May 26 Edition
The Bridgeport News

by Jeff Toquinto
News Editor

Bridgeport saw the 2005 track season come to an end
this past weekend at Charleston's Laidley Field with a
13th-place finish at the West Virginia Track and Field
Championships. The girls totaled 18.5 points, which
was well off the winning mark of Preston with 60.5.
"They did a good job all weekend," said BHS girls
coach Jim Dawson. "Just getting there is a good job."
The top performance came from senior Sarah Abbate.
Abbate, who was a fixture in the Class AA state track
meet for the past few years, showed her times in the
100 meter hurdles were no fluke in Class AAA. Abbate
finished runner-up with a time of 16.52 seconds.
"She is the best track athlete in Harrison County in
my opinion," said Dawson. "She has been an underdog
all year and has outperformed her competitors all
year. She is a leader and loves pressure. Her
experience showed in Charleston."
The Indians also had a couple of fourth place
finishes. Lauren Gilbert was fourth in the 200 meter
dash with a time of 26.77 seconds.
"Her 200 time was the best all year, and what a
perfect time to do it," said Dawson. "She was upset
with her 400, but most kids don't perform well at 10
a.m. on Saturday."
The other fourth place finish came from freshman
Kendall McCaugherty. McCaugherty took that spot with a
jump of 5 feet in the high jump. McCaugherty was one
of the favorites in the event as she had cleared 5
feet, 6 inches at the Region II final, which would
have won her the event. In Charleston, teammate Jenna
Fogg actually tied McCaugherty but came in fifth based
on missed jumps at the 5 foot mark.
"Jenna's a veteran in the event and Kendall is not,"
said Dawson, who commented that Fogg was second last
year in Class AA. "That was the difference."
The shuttle hurdle team also helped contribute to the
Indians' point total. The team of Marie Conley, Kara
Miller, Lora Gallagher and Sarah Abbate came in sixth
with a time of 1 minute, 10.8 seconds.
"There time was not the best this year, but we have
dealt with injuries all year," said Dawson. "For them
to play after all they have been through shows their
desire to be successful."
Although not placing, Dawson was pleased with several
others. He mentioned Kate Merinar breaking her own
school record in the 3,200 meter run, as well as
Merinar and Allie Alonso running their fastest splits
this season in the 4x800 meter relay.
"We performed well all year," said Dawson. "I'm
looking forward to next year."