From the May 29 Edition of The Bridgeport News
Girls Regional


by Jeff Toquinto
News Editor

One week after coming in as runner-up at the Big 10
Conference championship, the chances of Bridgeport’s
girls track team captuing the Class AA, Region II
crown looked poor at best.
After all, the Grafton Bearcats, the league champions,
were competing in the regional meet. And, it was the
‘Cats who didn’t even have a full roster of competers in the Big 10 event.
Despite their return, the Indians had all the answer.
Behind a strong showing by senior Jamie Bragg and
junior Emilee Stout, the Tribe managed to take their
second straight regional crown in impressive fashion.
The Indians finished with 114 points, which was
solidly ahead of the Bearcats’ total of 96 points in the 10-team field.
Bragg took home one of two individual first place wins
for the Indians. She won the long jump with a mark of
16 feet, 4.5 inches. Bragg was also second in the 100
meter dash with a time of 13.42 seconds.
The most dominating effort of the day, however,
belonged to Stout. She owned the pole vault with a
mark of 10 feet, 6 inches. Not only did she best the
nearest competitor by more than 2 feet, the mark would
be a state record if the event was held in Charleston.
Stout also placed fourth in the 300 meter hurdles.
Freshman Lauren Gilbert also looked solid. She
qualifed in the 200 meter dash with a second place
finish and the 400 meter dash with a third place finish.
Sarah Abbate and Rachel Williams, who have been strong
throughout the campaign, will be rewarded with a trip
to Charleston as well. Along with qualifying in
relays, Abbate’s third place in the 100 meter hurdles
qualifed, while Williams took third in the high jump
and fourth in the long jump.
Like their male counterparts, the Indians fared well
in the relay events. BHS will be sending four of its
five relay teams to Charleston. The only team that did
not qualify was the 4x400 team.