Blauser’s Chase of a State Title in Long Jump Delayed By Heavy Rain

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Baylee Blauser has been waiting a year for this.

A chance at redemption at the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

(Photo by Madison McFarland)

Last year as a junior at A-C Valley, she suffered a serious ankle injury two weeks before the state meet. She managed to hobble through the long jump competition at the District 9 Class 2A meet and qualified for the PIAA championships.

Her ankle, though, was too damaged and too painful. She finished a disappointing ninth.

She vowed to return in 2022 stronger than ever.

Blauser has achieved that goal, winning three events at the district meet last week: the 100-meter dash, the triple jump and, yes, the long jump. She’s broken records in all three this season, this time as a member of the Union/A-C Valley track and field team.

Her determination is as strong as even now that the day she has been waiting for has arrived, even though rain and lightning has delayed her long jump event Friday afternoon.

“I’m just happy I’m there this year,” Blauser said, pausing to smile, “and I’m happy that I’m not crippled.”

Blauser has steamrolled her way through the season. She jumped 18 feet, 6 3/4 inches in the long jump this season and 37-6 in the triple jump, smashing both of her school records.

She entered the state meet riding a wave of confidence.

“I’m really excited. I feel good about states,” Blauser said. “I’m just trying to keep an open mind like I did with districts, because if I start thinking too much, I’ll get in my head. I’m just pretending that this is just like districts again. I’m gonna try and jump my best and see what happens.”

Blauser ran in the prelims of the 100-meter dash in the morning before heavy rain and lightning moved in and delayed the meet. She did not qualify for the finals.

About 45 minutes before she was set to compete in the long jump, the field was cleared as a heavy swath of rain swept over Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg.

It sent athletes scurrying for cover in the nearby field house to wait out the deluge.

Blauser said she is trying not to let the delay and the disruption of her routine to affect her.

“I’m just trying to keep a good mindset,” Blauser said.

It’s been a long wait for Blauser to get back to this point after the profound disappointment of last season.

She said she can wait a little bit longer for that vindication.

“My goal is to break my records one last time,” Blauser said. “If I do that, I’ll be all set. That’s my only goal. That’s all I can think about.”