April 22, 2004
by Jeff Toquinto
Editor of The Bridgeport News

On a day where Parkersburg showed why it is ranked No. 2 in Class AAA, Bridgeport senior Emilee Stout showed why she is the defending state champion pole vaulter.
In front of a packed Wayne Jamison Field at Saturday’s third annual Harry Green Invitational, Stout not only matched her state record showing of a year ago, but topped it.
Stout’s efforts, which produced the only win of the afternoon for the Indians, cleared 10 feet, 9 inches. The points gained by Stout, who was battling a deep heal bruise, helped the Indians come in a distant fourth at Saturday’s meet.
BHS totaled 71 points, which was well off the 122 points by Parkersburg. Buckhannon-Upshur was second with 84 points, while Preston edged out the Tribe for third place with 71 points.
”I definitely think I can go higher,” said Stout. "I will have to go higher to be able to beat my toughest competition (this year) from Winfield."
Bridgeport coach Jim Dawson was also pleased with the effort. It was an effort he didn't expect after Stout had injured her heal practicing the vault in the vault box a day earlier. Stout's injury came when she came up short on the landing mat and her foot landed on the box.
”She sucked it up and performed under less than ideal circumstances,” said Dawson. "She's a gamer."
While Stout won the only event, sophomore Lauren Gilbert came up big in several individual events. Gilbert was fourth in the 100 with a time of 13.55 seconds, third in the 200 with a time of 27.97 seconds and was third in the 400 with a time of 1 minute, 3.33 seconds.
”Lauren is a competitor,” said Dawson. “What's impressive is that she's not running as fast as last year at this time, but she will be in the hunt (in her events) come state meet time.”
Several other BHS thinclads also performed well, including junior Sarah Abbate. Abbate was third in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 17.13 seconds.
Bridgeport’s relay teams also produced points during the meet. The 4x400 team of Lora Gallagher, Kate Merinar, Jenna Fogg, and Gilbert (4 minutes, 28.56 seconds) finished fourth; the 4x800 team of Fogg, Merinar, Kara Miller and Gallagher (11 minutes, 2.36 seconds) came in fourth; while the shuttle hurdle team of Marie Conley, Miller, Stout and Abbate (1 minute, 15.18 seconds) was fifth.
In the field events, Fogg also managed to turn in a strong showing. Her leap of 5 feet was good enough for third place in the high jump.
"Those that want to do well and expect to do well did do well," said Dawson of the team's strong showing. "We had some good performances from several of the runners and that made a difference. We just don't have the depth this year."
Without the depth, several youngsters posted personal bests. Dawson said that group included Abbate, Fogg and Miller. He also said several relays had their best times ever, including the 4x400 team.
The 4x400 group's time was less than 7 seconds off a school record that has stood since 1990. Dawson said it is one of just two records that has not been broken since he began coaching. He said that record should fall this year.