SHA-TIRA SNELL
SCHOOL: Penn Hills.

WHO IS SHE? A junior and one of the top hurdlers in WPIAL girls' track.

THE PAST WEEK: Snell earned two gold medals Saturday at the PIAA Class AAA championship at Shippensburg University. She won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.30 seconds, and helped the 400 relay team win in 47.81.

SEASON: Two weeks ago at Baldwin, Snell won WPIAL titles in the 100 hurdles (14.68) and 300 hurdles (44.67). She also ran the first leg of the 400 relay, which the Indians won in a Class AAA record 47.67.

CAREER: This is Snell's third year with the Penn Hills varsity. As a freshman, she was the WPIAL runner-up and a PIAA fifth-place finisher in the 100 hurdles. Snell's sophomore season was shortened by a torn hamstring shortly after she won the 100 hurdles at the Tri-State Coaches meet. She didn't need surgery.

TALE OF THE TAPE: The finish line wasn't the only place Snell encountered tape this spring. She wrapped both legs, from knee to ankle, all season because of shin splints.

"They were pretty painful at first," Snell said. "But my legs are getting a lot better through heating, icing and taping."

The yellow stretch tape went well with Penn Hills' school colors: red and gold. "People at the WPIAL meet thought I had long socks on," Snell said. "I got used to it easily."

BORN TO HURDLE: Snell said the 100-meter hurdles is her specialty. It is a well-developed specialty; she has been hurdling since she was 10.

"I ran with the Nadia Track Club when I was younger," said Snell, who won two national 80-meter titles as a youth. "I was with the club as a freshman and did not want to go out for the high school team, but they made me."

Hurdling is in Snell's genes. Her father, David Anderson, once competed for Penn Hills.

FUTURE: With another scholastic season ahead, Snell could finish with more golden moments, more school records. She would love to achieve more, but is pleased with her career to date.

"I've achieved practically all I've wanted," she said.

Snell, who has "about" a 3.0 grade point average, is undecided on college. "But I'm probably thinking more about the South, because the weather is better."

-- By Rick Shrum

COLBY BEESON
SCHOOL: Neshannock.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior catcher who transferred from Santa Cruz, Calif., at the start of the school year and helped Neshannock to the WPIAL Class A baseball championship.

LAST WEEK: Beeson was 3 for 3 with a double, triple and home run as Neshannock beat Carmichaels, 15-0, in the WPIAL title game Saturday at Falconi Field in Washington.

SEASON: Beeson has a .426 average (24 for 54) with 7 doubles, 7 home runs and 25 RBIs.

HIGH PRAISE: Beeson has been impressive offensively and defensively, and Neshannock coach Mike Kirkwood believes Beeson is underrated. "[Pine-Richland star catcher] Neil Walker deserves everything he gets, and I'm not saying Colby is as good as him. But I think people are missing the boat on Colby," Kirkwood said. "No one knows about him because he's not from here."

'SHINING' THROUGH: Beeson's teammates call him "Sunshine," after the character in the movie "Remember the Titans." The "Sunshine" from the movie also was a transfer from California.

"I have a lot of family here, and my mom was born [in New Castle]," Beeson said. "We just finally decided to get out here. I'm loving it here. I'm actually having a great time."

Neshannock is in New Castle.

"I heard a lot of good things about the Neshannock baseball program," Beeson said. "That's what kind of persuaded me."

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Some Neshannock baseball players told Kirkwood about the "new kid" in the school who played baseball. Kirkwood then talked to Beeson.

"Usually, when there's someone new at the school, the kid will tell you how they did everything under the sun," Kirkwood said. "He was different. He was kind of modest."

Then Kirkwood saw Beeson throw in a preseason workout and was impressed. Then he "heard" him hit in a batting cage.

"I wasn't watching, but I just kept hearing that sound off the bat and I had to start looking," Kirkwood said. "He was impressive."

THE FUTURE: Beeson is undecided on a college, but more schools are starting to take notice. "Marshall was at Saturday's game, and they wanted to sign him before we got on the bus to go home," Kirkwood said. "I told Colby that the further we go this season, the more people will see him and the more exposure he'll get."

Neshannock begins the PIAA playoffs Monday.

-- By Mike White