York, PA - The Daily Record/Sunday News presents the 2012 YAIAA Division C Boys' Track and Field All-Stars:
  
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
   Brandon Study, Littlestown, Sr.: It was quite a senior season for Study, a sprinter who was a study in speed. His best event at the YAIAA championships was the 200, where he placed second in 22.69. Study also ran in the 100, and he finished in 11.42, good for sixth place at the YAIAA meet.

Study qualified for districts in both events. He claimed the silver in the 100 with a time of 11.15. He added a bronze in the 200, clocking a 22.35. Both times were PRs.

Study focused on the 200 at states, and he ran a 22.88 in the preliminaries, but that was where his season and high school career came to an end.

  
ALL-STARS
   Ryan Markle, Bermudian Springs, Fr.: The freshman leaped 5 feet, 10 inches to take fifth place in the high jump at the league meet, and added a 14th-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 39-51/2. At districts, Markle placed sixth in the high jump, soaring to 6-0, and was 13th in the triple with a PR of 40-41/2. Markle hit 6-0 again at states, which was good for 12th.
   Danny Shannon, Bermudian Springs, Sr.: Shannon was a top-notch pole vaulter who reached 12-6 at districts and came in sixth. His PR of 13-0 came at the Arctic Blast Invitational in April.
   Mike Elicker, Bermudian Springs, Jr.: The hurdler placed third with a time of 15.36 in the 110 hurdles at the YAIAA meet, and set a PR of 43.78 in the 300 hurdles to place 16th. At districts, Elicker claimed the bronze with a PR of 14.86 in the 110 hurdles, and he followed that up with a 15.36 at states, but did not escape the preliminaries.
   Nick Braun, Delone Catholic, Jr.: The versatile Braun ran a 23.38 in the 200 to take sixth at the YAIAA meet, and also came in eighth in the long jump (19-6) and ninth in the high jump (5-8). At districts, Braun leaped to a PR of 20-7 1/4 in the long jump and took seventh. He also ran a 23.81 in the 200, good for eighth place, and set a season-best mark of 5-10 in the high jump, also placing eighth.
   Paul Nield, Delone Catholic, Sr.: The hurdler ran a 16.38 in the 110 hurdles at the YAIAA meet to place eighth and set a PR of 44.29 in the 300 hurdles (18th). At districts, Nield came in seventh with a time of 16.12 in the 110 hurdles and placed 15th in the 300 hurdles with a 44.36 time.
   Troy Hewitt, Fairfield, Sr.: Hewitt set a season best by throwing the discus 149-10 at the league meet, placing second, and then set a PR at districts with a toss of 152-4. Hewitt also set a PR in the javelin at districts with a throw of 136-7. Hewitt was 11th in the discus at states with a toss of 142-6.
   Zekiel Alejandrez, Littlestown, Jr.: Alejandrez picked a good time for his PR, running the 800 in 2:01.41 at the YAIAA championships, which placed him fifth. He came in eighth at districts in 2:02.29.
   Roger Hollenbaugh, Littlestown, Sr.: The pole vaulter set a season best of 14-0 to capture silver at districts. He then leaped 14-0 again at states to take fifth place.
   Jeremiah Gilbert, York County Tech, Sr.: Gilbert had a busy day at the league meet, and his best result was a PR of 20-4 3/4 in the long jump that led to a silver medal. Gilbert also came in fifth in the 110 hurdles in 15.77, and placed 10th with a PR of 40-0.5 in the triple jump. At districts, Gilbert leapt 19-6 in the long jump, placing 17th.
  
COACH OF THE YEAR
   Corey Bittle, Littlestown: This is the fifth year Bittle has been coaching the Bolts, and he is building quite an impressive resume. For the third straight season, Bittle led his boys' squad to the division title, and for the third consecutive time, they finished undefeated.

A promising season got off to a rough start when long distance runner extraordinaire Xavier Sauvageau was lost for the season because of a hip injury. Thanks to their depth and versatility, the Bolts kept a strong pace.

Of course, everything was easier thanks to the brilliance of senior sprinter Brandon Study. With Study starting strong out of the blocks, Littlestown was ready to roll.

The Bolts also were aided by senior strongman Dan Crowe and Cutter Steele, who excelled in the throwing events, along with a strong contingent of juniors.

Junior Zekiel Alejandrez excelled in the distance events, while classmates Roger Griffin fared well in the hurdles and Jordan Yealy found success in the 400. Sophomore Garrett Trout also showed promise, making the Bolts a legitimate threat for a potential four-peat next year.