Related: Dallastown's Allison comes close to state gold in the pole vault.

SHIPPENSBURG -- They ran side-by-side one more time, separated by five lanes and three years but only tenths of a second on the stopwatch.

For Central York's Megan Lundy, this was her final high school race, the capstone on a career filled with trips to the medal podium.

For Red Lion's Angelica Gonzalez, this was the culmination of a freshman season that showcased her seemingly limitless potential.

Certainly, both had arrived at this moment -- the Class AAA girls' 200 meter finals at the PIAA Track and Field Championships -- at different stops in their careers. But both showed the combination of speed and late-race kick that has made them two of the York-Adams area's top athletes all season.

This race finished with Gonzalez a stride or two ahead. She surged to second place in 24.99 seconds, a half-second behind Central Dauphin East's Deme'shia Davis. Lundy, meanwhile, grabbed fifth with a time of 25.25 seconds.

It was the second medal of the day for both. Earlier, Gonzalez had taken third in the 100 meters with a time of 12.12 seconds. Lundy placed seventh in the Class AAA 400 meters in 56.97.

Together, the pair accounted for four of the eight medals won by YAIAA athletes Saturday at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium.

"It's been super crazy," Gonzalez said of her first trip to states. "It's been the experience of the lifetime. I couldn't even hope for all this."

For Lundy, who will run for Shippensburg University next season, the two medals represented an improvement from last year. She placed in one event at states last season, earning sixth in the 400 meters.

"This year to come out and get two makes it even more special," Lundy said.

That the two would run their last races of the season together seemed fitting. Gonzalez and Lundy have competed often this year, first during the dual meet season, then at the YAIAA and District 3 meets.

Along the way, they've developed a friendship.

"It's great to have somebody to push you every time, but also who you can go up to after a race and hug," Lundy said.

"Whichever one wins," Gonzalez added, "we still congratulate each other."

Gonzalez got out to a slow start in the 200 on Saturday. She was in fourth heading into the final 50 meters, before unleashing what has become a trademark burst.

"I always save that little bit for the end," said Gonzalez, who was seeded second in the 200 and fifth in the 100 coming into the weekend.

In her 100 meter final, Gonzalez finished five hundredths of a second behind the winner, Coatesville's Kenya Woodall.

Lundy meanwhile, was thrilled just to be in the 200 final. She had grabbed the eighth-and-final qualifying spot for the race coming out of Saturday morning's semifinals.

The Panthers senior can relate to Gonzalez. Lundy also experienced success as a freshman, when she won a YAIAA championship in the 400 meters.

"It's a bigger stage that you get to perform," Lundy said. "But for her to be here as a freshman and have this experience, it will make her even better next year."

After the 200 was over, Lundy and Gonzalez sat together in the athlete waiting area before their medal ceremony. They laughed and sipped water from plastic cups as they tried to catch their breath. Later, the two were asked if they'd miss racing each other. They both laughed.

"Wait, aren't you going to (Shippensburg)?" Gonzalez asked. "So next year at states you'll be here?"

"Yeah," Lundy said. "I'll come hold your blocks."

* * *

Wolf moves up: New Oxford's Courtney Wolf produced the area's biggest surprise of the day when she placed seventh in the girls' Class AAA discus with a throw of 117-09.

Wolf had entered the event seeded 17th.

"I felt more relaxed today than I did at districts," Wolf said. "I just set my mind to it. I really wanted to end my last year really well."

Wolf's top throw, which she achieved on her second attempt, was also a new personal best.

Other notable girls' finishes: Red Lion's Amanda Young barely missed a medal in the girls' Class AAA pole vault. She cleared 11 feet, 6 inches to earn a tie for ninth place. ... New Oxford's Jamila Janneh took 12th in the AAA triple jump (36-2). ... Littlestown's Elizabeth Reese finished 15th in the AA 3,200 meters in a time of 11:50.90. ... Dallastown's Sally Trout finished fourth in her semifinal heat of the AAA 100 hurdles, but failed to qualify for the finals.

@johnsclayton; 771-2045