JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
Here’s another PIAA track and field championship preview box for your reading pleasure … you know, because you can never be too prepared for the final track and field meet of the season.
PIAA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
WHERE: Shippensburg University.
WHEN: Friday and Saturday, with events in boys and girls Triple-A and Double-A beginning at 9 a.m. both days.
TRIPLE-A GIRLS: Three local athletes earned a No. 4 seed here, including Lampeter-Strasburg’s Jenna Witmer in the discus (133-7), Penn Manor’s Jocelyn Witmer in the pole vault (District 3-record 12-3) and Warwick’s Alli Mannon in the 3,200-meter run (11:04.36). … Penn Manor’s Alie Girvin earned the No. 6 seed in the discus (130-7), and Garden Spot’s Angie Messner is the No. 8 seed in the high jump (5-3). Girvin and Messner both finished fourth in the state in their respective events last spring. … Jenna Witmer and Jocelyn Witmer are reigning District 3 champs. … Easton from District 11 is the defending team champ; McCaskey finished 13th last spring.
DOUBLE-A GIRLS: Just one local athlete earned a top-eight seed here — Elco’s Kayleigh Perry is fourth in the 1,600 (5:12.35). She took the silver in that event in the District 3 Meet. … Swenson Arts and Technical from District 12 is the defending team champ.
TRIPLE-A BOYS: Cedar Crest’s Tom Troxell is the No. 1 seed in the 800 (1:52.62). He’s the District 3 champ in that event. … Conestoga Valley’s Vince McNally, a Penn State recruit, is the No. 2 seed in the 1,600 (4:17.23). He’s the defending state champ in that event, and took the silver in the 1,600 in the District 3 Meet. … Three local athletes earned a No. 7 seed here — Lampeter-Strasburg’s Quinn Staley in the pole vault (14-6), Manheim Central’s Taylor Courtney in the 300 hurdles (39.04) and Cedar Crest’s Mark Manno in the discus (157-9). Staley is the reigning District 3 champ. … Cedar Crest also earned a pair of top-eight seeds in relay events — the Falcons are third in the 1,600 (3:20.09) and sixth in the 3,200 (7:54.98). McCaskey is seeded seventh in the 400 relay (42.92). … Erie McDowell from District 10 is the defending team champ.
DOUBLE-A BOYS: Annville-Cleona’s Andrew Batula is the No. 1 seed in the high jump (6-8). He’s the reigning District 3 champ, and won the silver in the PIAA Meet last year. … Columbia is eighth in the 1,600 relay (3:28.74). The Crimson Tide finished third in the state last spring in that event. … Carver Engineering and Sciences from District 12 is the defending team champ.
