PREP TRACK Hickory's Pissini wins two golds at Mercer County Championship

Kennedy Catholic's Deirdre Reimold had her best time in the 300 hurdles.
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Bragging rights for Mercer County and a preview of the upcoming PIAA District 10 Class AA was the story Saturday at Hickory High, for the Mercer County Invitational Track & amp; Field Championships.
Leading the area in the girls competition was Jessica Pissini, a Hickory senior who won the gold medal in both the discus and shot put.
In the discus, Pissini's winning throw was 125 feet, 4 inches, almost 16 feet better than her sophomore teammate Arin Whitman (109-6).
Pissini showed her superiority in the shot with a distance of 39-11/4, defeating runner-up Kaela Strawder of Sharon by almost 3 feet (36-6 3/4).
"I wish that I could get three this year [also the javelin], but I decided to concentrate on the shot and discus," said Pissini.
As for not being pushed in either of her events, Pissini said that never entered her mind.
Changed practice approach
"Coming up to these last couple of meets, I change my approach to practice," she said. "It is all a mind game and I know that I have to push myself because I know next week in districts, there will be a lot of competition. I am hoping to get back to state because I just love those meets. It is going to be great."
Also picking up a gold medal was Kennedy Catholic's Deirdre Reimold, who won the 300 intermediate hurdles in 47.02 seconds.
"Today I didn't run all the events I normally do," said Reimold. "I am sick right now so I felt as though I had to save my energy and concentrate on the 300s. This was my best time so far so I am happy with that.
"I am planning on practicing real hard this week because next week [district meet] is what counts," Reimold said. "Hopefully I will have a good week of workouts and be able to make it to state."
Sharon long jump duo
In the boys division, Sharon's Devin Motley and Albert Wilson put on a battle in the long jump with Motley edging Wilson 21-8 to 21-3 and establishing a meet record.
As for his chief competition, that usually comes from his teammate Wilson.
"It is lovely to have someone there to push you," said Motley. "He is the upperclassman so he is there pushing me all the time no matter what."
As the elder statesman of the pair, Wilson was quick to point out that he also enjoys the competition from his teammate.
"For me as the upperclassman and he as a sophomore, that's great competition," said Wilson. "If he works hard, he is going to be great when he gets older."
Wilson was quick to point out that the two jumpers trade places from time to time in the final results.
"The last couple of meets I got him," said Wilson. "But before that, he was getting me by a couple of feet, but then I had to come out and take it from him."
Following missing a state trip by a half-inch last year, Motley is looking toward the district meet with great anticipation.
"I have never been there [to states]. All I can do is try my best this year and hopefully that will be good enough for me to get there this year," he said.
Upset in pole vault
Possibly the biggest upset in the meet came in the boys pole vault, where Jimmy Schneider of Wilmington took the gold with an effort of 14-6. Defending PIAA champion Eric Sparks of Hickory failed to make a height and didn't place.
"It is not my personal best, but I made some bad pole selections," said Schneider. "My 14-6 vault was the best today so I am happy."
As for Sparks not making a height, Schneider was quick to point out that the defending champion is injured and not at his best.
"He was injured today, but he'll bounce right back," said Schneider. "At Baldwin he [Sparks] did the same thing where he started at 15-feet, so what happened today really didn't surprise me at all because that is how he works it."