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Sisters from Easton High School continue to shine on, off track. They're popular. They're pretty. They're perky. They're also academic standouts and athletic stars. They're the remarkable Regan sisters of Easton Area High School -- senior Courtney and sophomore Lindsay. And during Saturday's PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University, about 7,700 fans fell in love. |
Regan and Regan, Lindsay and Courtney, went 1-2 in the Class AAA pole vault. Gold medal, silver medal. Out of 28 competitors, they were easily the best -- seeded 1-2, finished 1-2. Lindsay won with a meet-record vault of 13-feet; Courtney took second by clearing 11-feet, six-inches. But it wasn't only their tremendous talents that captured the crowd's admiration and endorsement. Those "trademark" Regan smiles took care of that. "They'd pop up off the mat, hit everyone with their smiles," Easton coach Frank Messa said, "and the crowd would smile right back. Those smiles really are a trademark of the two of them. The support they received from the crowd didn't surprise me." "I've never seen two better smiles," commented longtime Harrisburg Patriot-News track and field writer Rod Frisco. With the pole-vaulting pit directly in front of the home stands, it wasn't until Lindsay broke the state record of 12-3 and instructed meet officials to set the bar at 13-0 that the crowd started oh-ing and ah-ing with each attempt. Not only was the youngest of three pole-vaulting sisters trying for rare air, but the pole vault is the most majestic of all track and field events. Almost anyone can run, anyone can jump and anyone can throw an object, but not everyone can stick a pole into the ground and vault themselves several feet -- or 13 -- into the sky without risking serious injury. Pole-vaulting is an awe-inspiring sport to watch, and the crowd was awe-inspired. Two misses at 13-even and the anticipation for a third attempt became overwhelming. Lindsay did her usual pre-vault routine and, with the crowd applauding in unison, sprinted down the runaway, thrust herself into the air and cleared 13 feet. The crowd stood -- that's the ones who weren't already standing -- and roared its approval. The "trademark" Regan smile went from ear-to-ear. "I have to admit, I was a little nervous," said Lindsay, who later missed on three tries at 13-4\ . "The crowd here is so big, and they're really into it. It was an incredible feeling." Dad, William, caught all the action and re-action on a video camera. Mom, Nancy, in her Easton Area High School sweatshirt, experienced simultaneous joy and relief. And oldest sister, Katie, who recently completed her sophomore season at Cornell, smiled a proud big-sister smile. The Regans accomplished at Shippensburg what track and field fans around the Lehigh Valley now expect. "I didn't see what was going on because I was warming up," said Easton's Rich Ryan, who finished third in the 1,600. "But I could tell what was going on by the crowd's reaction. They're amazing. Everyday it's the same thing. It's great to be their teammate." Lindsay, who finished third at the state meet as a freshman, is ranked No. 2 nationally with a best vault of 13-4 at the Lehigh Valley Conference championships. Courtney, who won a gold medal at states as a junior, is second-best. And second-best -- especially in the state -- is indeed impressive, but when you were the best and your sister is now better "It's been tough," Courtney said. "It used to be last year we'd go back-and-forth, I'd win one and she'd win one. I've lost every meet to her this year. It sort of stinks I'm second in the state and lose every meet. I'm really emotional and I end up crying a lot. It's not that I'm disappointed she won, it's just that I want to do that well." "My only advice," Messa said, "to Court came after Linds really stepped up at an indoor meet in Penn State. I told Court when you put those poles away at the end of the day it's your sister you'll be going home with." Don't feel too bad for Courtney, though. Her résumé -- academic, athletic and extracurricular -- is already three pages long and is enough to make anybody else feel like an underachiever. She's a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, is the Student Council Presidential Advisor and was a member of the Red Rovers' national championship cheerleading team (along with Lindsay). Courtney is ranked seventh in a class of 587 and scored 1,420 on her SATs. She plans to study economics and pole vault at Princeton. Katie and Lindsay boast similar résumés. "I'm happy to be moving on," Courtney said. "I won't be competing against Lindsay anymore and my parents can relax a little." The Regans, obviously, are proud parents. Who says there aren't positive role models anymore? "Oh my," Messa said, "those three girls personify the term student-athlete." |
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