Heights’ Leffler takes 9th in discus
High school senior falls short of Pan Am qualification mark
By Michael Ashford
Monday, June 25, 2007
Northern Heights senior-to-be Jacquelyne Leffler fell short of making good on her hopes of representing the United States in the Pan Am Games next month, as Leffler could not come up with a top-2 finish in any of the three events she competed in at the Finishline USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis this past week.
“It was a great experience for me, and I’m glad I got to go,” Leffler said. “I’m looking forward to going back next year.”
Leffler’s highest placing came in the discus, where she threw 147 feet, 6 inches on her third and final attempt to finish ninth.
After a sub-par throw on her first attempt and a foul on her second throw, Leffler got off a good toss on what would be her final throw, as she missed making the finals by less than a foot.
“I was happy with myself that I could come back on my third throw and throw decent,” she said.
She also picked up a pair of 13th-place finishes in the shot put and the javelin.
A three-time State champion in the shot, Leffler produced a best throw of 44 feet, 3 1/2 inches, well short of the personal-best mark of 46-8 she set earlier this month at the Golden West Invitational.
She said leg cramps contributed to what she called a “frustrating” performance.
“The week started good on Wednesday when we practiced, and on Thursday, I felt good warming up,” she said. “But then my calf started cramping, and it went downhill from there.”
In the javelin, Leffler got off a best heave of 127-8.
Next up for Leffler is a trip to Spokane, Wash., on Friday to participate in an elite throwers camp called Ironwood.
Also, Burlington’s Katie Guevel came close to earning a spot in the Pan Am Games competing in the heptathlon, as she placed third overall with 3,076 points. Shana Woods from the University of Southern California won the event with 3,311 points, while Ryann Krais took second with 3,270 points as an unattached competitor.
Guevel, who won 12 State championships as a sprinter and hurdler, will attend William and Mary next year and will compete as a heptathlete.