Deer Lakes throwers prepare for WPIAL meet

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, May 3, 2018 | 11:33 PM

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At the Allegheny Interscholastic Conference (Section 7-AA) track and field championships April 25 at Freeport High School, Deer Lakes swept the girls throwing events.

Seniors Emily Mischen and Alexis Stump captured the shot put and javelin, respectively, and junior Mackenzie Spence was the best in the discus.

All three are in position to compete at the WPIAL individual championships May 17 at Baldwin High School. Deer Lakes is the only school to have three throwers on the qualifying lists for their specific events.

“We're cheerleaders for each other,” said Mischen, seeded seventh in the shot put (34 feet, 2½ inches) on the latest qualifying list released Thursday.

“It's great to have them and the other throwers there for support. We've all been able to pull points for the team and help pick each other up in meets.”

Mischen hopes to make a return trip to states. She finished fifth at WPIALs last year with her personal best of 34-11 that sent her on to the PIAA championships.

“I haven't quite reached that again, but I've already thrown in the 34s this year,” she said. “I think it's just something small here and there. I am hoping to get the school record, which is 35-6½.”

Mischen said a battle in the shot put with section rival Naomi Hanna, a senior from Burrell, has been fun. Mischen edged Hanna by one inch at WPIALs last year, but Hanna owns a better throw by one inch this year (34-3½).

“It's always going to be a battle with her,” Mischen said.

Spence picked up a WPIAL medal (eighth) last year as she threw the discus 99-11.

She tossed a personal best of 111-4 at a home meet in section action.

“I just popped it out there. It was a great feeling,” she said.

Spence is the fifth seed in the discus.

“I just need to tweak a few small things,” Spence said. “There's no major changes that need to be done. It comes down to just popping the hips and getting the feet through.

“I am really excited. I feel I can do better than last year and hopefully make it to states. I am really confident in that.”

Stump also hit her personal best in the javelin (101-4) at a dual meet. She hopes to qualify for her first WPIAL meet and is the 16th seed.

Mother Nature, with its rain, snow, wind and cold temperatures, wasn't kind to any event over the first half of the season. That especially rang true for the javelin, which is contested on a grass runway.

“It's hard to throw in the muddy and wet conditions,” Stump said. “Half the time, the girls were slipping or stopping a couple of feet short (of the foul line). But, you have to deal with the conditions and throw your best.”

With the weather and runways improving every day, Stump said her best throws are ahead of her while she works on things such as her approach, arm positioning, her release and footing.

“It's great to have three leaders like that to show the younger kids what's possible through hard work,” Deer Lakes coach Chris Snyder said. “They definitely have more in them as they get closer to WPIALs, and they aren't satisfied with where they are now. They have that mindset that they should always be improving. With more of this warm and dry weather, we should see those improvements.”

Weather, however, might be a factor Friday as Deer Lakes joins several dozen other teams at the annual Pine-Richland Invitational.

The forecast is calling for thunderstorms and close to an 80 percent chance of rain.

“It will be good to see where they stack up against some more good competition,” Snyder said. “Hopefully, the weather holds.”

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Deer Lakes