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SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Baylee Sleek glanced at the high jump bar while standing at the edge of the Seth Grove Stadium end zone.
The height was set at 5 feet, 9 inches, a standard Sleek had yet to clear throughout her storied career as part of the Conemaugh Township High School track and field team.
The defending state champion in the girls Class 2A high jump, Sleek seized the moment, leaping over the bar as a loud cheer acknowledged the effort Friday in the PIAA Class 2A Track and Field Championship Meet at Shippensburg University.
PHOTO GALLERY | Area athletes claim silver and gold at state track & field
“Going up first, I just kept reminding myself, whatever happens, happens,” said Sleek, who repeated as state champion by clearing her second attempt at 5-9.
“I’m trying my best, so no matter what happens, it’s OK.
“But I really had to hype myself up. I was getting nervous. But that jump, I just gave it my all and cleared it.”
Grove City sophomore Milena Sciullo, who entered the state meet as the second seed behind Sleek, had provided her own big-time moments to finish second at 5-8.
Sciullo cleared 5-8 on her third and final try at the height, extending the competition another round.
After Sleek hit 5-9, Sciullo missed on her final two tries at the height.
“I couldn’t be more thankful,” said Sleek, who earmed two golds and one silver in the state meet during the past three springs. “I just feel very accomplished with how far I made it, ending with a gold senior year. It’s definitely a good way to end it.”
Quaker Valley senior Oumou Mimi Thiero – a University of Maryland basketball recruit who finished as runner-up to Sleek in the 2025 PIAA Meet – jumped 5-4 to finish in a three-way tie for fourth.
Results from Day 1 of PIAA track and field meet
Results from Day 1 of the PIAA track and field championship meet at Shippensburg University.
“There is something about the competition here that strives me to push my hardest,” Sleek said.
Forest Hills senior Mylee Glessner advanced to Saturday’s 100-meter hurdles final after finishing sixth in Friday’s preliminaries at 15.07. Cambria Heights senior Rachel McClellan (16.62) and Bedford sophomore Keira Koontz (16.94) were 24th and 25th, respectively, in the preliminaries.
Four area girls competed in the morning’s first event, the Class 2A 1600-meter run.
Richland junior Natalia Mavridis placed 12th (5:09.09), Forest Hills sophomore Bella Ascherl was 14th (5:11.44), Central Cambria sophomore Paige Alexander placed 17th (5:14.24) and Bedford junior Chloe May finished 23rd (5:25.56).
Defending champion and Lewisburg Area senior Baylee Espinosa won in 4:53.81.
Somerset Area freshman Libby Marteeny finished 21st (5:04.81) in the Class 3A 1600. She held the third spot in her heat through 400 meters and was fifth through 800 meters, before slipping to 11th in the heat and 21st overall.
Penn Cambria sophomore Kate Eckenrode (12.48) was 10th in the 2A girls 100-meter dash preliminaries, Ligonier Valley sophomore Elyse Witcoski (12.72) was 18th and Berlin Brothersvalley freshman Paige Weaver (13.09) was 23rd. The top eight advance to Saturday’s competition.
In the discus, Forest Hills junior Olivia Speicher placed 13th with a throw of 110-1.
Cambria Heights’ senior long jump tandem of Brielle McMillen (16-4 ½) and Rachel McClellan (16-2 ¼) placed 24th and 26th, respectively.
In the 2A girls javelin, Forest Hills senior Eva Myers (103-7) and Portage Area junior Jada Irvin (102-5) finished in 18th and 19th, respectively.
Penn Cambria’s 400-meter relay squad of Lily Gergley, Danielle Farabaugh, Reagan Ronan and Kate Eckenrode ran 50.25 to place 11th in the preliminary race.
The Rams’ Mavridis (1:01.04) was 21st in the 400-meter preliminaries, and Bedford junior Grace Brallier (1:03.25) was 21st in the heats.
The 300-meter hurdles preliminaries included area runners in Central Cambria freshman Bella Templeton (46.90, 11th), Forest Hills senior Samantha Papcunik (47.91, 18th) and Conemaugh Township freshman Braxtyn Sleek (48.44, 19th).
The top eight advanced to Saturday’s action.
Penn Cambria’s Eckenrode was 20th in the 200-meter dash preliminary heats, and Berlin’s Weaver (27.43) was 24th.
The first day of action on the track concluded as the 1600 relay squads competed in the rain. The Central Cambria relay of Alaina Long, Alexander, Makenzie Hite and Delaney Snyder (4:16.18) was 18th in the heats.
Richland’s relay of Addison Piscatello, Catherine McAneny, Aubrey Dunlap and Mavridis (4:19.69) finished 20th in the preliminaries.
