York, PA - The Daily Record/Sunday News presents the 2012 YAIAA Division A Girls' Track and Field All-Stars:
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
   Angelica Gonzalez, Red Lion, Fr.: To say Gonzalez took the YAIAA by storm might qualify as an understatement. Perhaps no one was more surprised than the talented sprinter herself.

"I did not expect this, not at all, because of my age," said Gonzalez, 15. "I blew myself away."

The frosh also blew away the competition at the YAIAA championships, winning the 100 and 200, and taking part in the Lions' gold-medal winning 400 relay squad. She also broke school records in all three events this season. Gonzalez added silver in the 1,600 relay at the league meet for good measure.

At districts, Gonzalez again excelled, placing second in the 100 in 12.05 and the 200 in a PR of 24.27. The 200 finish was so close it took the judges 10 minutes to figure out who won. The Lions relay team added a fifth-place finish.

Gonzalez wrapped up her sensational season at states by placing second in the 200 in 24.99 and third in the 100 with a time of 12.12.

So, when did she know this year was going to be special?

"When we went up against Dallastown, because I beat Sally Trout, and no one expected that," Gonzalez said. "But then I discovered (Central York's) Megan Lundy, and she was the toughest competition I faced."

Her fastest 100 time was 12.04 and her 200 mark was 24.27.

"She's obviously naturally talented, and does well with what she has, but she's also a hard worker, too," coach Jason Smith said.
  
ALL-STARS
   Megan Lundy, Central York, Sr.: It was quite a senior season for Lundy, who blazed to new records and remarkable achievements. She will take her talents to Shippensburg, where she received a full scholarship.

"Megan is a great athlete, and she was recruited by several Division I schools," Central coach Chris Detwiler said. "I loved having her for all four years."

Lundy broke a 34-year-old school record in the 200 and placed second in that event at the YAIAA meet. More impressively, she won the 400 at that meet for the fourth straight year, the first time that anyone did that in any event in 11 years.

At districts, Lundy claimed gold in the 400 with a PR time of 54.64 and placed fifth in the 200 in 25 seconds flat. At states, she placed fifth in the 400 and seventh in the 200.
   Sally Trout, Dallastown, Sr.: The hurdler had a super season for the Wildcats, winning both the 100 and 300 hurdles at the YAIAA meet. Trout finished the 100 in 15.11 and set a PR in the 300 with a time of 46.11. At the district meet, Trout set a PR in the 100 hurdles with a 15.03 and placed third, then ran a 46.89 in the 300 to take eighth. At states, Trout ran a 15.15 in the preliminaries.
   Kaylee Kubisiak, New Oxford, Sr.: The long-distance runner claimed the gold in the 3,200 at the YAIAA meet with a time of 11:09. Kubisiak improved on that time at districts, setting a PR in the process with an 11:07, good for the silver medal.
   Jamila Janneh, New Oxford, Sr.: The jumping Janneh excelled in all three disciplines this season and shone brightly at the county meet. Janneh won long jump with a leap of 16-foot-81/2; set a PR and won the triple jump with a 37-4; and went 5-0 in the high jump to claim silver. At districts Janneh placed fourth in the long and triple jump, and came in 11th in the high jump. The senior capped the season by placing 12th in the triple jump and 17th in the long jump at states.
   Jasmine Leighton, New Oxford, Jr.: Leighton tossed the shot put 34-3.5 to take fourth place at the YAIAA championships, qualifying for districts in the process. Leighton's 32-5.5 at districts placed her 16th.
   Cassidy Barshinger, Red Lion, So.: Barshinger had a stellar day at the YAIAA meet, placing second in the 300 hurdles in 46.24 and third in the 100 with a PR of 12.79. She also competed on the winning 400 relay team and the silver-medal 1,600 relay squad. At districts she came in fourth in the hurdles in 46.12 and 18th in the 400. She did not medal at states but came in 13th in the hurdles with a PR of 45.54.
   Amanda Myers, Red Lion, So.: Myers shared the most-improved award for the Lions after taking a huge step forward this year. After throwing the javelin 95 feet last year, the sophomore won the event at the YAIAA meet with a toss of 128-4. She came in sixth at districts but did not qualify for states. After flirting with 130 feet all season, Myers has set her sights on the school record of 135-9.
   Amanda Young, Red Lion, Jr.: Young was the other Lion who shared the most-improved award after showing amazing growth as a pole vaulter. Young's best jump a year ago in her debut season was 8-9, but after working all winter with a track club Young set the school record this year. After a "bad day" at the YAIAA meet, where she placed second, Young took fifth at districts with an 11-foot jump and then soared to 11-6 at states to take ninth. Young's final day was her best of the year and the new school record.
   Tess Weaver, South Western, Sr.: The senior thrower chucked the shot put 35-101/2 at the county meet to claim the gold medal, and added an 11th-place finish in the javelin. Weaver just kept improving as she went further, chalking up a throw of 38-9 3/4 to seize the silver at districts and set a PR of 40-2 3/4 at states, which was good for fifth place.

  
COACH OF THE YEAR
   Jason Smith, Red Lion: Smith has been the head coach at Red Lion for three years after serving as the JV coach since 2003, and this year was a magical one. The Lions went 6-0 to claim their first league title since 1994.

"I knew we were going to be pretty good, but I didn't expect to win the championship this year with us being so young," Smith said. "Every meet they kept getting better and better. I kept waiting for the letdown, but it never came."

Smith is quick to credit his coaching staff, which he says just might be "one of the most decorated coaching staffs in the state."

The staff includes three-time Olympian Florin Ionescu from Romania, the distance coach, and two former state champs: hurdler/sprinter Simmie Strausbaugh and jumper Jen Rebert, who almost made the U.S. Olympic team.