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GINA
PIATT - JOHNSTON |
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2002 - TRACK & FIELD |
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As a pioneer of women's sports, Gina
Piatt had many accomplishments in tennis, basketball, golf, and track
and field, with the latter gaining her the most recognition.
Playing tennis, Gina captured both the singles and doubles title for
Washington County Women in 1975. As a basketball player, Gina was a
3-year letter winner and team captain her senior year at Trinity High
School.
Competing with the boys never bothered Gina as she participated on the
boy's golf team at Trinity for four years. As a junior, she was a WPIAL
champion in the girl's division and finished 10th place in the PIAA golf
tournament. In her senior year, she took 2nd place in the WPIAL
competition, which led her to the PIAA tournament where she finished in
5th place.
In the early seventies, Gina began competing in track and field for the
West Penn Track Club. In 1974, she traveled to California and won the
National Championship in the shot put for her 12-13 age division. In
1975, she finished 2nd place in both the shot and the discus on a
national level. As part of the 1976 National Championships Gina
qualified for the U.S. Junior Track and Field Team, which competed in
West Germany and Russia. During those meets, she set a National 15-year
old record in the discus with a throw of 142'10".
In her Trinity High School track days, Gina racked up five WPIAL 1st
places, three 2nd places and was a four-time winner of PIAA State events
in the shot and discus as well as two runner-up finishes.
In 1978, Gina attended Auburn University on a golf/track and field
scholarship. At Auburn she set a school record in the shop put event.
She still remains on the Auburn top ten Women's Indoor and Outdoor
records for the shot put. With golf being her true love she gave up
track after her sophomore year. After graduating from Auburn with a
degree in Business Management, she continued her golfing career by
turning professional and playing tournaments across the country. After
playing a couple years Gina regained her amateur status and since played
in may U.S. amateurs, Mid-Amateurs and other National Amateur Events.
Gina now resides in Palm City, Florida with her husband, Bob and her two
children, Tara and Lance George. She continues her interest in sports
and keeps extremely busy with her daughter's fast pitch softball and her
son's hockey and golf.
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