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SHIPPENSBURG — It didn’t take long for Mid Valley’s Olivia Thomas to introduce herself and collect a medal at the PIAA Track and Field Championships.
Battling the elements as the skies opened up, drenching Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium, Thomas emerged with a silver medal in the Class 2A long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 11.75 inches during afternoon field events Friday.
A freshman, Thomas held first place for much of the competition. However, Kutztown Area’s Clara Engel won gold on her final attempt, which was marked at 19-1.75.
“This was all very exciting,” Thomas said after receiving the first state medal of her career. “First, racing in the hurdles, competing in the long jump and being with my teammates for the 400 relay made it a great day.
“To be able to medal is such an honor.”
Montrose junior Sadie Jones had another school-record performance in the Class 2A javelin, and it produced a bronze medal. Jones launched the javelin 126.0 on the third throw of the competition.
Shenango’s Anna McKinley captured gold with a distance of 139-10.
“I am really, really happy,” said Jones, who was splitting her time between the javelin, which is held outside of the stadium, and the long jump, where she finished ninth (17-9.75). “To see all of my hard work pay off at a time like this and to put it all together was great. I was just loose and told myself that I was going to have fun.
“It was difficult to run from the javelin to the long jump legitimately. The officials were great and really kind in helping me get back and forth.
In the boys afternoon field events, Elk Lake’s Brody Crisman won a fourth-place medal in the Class 2A high jump. He cleared 6-4 with fewer misses than three other athletes, which included Dunmore’s Carter Sload.
Juniata’s Jasper Shepps won gold at 6-5.
“This is awesome,” Crisman said. “It started raining, but I am so happy for fourth place at the state meet. On my second jump at 6-2, I knew I was in a good spot. I was so happy.”
Sload finished in a tie for fifth with Bristol’s Kyleal Cottrell.
“It was tough with the weather, because with the rain, I couldn’t get the grip on my jump that I am used to,” Sload said. “It’s awesome that I was able to contribute to my team, and I am very happy to have won a state medal.”
Thomas started her long jump competition as the No. 1 seed with her District 2 record of 19-5. She marked 17-10 on her first attempt. She leaped into first place on her second jump of 18-5.75 and improved to an 18-7 on her third jump.
Then, a steady rain arrived.
In the final round, Thomas had a 17-11.5 on her fourth jump and landed her medal-winning distance of 18-11.75 on the fifth. She closed out her round with a distance of 18-8.25.
“I personally like the rain,” Thomas said. “I didn’t think it was that bad, actually. I just tried to keep my mind as clear as possible and to stay focused. I just gave it my all.”
In addition to her outstanding performance in the long jump, Thomas also posted the fastest qualifying time for the Class 2A 100-meter hurdles. She dominated her heat and clocked 14.43 seconds.
West Catholic’s Amarah Crabbe had the second-best time of 14.68. Lakeland’s Kaylyn Davis also reached the final with the seventh fastest time of 15.12.
“I was very nervous,” Thomas said. “I just focused on that race and took things one step at a time.”
Thomas also ran the fourth and final 100 meters in the 400-meter relay. She teamed with Karsyn Caines, Keri Michaels and Madison George to finish 16th in 50.75 seconds.
Girls qualifiers
Lakeland’s Kaylyn Davis and Bria Hill qualified for individual event finals.
In addition to joining Thomas in the final of the 100 hurdles, Davis also reached the final eight for the 300 hurdles. She finished second in her heat in 46.02, which was the sixth-fastest. Hughesville’s Kylie Temple had the fastest qualifying time of 44.02.
Hill was also second in her qualifying heat and had a time of 57.65. That was the sixth-fastest time. Seneca’s Brenna Kuhl had the fastest time in 56.45.
Boys qualifiers
Dunmore junior Weston Yannone had the second-best qualifying time for the Class 2A 110 hurdles.
He won his heat in 14.42. Corry Area senior Blake Cook qualified first at 14.21.
Yannone will also race in the final of the 300 hurdles. He won his heat in 39.28 and qualified fourth. Cook also had the top time of 37.57.
Western Wayne’s Robert Carrelle qualified in the 300 hurdles with the sixth-best time of 39.47.
Dunmore’s Jacob Costanzo, who entered the meet as the No. 1 seed, qualified for the final of the 400 by winning his heat in 49.47. That was the fourth-fastest time, with North Catholic’s Logan Schade winning his heat in 49.29.
