NTL TRACK & FIELD: TOWANDA'S BENNETT CLAIMS STATE TITLE IN HIGH JUMP (2021-05-28)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
SHIPPENSBURG — Right from the first meet of the year against Athens Towanda’s Porschia Bennett put down a big marker in the high jump. All year she’s been at the top of the field in the state in Class AA, and on on Friday Bennett completed the season long journey by winning the PIAA, Class AA Track and Field Championships high jump.

“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt,” said Bennett. “It’s crazy.”

She jumped 5-feet, 7-inches to win, as she had to hold off a strong challenge from Williamson’s Charlize Slusser, who took home silver at 5-feet, 6-inches.

Bennett is Towanda’s first state champion since 2004, when Sam Fairchild won the pole vault, and is the first girl to reach the top of the podium since Judy Perry did it in 1986 by winning the 2-mile.

She does have one first, though, as she is the first junior Towanda state title holder.

Bennett was her normal cool self throughout the competition - it was hard to tell if she was jumping in the state finals or during a dual - and that strong composure helped carry her through a small flub at 5-feet, 6-inches.

“I was a little nervous with her legs early,” said her jumps coach Mark Gannon. “But we moved her up about an inch. And she rushed that one at 5-6, but other than that she looked good.”

Not much rattled Bennett, who carried herself like the top seed throughout the competition - calm and confident.

“She was a little nervous, but she’s a confident girl,” said head coach Mark Vail.

However, once she got back with her coaches, and family after, that’s when all the tears came out for everybody.

Vail was nearly speechless as he hugged Bennett by the athletes entrance gate.

“It’s just a testament to my staff, and the kids themselves,” he said about bringing Towanda another state champion. “They believe not only in themselves, but us, the love, and faith we have for them. I don’t have any words, I’m just happy for her, and happy for our school.”

Even though he was there cheering her on, he’ll have to go back and watch it on PCN.

“I’m going to be honest with you, I didn’t see any of the jumps,” said Vail. “I just had to look down. Coach Elliott was my person telling me what was going on.”

Not much was going on for Bennett early on in the day, as being the top seed means watching have the field drop out before getting her first try. She came in at 5-feet, roughly an hour after the competition started, and was strong early.

“I just kept warm,” she explained. “I tried to stay focused until I went in.”

Bennett was down at an invitational hosted by Shippensburg early in the year, but a field of this many jumpers was still new to her.

“I felt really good,” said Bennett. “I think districts really helped, and the people around really helped.”

After third place finisher Gianna Bedel of Slippery Rock went out after clearing 5-feet, 3-inches it was just Bennett, and Slusser.

The rest of the best in the state could only sit and watch as the two girls from the Northern Tier League duked it out inch by inch.

First it was 5-feet, 4-inches, then 5-feet, 5-inches, followed by 5-feet, 6-inches.

“She made me nervous, because she always gets better every meet,” said Bennett. “I didn’t know what she was going to get today.”

Finally, Slusser went out at 5-feet, 7-inches, giving Bennett an opening. If she could clear her personal best, she would win without having to go to misses.

The first two jumps she came up just short, but on her final attempt Bennett pulled it off, making her the undisputed champion of the state.

“The last jump was so nerve-racking,” remarked Bennett. “I’m so glad I got it.”

Slusser enjoyed the duel as well, one she has been doing with Bennett since 2019.

“It was a really nice feeling,” she said. “You knew people have rivals, but I’m glad I have somebody to compete against.”

It’s rare for only two girls from the NTL to qualify for states, but rarer still for them to go finish 1-2 in the state.

“It was wild,” said Gannon. “Charlie jumped really well, and battled all the way through. It was cool to watch - it was nerve-racking - but it was cool to watch.”

He credits the evolution of Bennett into a more complete jumper, which took her from a sixth place finish two years ago to the top of the field in 2021.

“We saw her run get a little longer this year,” he explained. “And we worked on speed, and her approach more, we were more aggressive on her approach. We’ve been working a lot on that upper end the second half of the season, and so we’re going to just try to get stronger, work on that speed, and technically try to get better.”

While she was still enjoying her crown on Friday, Bennett couldn’t wait to defend it in 2022.

“It’s a lot of pressure, but I’m excited for next year.”

CUTLINE: Towanda’s Porschia Bennett stands on top of the podium after winning the PIAA, Class AA Track and Field girls’ high jump title Friday…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.