Ashlyn Giles posted a national-leading performance in the shot put on Saturday at the third Hempfield Area meet of the season. The Schuylkill Valley senior threw a big personal best of 49-07 to take the win in a good competition with another one of the country's best.
Giles, a University of Nebraska signee, takes over the US No. 1 spot with her big put. Isabella Gera of Hempfield Area came into the meet at US No. 2 with her best of 47-7.5 from a week ago. Gera placed second on Saturday with a best of 46-8.5.
| PLACE | ATHLETE | TEAM | RESULT | H# | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashlyn Giles | 12 | Schuylkill Valley | 49-07.00 | 1 | ||
| 2 | Isabella Gera | 12 | Hempfield Area (7) | 46-08.50 | 1 | ||
| 3 | Elizabeth Tapper | 10 | Hempfield Area (7) | 37-09.50 | 1 | ||
| 4 | Emma Fox | 12 | Hempfield Area (7) | 30-05.50 | 1 | ||
| 5 | Allison Kohler | 10 | Hempfield Area (7) | 22-06.00 | 1 | ||
With Giles taking over the national lead, it means that the top three spots in the country in the shot put are held by Pennsylvania girls. Shenango's Emma Callahan held the top spot coming into the weekend with her best of 48-0.25 from Jan. 16. So, Giles is at No. 1, Callahan No. 2, and Gera sits at No. 3.
For Giles, it's a big improvement upon her previous best int he shot of 41-11 from last winter. She wound up tossing an outdoor best of 46-1.5 at a meet this past spring. Then at the Wilson (3) polar bear meet on Jan. 17, Giles improved that outdoor best to 46-4.25. Saturday was the indoor season opener for Giles.
Her toss of 49-07 moves Giles all the way up to PA No. 4 all-time indoors. She trails only those in the indoor 50-foot club (Heather Colyer, Karen Shump, and Maria Deaviz). It was a big meet for Giles and it makes the girls shot put even more interesting this season in PA.