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Battling the elements as the skies opened up, drenching Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium, Thomas emerged with a silver medal in the Class 2A long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 11.75 inches during afternoon field events Friday.
A freshman, Thomas held first place for much of the competition. However, Kutztown Area’s Clara Engel won gold on her final attempt, which was marked at 19-1.75.
“This was all very exciting,” Thomas said after receiving the first state medal of her career. “First, racing in the hurdles, competing in the long jump and being with my teammates for the 400 relay made it a great day.
“To be able to medal is such an honor.”
Montrose junior Sadie Jones had another school-record performance in the Class 2A javelin, and it produced a bronze medal. Jones launched the javelin 126.0 on the third throw of the competition.
Shenango’s Anna McKinley captured gold with a distance of 139-10.
“I am really, really happy,” said Jones, who was splitting her time between the javelin, which is held outside of the stadium, and the long jump, where she finished ninth (17-9.75). “To see all of my hard work pay off at a time like this and to put it all together was great. I was just loose and told myself that I was going to have fun.
“It was difficult to run from the javelin to the long jump legitimately. The officials were great and really kind in helping me get back and forth.
In the boys afternoon field events, Elk Lake’s Brody Crisman won a fourth-place medal in the Class 2A high jump. He cleared 6-4 with fewer misses than three other athletes, which included Dunmore’s Carter Sload.
Juniata’s Jasper Shepps won gold at 6-5.
“This is awesome,” Crisman said. “It started raining, but I am so happy for fourth place at the state meet. On my second jump at 6-2, I knew I was in a good spot. I was so happy.”
Sload finished in a tie for fifth with Bristol’s Kyleal Cottrell.
“It was tough with the weather, because with the rain, I couldn’t get the grip on my jump that I am used to,” Sload said. “It’s awesome that I was able to contribute to my team, and I am very happy to have won a state medal.”
Thomas started her long jump competition as the No. 1 seed with her District 2 record of 19-5. She marked 17-10 on her first attempt. She leaped into first place on her second jump of 18-5.75 and improved to an 18-7 on her third jump.
Then, a steady rain arrived.
In the final round, Thomas had a 17-11.5 on her fourth jump and landed her medal-winning distance of 18-11.75 on the fifth. She closed out her round with a distance of 18-8.25.
“I personally like the rain,” Thomas said. “I didn’t think it was that bad, actually. I just tried to keep my mind as clear as possible and to stay focused. I just gave it my all.”
In addition to her outstanding performance in the long jump, Thomas also posted the fastest qualifying time for the Class 2A 100-meter hurdles. She dominated her heat and clocked 14.43 seconds.
West Catholic’s Amarah Crabbe had the second-best time of 14.68. Lakeland’s Kaylyn Davis also reached the final with the seventh fastest time of 15.12.
“I was very nervous,” Thomas said. “I just focused on that race and took things one step at a time.”
Thomas also ran the fourth and final 100 meters in the 400-meter relay. She teamed with Karsyn Caines, Keri Michaels and Madison George to finish 16th in 50.75 seconds.
Girls qualifiers
Lakeland’s Kaylyn Davis and Bria Hill qualified for individual event finals.
In addition to joining Thomas in the final of the 100 hurdles, Davis also reached the final eight for the 300 hurdles. She finished second in her heat in 46.02, which was the sixth-fastest. Hughesville’s Kylie Temple had the fastest qualifying time of 44.02.
Hill was also second in her qualifying heat and had a time of 57.65. That was the sixth-fastest time. Seneca’s Brenna Kuhl had the fastest time in 56.45.
Boys qualifiers
Dunmore junior Weston Yannone had the second-best qualifying time for the Class 2A 110 hurdles.
He won his heat in 14.42. Corry Area senior Blake Cook qualified first at 14.21.
Yannone will also race in the final of the 300 hurdles. He won his heat in 39.28 and qualified fourth. Cook also had the top time of 37.57.
Western Wayne’s Robert Carrelle qualified in the 300 hurdles with the sixth-best time of 39.47.
Dunmore’s Jacob Costanzo, who entered the meet as the No. 1 seed, qualified for the final of the 400 by winning his heat in 49.47. That was the fourth-fastest time, with North Catholic’s Logan Schade winning his heat in 49.29.
Continue reading...
