIALs, then at states.”
Friday produced a mixed bag for Slippery Rock's Emily Campbell.
She placed first in the shot put with a throw of 36-9, less than a week after placing second in the event at the Hermitage Invite.
“My personal best is 40-4 1/2 and I'm always looking at that, so on my scale, my effort today wasn't all that great,” she said. “But I am happy to win.”
Campbell also took fourth in the discus.
“My performances in the shot and discus have been evening out lately,” she said. “The discus is a lot less stressful for me because I put a lot more emphasis on how I do in the shot put.
“My goal for the rest of the season is to get to states and throw 45 feet.”
Grove City's McKenzie Fagan surprised herself.
The junior was just looking to get in a few solid lifts in the high jump, but ended up with a whole lot more.
Her height of 5-5 not only earned her first place, it also set a new Mars Invite record, topping the previous standard of 5-4, set by five others over the years.
“I wasn't thinking about winning today,” Fagan said. “My best before this was 5-3. That's what I've been getting up to this year and was hoping to match it. I also compete in the triple jump and long jump, but the high jump is my favorite event. I love the intensity.”
Fagan's teammates likewise turned in an impressive performance on the track. The Eagles' 3,200 relay squad of Abby Casalnova, Lauren Decker, Mary Jaskowak and Kara McClain won with a time of nine minutes, 42.18 seconds.
Grove City coach Lou Mariotti has seen solid performances from his team all season.
“We are two-time defending District 10 champions and brought a lot of talent back this year,” he said. “I had a very good outlook before the season.”
Also taking home first-place medals were Seneca Valley's Abbie Trzeciak (116-1 in the javelin) and Mars' Emily Thomas (114-9 in the discus).
Notes: Mars tallied 48 total points to finish second in the team standings behind Morgantown (52.5). ... Desiree Garland of Woodland Hills was named Track MVP after victories in the 200 dash and 400 run.
