Baldwin’s Bristow takes 3rd at state indoor track championships

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 10, 2018 | 9:51 AM

Baldwin senior Laurel Bristow capped her indoor track and field schedule with an outstanding individual showing at the season-ending state championships.

Bristow finished third in the girls shot put event with a toss of 40 feet, 10.5 inches at the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association finals held at Penn State.

“The indoor championship is actually a true state championship,” Baldwin coach Ed Helbig said. “There are no divisions, and individuals that qualify compete against other individuals regardless of the size of the school or the district they are located in. It's an even, competitive field to see who is the best in the state.

“In order to qualify, an individual must meet two standards. First, the athlete must have a performance that meets the qualifying standard sometime during the indoor season. Second, each event has a predetermined number of athletes that will compete in that event.”

It was a season-best performance for the athletic, 6-foot-1 Bristow at Penn State.

“All athletes strive to better themselves at each meet. That was my goal going into states,” Bristow said. “I wanted to not only reach my PR but break it. On my third throw, I threw 40 feet, 10.5 inches, beating my PR and ultimately landing me in third place.

“Standing in front of the audience with a medal around my neck proved to me that all the work and late night practices paid off.”

Prior to the state meet, Bristow placed third (39-4.5) in the shot put event at the Tri-State Track Coaches Association finals at Edinboro.

“Laurel hit the qualifying standard at the first meet of the indoor season, and bettered that mark in the second meet,” Helbig said. “Laurel has the ability to step up her performance on the big stage. She did it during this indoor season, and hopefully it will continue in the outdoor season.”

As a junior, Bristow qualified for the PIAA outdoor championships in the shot put with a then-PR toss of 38-4.

She also competes in the javelin (125-2) and discus (111-7) events, and has lofty goals for the 2018 outdoor track and field season.

“I am starting this outdoor season with plans to break the current high school shot put record (43-5.75), and PR in all three of my events,” Bristow said, “which hopefully will lead me to competing in multiple events at states.

“I feel very confident about the upcoming season because I am more comfortable with my footwork and strength training. I believe this will lead to me achieving the goals I have set for myself.”

Baldwin's Arlen Hooks (400, hurdles), Nick Lachut (pole vault) and Macy Hale (800) also were state finalists during the indoor season.

“You can meet the performance standard anytime during the indoor season, but that doesn't ensure you will compete at the state meet,” Helbig said. “Just to make the standard is impressive, but then to make the field of competitors in the state meet is a major accomplishment.

“When you get to the (state) championship meet, an athlete needs to have one of his or her best performances in order to medal. Macy and Arlen both ran one of their best times of the indoor season, but failed to place.”

Hooks, a senior, finished third in the 400 and eighth in the 60 hurdles at the Tri-State finals. Lachut, a senior, ended up fifth in the pole vault. Hale, a junior, took sixth in the 800.

Lachut captured the WPIAL Class AAA boys pole vault title in last year's outdoor season.

Baldwin seniors Mike Starzynski (high jump) and Alina Stahl (long jump), as well as junior Brendan O'Malley (200), also turned in medal-worthy performances at the TSTCA meet.

Other individual Tri-State finalists for Baldwin's girls team included sophomores Victoria Tamborino (60), Makenzie Shandor (800), Emma Brandwere (shot put), Mia Fischetti (pole vault) and Hanna Stock (pole vault), along with Stahl (200).

For the boys team, other finalists consisted of O'Malley (400, long jump), junior John Ziegler (800), sophomore Teddy Boehm (800), senior Robert Hoffman (long jump), junior Bailey O'Malley (shot put), junior Jason Depretis (shot put), sophomore Shane Henchell (shot put) and senior Ian Zandier (pole vault).

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin