Franklin Regional’s Shedd nears target distance with gold medal jump at Butler Invitational
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Friday, April 20, 2018 | 9:48 PM
Franklin Regional senior Jacob Shedd has the number 48 written on his track shoes.
That's the mark in feet he would like to reach in the triple jump this season.
Shedd didn't quite reach that number Friday at the 54th annual Butler Invitational, but he did walk away with two medals, including a gold for winning the triple jump with a leap of 45 feet, 3⁄4 inches. He placed third in the long jump with a personal best 22-1 1⁄2.
“I'm pleased with my performance,” Shedd said. “I'm building for down the road.”
Shedd also won the triple jump last week at the Lady Spartan/Wildcat Invitational, and he's looking forward to the Westmoreland County Coaches Association meet April 28.
He, like every outdoor spring athlete, is hoping for warmer weather in order to compete and train at his best.
His winning triple jump mark was the second-best leap in his career.
“It was an all right day to jump once you got warmed up,” Shedd said. “It did cool off a bit at the end of the day. It got a little difficult to jump, but we all pushed through it.”
Shedd plans to attend Mount Union to play football and run track. He was a tight end and defensive end for the Panthers' football team.
He said his 6-foot-4 frame helps a little with jumping, but he said it's more about technique. His quickness also helps in the jumps. He's been timed at 11.1 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
Greensburg Salem junior Malia Anderson won her second consecutive Butler Invitational title in the 800.
“I felt really good, better than last week at the Lady Spartan,” Anderson said. “My legs felt great, and I was mentally ready. I try not to stress in big meets.”
Anderson edged Franklin Regional's Sterling Simek. She said she's looking forward to another battle next week at the county meet.
Norwin's Jessica Kolesar won the long jump with a leap of 17-10¼ and finished second in the 200.
Derry senior Shawn Broadway had a good day but hoped for better finishes. Broadway was fourth in the 110-meter hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles.
“It wasn't my day,” Broadway said. “All the competition here was great. It showed me what I have to work on down the road. I have to push myself more and go back and work harder.”
Broadway said the temperature was ideal for the 110 hurdles, but got pretty cold for the 300s.
Norwin's Emily Brozeski had a busy meet. She placed third in the 100 hurdles, seventh in the 300 hurdles and teamed with Kolesar, Rachel Milke and Kayla Singer for a second-place finish in the 400-meter relay (50.01) behind Pine-Richland (49.55).
The Latrobe 400-meter relay team of Joe Piper, Zakharee Williams, Mitchel Carl and Anthony Fannie placed second (43.21) behind Gateway (43.04).
Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.
Tags: Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Norwin
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