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Sports

Seneca's Kelci Yale a Standout at Shot Put

The sophomore had an eighth-place finish at the Pine-Richland invitational on Friday.

Seneca Valley sophomore Kelci Yale doesn’t have a lot of experience throwing the shot put, but that doesn’t keep her from setting high goals.

“I’m just learning as much as I can every chance I get, so hopefully I can work my way up and eventually set the school record, and I’d like to go to states,” Yale said.

Yale picked up more valuable technique lessons while earning an eighth-place medal at the Pine-Richland Invitational Friday.

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Yale made a long throw of 31 feet and one-half inch while competing against top field athletes from Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon.

“I’ve thrown a couple feet more than that, so it wasn’t my personal best,” she said. “I try to work as hard as I can at these invitational meets and always try to place and earn a ribbon or a medal.”

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Seneca Valley’s girls varsity shot put record stands at 41 feet, but Yale has two more full seasons after this spring to make up the final ten feet and reach her goals.

“I lift weights and work out every day, and I throw three days a week at the school throughout the summer,” she said. “I’ll just lift weights as much as I can. This is my only sport, so I do it all year and put my main focus on it.”

Yale has earned an opportunity to qualify for the WPIAL Class AAA Championships, which will be held May 19 at Baldwin High School.

“Hopefully, I can get in the top eight (at the WPIAL qualifier) and go to WPIALs,” Yale said. “This is my first year, so I don’t know what to expect.”

Other Seneca Valley results:

- Dan Cashdollar finished seventh in the boys pole vault at 11 feet, 6 inches.

- Natalie Richards placed 16th in the girls 300-meter hurdles in 51.79, and Allison Crouse finished 20th in 53.10.

- Aaron Schmelzer finished 25th in the boys 300-meter hurdles in 47.95.

- Oliver Philogene finished second in the boys 400-meter run at the Baldwin Invitational Friday. Philogene, who ran a 51.01, was edged at the finish line by Tyler Pirilla of Belle Vernon (50.82).

- Also at Baldwin, Seneca Valley’s Tom Kocher placed third in the high jump at 6 feet, 2 inches, and Jayme Rutkowski finished fourth in the girls javelin at 124 feet, 6.5 inches.

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