BROOKVILLE — Despite unsuccessfully defending its team title, the Bradford girls turned in another strong performance at the PIAA District 9 Class AAA track and field championships from Brookville Friday.
The Lady Owls scored 76 points as a team for 2nd place and qualified three athletes in six different events for the state meet at Shippensburg University next Friday and Saturday with 1st-place finishes.
Abbigail Schleicher — as she has all season — dominated the sprints, winning the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes en route to nearly half her team’s points. Schleicher’s teammate, Bella Prince, finished narrowly behind her for 2nd in the 400.
“(Schleicher) had a great meet where she showed why she is the best all-around sprinter in the district,” Bradford coach Larry Stillman said. “She swept the 100, 200 and 400 all in personal best times, which is very hard to accomplish. She had an outstanding season from the first meet through districts and we are very happy that she will be back for her senior season next year.”
In the distance events for the Lady Owls, Korie Dixon placed 4th in the 800 and Caitlyn Taylor took 3rd in the 3200. In addition, Bradford took 2nd in the 3200 relay with a team of Dixon, Taylor, Prince and Marissa Miller.
Alexi Corignani won one of the evening’s tightest races, edging DuBois’ Kamryn Fontaine to the line to win the 100 hurdles. Emma Swanson added a 3rd-place finish in the 300 hurdles for Bradford.
Trailing the eventual winner of the team title — St. Marys (94 points) — on the track, the Lady Owls captured a majority of their points in a comeback attempt in the field events.
Abbie Nuzzo placed in four different events, winning the pole vault and javelin while placing 2nd in the triple jump and 3rd in the long jump for 34 points. She earned the James Manners Award, given to the meet’s most valuable athlete, for the 2nd consecutive season.
“Throughout her career, we could always count on (Nuzzo) to have her best efforts in the biggest meets,” Stillman said. “We will truly miss her as continues her education at Houghton.”
Sophia Asp took 3rd and 4th in the shot put and discus, respectively, while Jessica Fox placed 2nd in the high jump. Eliana Curcio placed 5th in triple jump, Kara Longo was 5th in pole vault and Leila Bines finished 6th in the 3200.
“We were very proud of how our 3200 runners ran,” Stillman said. “Our throwers won two medals in every event, with (Asp) in the shot and discus, Kalie Dixon in the javelin and discus and Jesse Kerr in the shot put.”
The Lady Owls ultimately lost by just 18 points.
“It was an exciting and completive district meet with many outstanding performances from all the teams,” Stillman said. “We gave it all we had and had many season-best efforts, but St. Marys earned the title and we congratulate them.
“All of the coaches are very proud of our athletes, not just for their efforts at the district meet, but for their efforts all season long. We also thank their families for all their support.”
St. Marys’ Payton Bauer won the discus and shot put while Maura Caskey won the 300 hurdles and Gabby Pistner the 800 to propel the Lady Dutch past Bradford.
“I would like to thank my assistant coach, Natalie Marasco, for everything she did for the girls and the program,” Stillman said. “The boys team really did a great job and competed hard all day. The boys coaches… were a great help. And a special thank you to our athletic director Mike Erickson in helping our pole vaulters.”
100: Abbigail Schleicher (Bradford) :12.76, 200: Abbigail Schleicher (Bradford) :26.18, 400: Abbigail Schleicher (Bradford) 1:00.16, 800: Gabby Pistner (St. Marys) 2:18.86, 1,600: Morgan Roemer (DuBois) 5:36.38, 3,200: Morgan Roemer (DuBois) 11:18.80, 400 relay: DuBois (Battaglia, Horner, Grimm, Stroka) :51.71, 1,600 relay: St. Marys (Caskey, Catalone, Hayes, Pistner) 4:05.60, 3,200 relay: St. Marys (Blythe, Hayes, Defilippi, Pistner) 9:50.13, 100 hurdles: Alexia Corignani (Bradford) :16.31, 300 hurdles: Maura Caskey (St. Marys) :46.90, long jump: Lauren Stroka (DuBois) 16-01 1/4, triple jump: Lauren Stroka (DuBois) 34-10 3/4, high jump: Madelyn Crabtree (DuBois) 4-11, shot put: Peyton Bauer (St. Marys) 37-02 1/5, discus: Payton Bauer (St. Marys) 115-1, pole vault: Abbie Nuzzo (Bradford) 9-0, javelin: Abbie Nuzzo (Bradford) 112-3.