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
Continue reading...
The height was set at 5 feet, 9 inches, a standard Sleek had yet to clear throughout her storied career as part of the Conemaugh Township High School track and field team.
The defending state champion in the girls Class 2A high jump, Sleek seized the moment, leaping over the bar as a loud cheer acknowledged the effort Friday in the PIAA Class 2A Track and Field Championship Meet at Shippensburg University.
PHOTO GALLERY | Area athletes claim silver and gold at state track & field
“Going up first, I just kept reminding myself, whatever happens, happens,” said Sleek, who repeated as state champion by clearing her second attempt at 5-9.
“I’m trying my best, so no matter what happens, it’s OK.
“But I really had to hype myself up. I was getting nervous. But that jump, I just gave it my all and cleared it.”
Grove City sophomore Milena Sciullo, who entered the state meet as the second seed behind Sleek, had provided her own big-time moments to finish second at 5-8.
Sciullo cleared 5-8 on her third and final try at the height, extending the competition another round.
After Sleek hit 5-9, Sciullo missed on her final two tries at the height.
“I couldn’t be more thankful,” said Sleek, who earmed two golds and one silver in the state meet during the past three springs. “I just feel very accomplished with how far I made it, ending with a gold senior year. It’s definitely a good way to end it.”
Quaker Valley senior Oumou Mimi Thiero – a University of Maryland basketball recruit who finished as runner-up to Sleek in the 2025 PIAA Meet – jumped 5-4 to finish in a three-way tie for fourth.
Results from Day 1 of PIAA track and field meet
Results from Day 1 of the PIAA track and field championship meet at Shippensburg University.
“There is something about the competition here that strives me to push my hardest,” Sleek said.
Forest Hills senior Mylee Glessner advanced to Saturday’s 100-meter hurdles final after finishing sixth in Friday’s preliminaries at 15.07. Cambria Heights senior Rachel McClellan (16.62) and Bedford sophomore Keira Koontz (16.94) were 24th and 25th, respectively, in the preliminaries.
Four area girls competed in the morning’s first event, the Class 2A 1600-meter run.
Richland junior Natalia Mavridis placed 12th (5:09.09), Forest Hills sophomore Bella Ascherl was 14th (5:11.44), Central Cambria sophomore Paige Alexander placed 17th (5:14.24) and Bedford junior Chloe May finished 23rd (5:25.56).
Defending champion and Lewisburg Area senior Baylee Espinosa won in 4:53.81.
Somerset Area freshman Libby Marteeny finished 21st (5:04.81) in the Class 3A 1600. She held the third spot in her heat through 400 meters and was fifth through 800 meters, before slipping to 11th in the heat and 21st overall.
Penn Cambria sophomore Kate Eckenrode (12.48) was 10th in the 2A girls 100-meter dash preliminaries, Ligonier Valley sophomore Elyse Witcoski (12.72) was 18th and Berlin Brothersvalley freshman Paige Weaver (13.09) was 23rd. The top eight advance to Saturday’s competition.
In the discus, Forest Hills junior Olivia Speicher placed 13th with a throw of 110-1.
Cambria Heights’ senior long jump tandem of Brielle McMillen (16-4 ½) and Rachel McClellan (16-2 ¼) placed 24th and 26th, respectively.
In the 2A girls javelin, Forest Hills senior Eva Myers (103-7) and Portage Area junior Jada Irvin (102-5) finished in 18th and 19th, respectively.
Penn Cambria’s 400-meter relay squad of Lily Gergley, Danielle Farabaugh, Reagan Ronan and Kate Eckenrode ran 50.25 to place 11th in the preliminary race.
The Rams’ Mavridis (1:01.04) was 21st in the 400-meter preliminaries, and Bedford junior Grace Brallier (1:03.25) was 21st in the heats.
The 300-meter hurdles preliminaries included area runners in Central Cambria freshman Bella Templeton (46.90, 11th), Forest Hills senior Samantha Papcunik (47.91, 18th) and Conemaugh Township freshman Braxtyn Sleek (48.44, 19th).
The top eight advanced to Saturday’s action.
Penn Cambria’s Eckenrode was 20th in the 200-meter dash preliminary heats, and Berlin’s Weaver (27.43) was 24th.
The first day of action on the track concluded as the 1600 relay squads competed in the rain. The Central Cambria relay of Alaina Long, Alexander, Makenzie Hite and Delaney Snyder (4:16.18) was 18th in the heats.
Richland’s relay of Addison Piscatello, Catherine McAneny, Aubrey Dunlap and Mavridis (4:19.69) finished 20th in the preliminaries.
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
Continue reading...
