(Feb. 20, 2015) The 3A indoor track state championship meet was originally scheduled to take place Tuesday at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, but because of snow it was postponed to Monday, Feb. 23.
Sophomores Jillian Mitrecic, Christina Romano and Bethany Williams will represent Stephen Decatur during the state competition.
The Lady Seahawks qualified for states because of their performances during the Feb. 3, 3A East Regional meet at the Baltimore Armory.
Mitrecic pole vaulted 7 feet 6 inches to finish in fourth place at regionals. Romano tied for fourth place in the high jump with Northern of Calvert County’s Caitlin Bowman and Sarah Deresky, jumping 4 feet 8 inches. Williams also finished with a high jump of 4 feet 8 inches, but placed seventh due to a tiebreaker based on the number of attempts at lower heights.
“I want each of the athletes to have their best heights at the state meet,” Decatur Coach Jody Stigler said last week.
The girls got some practice time in on Monday before the snow started. School was canceled Tuesday and Wednesday because of the weather, so the Seahawks were unable to train.
Stigler said Wednesday that with the weather forecast it looked doubtful that the athletes would be able to practice Thursday and/or Friday.
“I think many other teams are in the same boat,” he said.
This will be Mitrecic’s and Romano’s second appearance at the championship meet and Williams’ first.
“I’m really excited. I’m going with Christina and Bethany, so that will be fun,” Mitrecic said last week.
Her goal is to clear 8 feet.
“I feel like once you get to 8 feet you really start competing,” she said. “Right now I’m at 7 and a half feet and that’s kind of borderline. Once I get 8 feet I can work on challenging the other girls.”
Participating in the same event, Romano said she and Williams encourage and help each other so they can both be successful.
“It’s my second time going to state. I feel like I know a little more what to expect and how the competition is,” Romano said last week. “I’m really excited. I want to clear 4 [feet] 10 [inches]. Hopefully we can get 4 [feet] 10 [inches] together.”
Williams said 4 feet 10 inches is a height she has had a little bit of trouble with this season. That is the mark she is shooting for at states.
“Other than that, just going to states was really my goal this year,” Williams said last week. “It’s my first time going to states so it’s a new experience to learn from.”
