The Freedom Bulldogs Track and Field team had a quick end to their season with many cancellations, resulting in only two section meets. Though they had a lack of section meets, the girls team was able to participate in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) team playoffs. The boys team concluded their meets in April, but individuals were still able to participate in invitationals and finals as long as they had qualifying personal records (PR).
This year included a number of broken school records for the girls team. The new records include the girls 4×100 meter dash record broken by sophomore Mackenzie Mohrbacher and seniors Daisy Lewis, Madison Meyer and Shaye Bailey and the girls 100 and 200 meter dash records broken by Bailey. The girls pole vault record was also broken by junior Aurea Hickenboth. With these PRs, these girls, along with seniors James Couch and Morgan Keller and sophomore Trinity Vojtko made it to WPIAL individuals at Slippery Rock University on May 15.
At the WPIAL meet athletes competed against other athletes from all of the schools in AA track and field. They needed to place top six at this meet in order to give them the chance to compete in the state finals in Mechanicsburg.
During the meet all Freedom track athletes prepared for their events by practicing handoffs, throws, runs and jumps before competing in this huge and intense competition. Halfway through the meet, events were delayed due to weather conditions, but athletes waited it out and got back onto the track about four hours later.
Sprinter, Bailey competed in 100 meter dash prelims and finals and placed 4th overall. She ran in the 200 meter dash as well and placed … overall. With these placements, Bailey will travel to PIAA state finals on May 25 to compete against the top runners in the state.
“Going into the 100 finals I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to do because in the prelims I just made 8th place,” Bailey said. “But during the finals something just kicked in and I broke my own record again, I couldn’t be more excited to go to states!”
The girls 4×100 meter relay team also placed 2nd overall earning them a spot in the PIAA state finals as well. Javelin thrower Keller placed 6th to take her into the state finals as well as Couch who will be attending states for his … time as he placed … overall. Vojtko took on discus throw, unfortunately falling short she will not be attending the state meet.
“It is very exciting to go to WPIAL as a sophomore because not many get the chance,” Vojtko said. “I was a little nervous but when I got there the nerves went away.”
Though she did not make the state finals she was happy to have a shot at WPIAL finals as an underclassmen. With so many WPIAL and state qualifiers this season, Freedom athletes are looking forward to the years to come and seniors are enjoying their last season as Freedom Bulldogs.