Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Council Rock South's Taub flirts with state gold

Not a single competitor jumped higher than Shannon Taub at the PIAA track and field championships Friday at Shippensburg University.

Not a single competitor jumped higher than Shannon Taub at the PIAA track and field championships Friday at Shippensburg University.

Unfortunately for the Council Rock South high jumper, half a shoe length may have cost her a shot at the top spot.

Instead, Franklin Area's Abby Jones took the title.

Both cleared the day's highest mark, 5 feet, 7 inches, but the tiebreaker went to Jones, who made three successful jumps in the final.

Taub slipped up once at 5 feet, 6 inches. Central Bucks East senior Grace Becker finished third (5-06).

"It's really frustrating because I knew I had it," Taub said with a frustrated smile. "Sometimes that's how it [goes]. . . . Luck of the draw. I mean, there's nothing I can do about it."

The Duquesne-bound senior has a routine that includes jumping from nearly the same spot every time. She moves 10 feet, 3 inches to the side and then steps back 52 feet, 6 inches.

"I moved back, but I didn't move back far enough, so I was too close to the bar," she said. "And right after I missed, I knew, 'OK, move back half a shoe and you'll clear it on the next attempt.' So basically if I moved back [first] it could have helped, but sometimes you just need that first attempt to see what you have to do."

She sailed with ease on her second attempt and cleared the tying height with room to spare. She also nearly cleared 5-foot-8, which would have been the winner.

Her story, however, isn't a downbeat one.

Taub, who finished third last year and hopes to compete in the heptathlon next season, appreciates the experience.

"I'm really happy," she said. "This is the best I've placed at outdoor states. I'm still happy with it. Definitely a good accomplishment to come out of high school with."

Team Thomas

When Markeeta Thomas was 13 years old, she struggled to finish 400 meters in less than 59 seconds. And for the Thomas family, that just wouldn't do.

"They were like, 'You have to run 59 to be a part of Team Thomas,' " the smiling Paul Robeson senior said. "So I was like, 'Oh, I'm going to be on Team Thomas!' "

Now, Thomas - the defending Class AA state champion in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles - is the one being pursued.

"Yeah, I feel like new things always happen at states and you can never be too confident because you can't sleep on anybody," she said.

Thomas is the sister of LaTavia Thomas, 26, who starred at West Catholic before headlining at LSU. She now competes professionally. The family matriarch, Octavia, ran track at William Penn, and the patriarch, Mark, ran at Martin Luther King before competing at Eastern Kentucky.

Friday, the Clemson-bound speedster easily qualified for the finals Saturday in the 100 and 300 hurdles. She will also compete in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Notable

Neshaminy's Dasia Pressley posted the best time (24.33) in the 200-meter qualifier. .... Academy Park's Janese Lynch finished third in the shot put (42-06.25).

cartera@phillynews.com