4 from WVC compete at Nike

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Mandissa Marshall set a personal-best and added another medal to her growing collection when she placed sixth at the Nike Outdoor National Meet in the girls pole vault.

The Crestwood sophomore was one of four Wyoming Valley Conference athletes competing at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C. Dallas sophomore Ellen Arnaud and junior Stephanie Ashley both competed in the girls javelin. Tunkhannock freshman Reece Ayers competed in the freshman mile.

Marshall was a District 2 Class 3A champion in the event and a PIAA third-place medalist, clearing 12 feet in both competitions.

At the Nike Outdoor Nationals, she vaulted 12 feet and 3 1/4 inches to further her personal best for 2008. Leslie Brost of Watertown, S.D., cleared 13-3 to win the event while 2008 PIAA champion and current record-holder Abby Schafer of Easton was second, clearing 12-11.

With weather conditions at the university not partial to those usually favored by javelin throwers, Arnaud finished 13th in the girls javelin, tossing 121 feet, 8 inches in the finals. Ashley came in 24th with a final toss of 108 feet, 9 inches. Hannah Carson of Chandler, Ariz., won the event with a throw of 149 feet, 3 inches.

“The humidity isn’t good for the javelin,” said Dallas coach Ed Radzinski. “Most girls there were throwing 12 to 20 feet short of their seed.”

In the freshman mile, Ayers finished 13th with a time of 4:37.07. Anthony Manfrin of Sleepy Hollow, Ill., was first in the freshman mile with a time of 4:23.27.

“It was great for them to go there and get those places,” said Radzinski.