Win, place, show for Saunders
BROOKVILLE — For Amber Saunders, competing at Friday's District 9 Class AA Track and Field Championships was as easy as 1-2-3.
The Karns City junior placed first in the girls high jump (5 feet), second in the long jump (16-1½) and third in the triple jump (33½) at Brookville High School.
The first two efforts were good enough to put Saunders into the PIAA Championships, which start next Friday at Shippensburg University.
All three jumps earned her the James Manners Award, given to the athlete who garners the most individual points for her team. Those points helped the Gremlins to place third in the team standings.
"I didn't think I was that great in any of the events because of the weather," said Saunders, referring to the rain that fell during most of the field events. "I want to try and medal in the high jump at states. I know that's everyone's goal, but that's what I'm hoping for.
"In the long jump, I'd like to better my personal record of 16-4¼," Saunders added. "If that medals, I'll be very enthused."
Earlier this season, Saunders took first place in the high jump in the Butler and Pine-Richland invitationals, setting a personal best of 5-3 in the former.
"Amber came into today seeded first in the high and long jumps and second in the triple," said Karns City coach Tom Wagner. "We thought she had our best shot at winning an event, though I thought Michelle Sweeney had a really good shot (in the pole vault).
"But (Sweeney) did a great job, too."
In fact, Sweeney's effort of 9-3 in the pole vault was good for second place and a trip to states.
Only Otto-Eldred's Jocelynn Cochran beat that height at 9-9.
"The weather made it a lot more difficult," said Sweeney, a senior who will be making her third trip to Shippensburg. "There were more challenges with the rain, but I'm glad to be going to states one last time."
Sweeney's career-best in the event is 9-6.
A-C Valley's Erika Rothen was second in the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.95, .46 seconds behind Brookville's Courtney Newsome.
"It feels good to make the state meet," said the Falcons sophomore. "Everybody's times were up with the rain, but we just put up with it and ran through it."
