Saco's Malmend leaps to first in high jump at Glasgow Invitational

The Saco Panthers kicked off their season at the Glasgow invitational, though they only had three athletes competing.

Alana Malmend competed for the girls. Chris Depuydt and Chandler Pippin for the boys.

Malmend's 14 points were enough to put the school in tenth place.

Though many fans of the Saco-Hinsdale Wildfire have seen her leaping ability, Malmend surprised many people that day, finishing first in the high jump after registering a leap of 5-0.

The best part about the jump was even though she has only been to one track meet her freshman year, the now sophomore called her mark.

"I'd have to say for my maximum probably five feet, because I haven't done much practicing with it," Malmend told the PCN at the start of the event. "Five foot right now is my goal. If I get past it great, but five right now is my goal."

Her previous best was 4-6 in her eighth grade year.

"4-6 to 5-0 I'm happy," Malmend said. "It was good practice."

Now that she knows she can clear 5-0 her end of the year goal is a lot higher.

"Since this is the first track meet and I got five, I'm going to work for 5-5," Malmend said. "I'll work for it, I don't know if I'll get there, but I'll work for it."

The team started their practices the week after basketball ended, but Malmend hasn't had the chance to fully utilize her time due to injury.

"We've had a lot of practices but I was out for a little bit because I got injured, but I was still practicing as much as I could," Malmend said.

Malmend was a little nervous about running the 100 and 200 meter dashes.

"I'm kind of nervous about that," she said. "I've been seeing a lot of fast girls here, but they'll push me. I know that. My goal is to get across the finish line."

Malmend not only finished, she placed fifth in both the 100 and 200.

She finished the 100 with a time of 14.72 and the 200 with a time of 30.46.

Depuydt placed 11th in the triple jump, with a length of 30-5. He ran 13.70 in the 100 meter dash and 28.94 in the 200 meter dash. He also had a leap of 14-10 in the long jump.

Pippin had a 12-00 leap in the long jump. He ran a 15.21 in the 100 meter dash and 31.54 in the 200 meter dash.