Now there is one.

Sheffield’s Emily Foster is the lone PIAA Track & Field Championship qualifier representing the orange and black this morning inside Seth Grove Stadium at Shippensburg University.

This will be Foster’s second time qualifying for high jump and Sheffield head coach Jason Snell is confident the experience she had as a freshman will pay off this year.

“Last year going down there as a freshman, I’m sure she was intimated,” Snell said. “Especially when Amy O’Donnell was always right there with her and at states you’re not allowed in the infield. I’m sure that was part of the reason she didn’t finish where she expected to. She knows what to expect. I think she always competes best when she’s facing top-tier competition. Looking at the seeding if she can pull a jump she has before she could come home with a medal.”

Submitted Photo Sheffield sophomore Emily Foster is the No. 20 seed out of 28 competitors as the PIAA Track & Field Championships get underway this morning at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

O’Donnell the varsity jumping coach, indicated that this year, regardless of communication barriers that both she, and especially Emily will be ready.

“Last year we were roped off and at further distance out. I’m not sure why that was, but that rope isn’t there this year, so I’ll be able to stand right on the fence which is a probably a good 15 to 20 yards closer. Plus, we’ve come up with some signals if there’s specific things that I think she’s doing that are hindering her from going over the bar.

As for what O’Donnell’s role will be, she described it as fine tuning and helping Foster focus more on self-reflecting and trying to help herself in the event there is a visual communication breakdown.

Foster is ranked 22nd out of 28 competitors for Friday’s event. In 2021, Foster hit the 5-foot-2 mark. This season she has cleared just 1 inch shy of that, but Snell feels there are a lot of factors at play.

“I won’t say she’s been struggling as of late, but she’s her biggest competitor,” Snell explained. “She’s due for a big jump. Weather hasn’t helped this year. She obviously has high expectations and she’s going to compete to the best of her ability. She’s going to go down and give it her best. Last year she had a case of stage fright. She’s definitely more relaxed. She wants it.”

After a good week of practice, and perfecting as much as possible, Foster is assured that her experience will play a part in improving.

“You know what to expect compared to last year not knowing anything of what was going on,” said Foster.

Foster, who is a sophomore with a senior-like leadership mentality was very open about what her accomplishments in track and field mean for the younger athletes.

“Just seeing the smiles on their faces, and for them to know who I am and to look up to me, definitely adds a lot of pressure because you don’t want to do something wrong,” said Foster. “I just want to stay a good example for them so they can come out for track in future years.”

Of the 28 competitors, only three have jumped higher than Foster, leaving the window of opportunity wide open starting at 9 a.m. this morning.