The Observer, April 7, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 23
Sarah Gill emerges as one of Case's most versatile athletes
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Case athletes either switching sports or trying new ones has become a trend recently among many of the teams on campus. For example, this spring, Rich Mullen has gone from the basketball court to the baseball diamond to give the Spartans some much-needed pitching help. Lady Spartans' basketball star Amber Hammell has lent her speed and athleticism to the softball team.
Before Hammell and Mullen tried new sports, though, sophomore Sarah Gill went from being a point guard on the women's basketball team to a star performer for the women's cross country and track teams. Thus far, the decision to switch from running the fast break to running around the track has been a good one. It was one that she wanted to make because cross country and track allow her to dedicate more time toward her studies.
"[Running] is easier on my schedule for school," Gill said. "Meets are only one day. For basketball, there were times when we would leave Thursday and not get back until Sunday night. That doesn't leave much time to do homework."
However, Gill admitted that basketball has always been her true love. She decided to run cross country and track in high school in order to get into better shape and also because her sister competed in cross country. However, the more she became involved in running competitively, the more success she wanted.
"Once I started doing well, I didn't want to lose," she said. "Once you have success, you don't want to quit," she said.
Gill had quite an athletic career at Hickory High School in Sharpsville, Pa. She was very successful in cross country and track, advancing to the state championships in each sport. During her senior year, she finished 24th at the state cross country meet and placed seventh in the 4x800 in the state track meet. Since her basketball team also won the state championship in basketball when she was a freshman, Gill was able to earn a medal for every sport in which she participated during high school.
Therefore, it is not a surprise that she was able to make a successful transition from basketball to running this year. During the cross country season, Gill placed in the top 30 in four different races, including the UAA championship meet. The momentum carried over into the winter for the indoor track season as she finished top five in three different events. Gill then had a strong start to her outdoor season last week at the College of Wooster Invitational, finishing second in the 800 and first in the 4x400 relay with fellow runners Emily Bruckner, Danielle Kendeigh, and Harmonie Foster.
Perhaps more impressively, Gill finished seventh in the pole vault, which is quite an accomplishment since it was her first experience pole vaulting in a competition. Gill was understandably apprehensive going into the competition but was pleased with the results.
"I kind of rushed into it," she said about pole vaulting. "Going into it was nerve racking. My first jump was my first one ever going over the bar. My two goals were to get over the starting height and to beat someone, and I was able to do both of those."
Judging by her ability to compete in the pole vault so quickly while also having success in different races during the indoor season, it is safe to say that Gill is one of the most versatile athletes at Case.
"Sarah is not just a runner but an athlete," said coach Kathy Lanese. "This has allowed her to explore her athleticism and try the pole vault as well as competing in the 800 meter run."
Gill's performance in a new, challenging event like pole vault was not only a rewarding experience for her but also for Lanese and the rest of the coaching staff.
"It was an emotional experience when she cleared her first height last week at Wooster," Lanese said. "Her vault coach, Don Cox, had tears in his eyes. There is some great satisfaction in teaching an athlete an entirely new skill and the ability for them to master it."
For now, Gill doesn't anticipate switching sports again, and no one can blame her. She appears right at home competing in track and cross country, and, according to coach Lanese, is on the cusp of even greater accomplishments for her athletic career.
"Sarah still has great heights to climb in the vault since she is just at base of the mountain," Lanese said. "I know her climb will be great in the years ahead in both running and vaulting. I would expect nothing less from her."
