TRACK & FIELD: Local athletes combine for 6 gold medals at Jack Roddick Invitational
SHIPPENSBURG >> With near-perfect conditions, local athletes went into the 89th annual Jack Roddick High School Track & Field Invitational on Saturday with high expectations.
Many of those expectations were met, and four different athletes took the top prize at Shippensburg University.
Mercersburg Academy's Tatiana Purnell won the Class AA 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, and Fannett-Metal's Tom Peppernick won the discus and shot put in Class AA. Chambersburg's Kelton Chastulik took the top spot in the Class AAA discus, and Gabriel Allgayer of Mercersburg won gold in the Class AA 2000 steeplechase with a time of 6:56.42.
The highlight of Purnell's day came in the 300 hurdles. She dominated the event, taking gold with a time of 44.65. It was nearly three seconds faster than second place, and it also broke the invitational record, which was previously 45.56.
"I'm so happy right now," Purnell said, "I didn't even know there was a record to be broken. I felt like I was doing bad because my form was off a bit, but I knew I was running hard. I wasn't expecting it at all."
She also cruised to a win in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.67 and took third in the 200 with a time of 26.59.
Purnell said, "The 100 hurdles isn't my best event, but it felt nice to get out there and get a win. But then to come back and get a win like the 300. Oh my gosh. I was so nervous in the beginning, but now I couldn't be more excited."
Peppernick came in as the top seed in both the shot put and discus, and he delivered in both. He opened the day in the discus and finished with a distance of 159-03, more than 11 feet farther than second place. He came back in the afternoon and sent the shot put 45-7.25 to come away with his second win of the day.
"It felt great," Peppernick said. "I came here the last couple days and spent hours working on my throws, so I was prepared. I just have to keep training like I'm in second place, because there's always somebody out there trying to get past me."
Chastulik went into the invitational as the second seed in the discus, but his first throw immediately put him at the top. He hurled the discus 155-07 on his first throw for a new PR and gold medal for Chambersburg.
"I always get very nervous before my throws, so my main goal today was to stay focused and calm," Chastulik said. "I knew I had a good throw my first time, but I went right back to my coaches and tried to find a way to make it better."
Fellow Trojan Nate Long came an inch shy of getting a gold medal of his own. He set a new PR in the javelin with a toss of 182-01, but West Allegheny's Skyler Mason hit 182-02 to edge out Long. Long and Chastulik, who also got eighth in the shot put, combined to score 19 of the team's 30.5 points, and the Trojans finished fourth as a team in Class AAA.
"I'm pretty sure he beat me with his last throw, so I knew going into my last throw that I had to do better," Long said. "I had my best throw my first time, but I kept crumbling at the line and couldn't get another good throw."
Last year's PIAA bronze medalist in the 400, Peter Hughey of James Buchanan also had a strong day. He set a season best in the AAA 400 with a time of 48.91, but Charles Bowman Jr. of Central Dauphin East narrowly edged him out with a time of 48.67. Hughey also picked up a medal in the 100, finishing eighth.
"I didn't get into the 48s until states last year, so I'm happy with today's time," said a panting Hughey. "I think I have to work on some cardio maybe."
McConnellsburg's McKenzie Gelvin was also a runner-up in the Class AA 400. She went into the day as the No. 4 seed, but set a new personal best and ran a 59.72. Isiuwa Oghagbon of Mercersburg Academy also finished second in the Class AA shot put with a throw of 34-0.25.
"The conditions were great, and I think the competition really pushed me," Gelvin said. "I was just trying to keep up with (winner Nicole Leonzo) and stay fast."
Chambersburg had another pair of medalists who set personal bests. Sammi Lowery finished sixth in the pole vault, clearing 11-3, which topped her own previous school record of 11-0. Freshman Abby Yourkavitch also had a strong day in the 1600, setting a personal best and taking fifth with a time of 5:12.06. Reagan Winebrenner medaled in the shot put for the Trojans, finishing eighth with a throw of 34-2.
"I was hoping to get into the top five, so I did accomplish my goal today," Yourkavitch said. "But I thought I could have done more. I wasn't expecting it to be this hot, so I think I played it a little safe. I feel like I could have been faster."
Shippensburg's Zach Greenawalt medaled in the Class AAA boys pole vault, clearing 12-9 for eighth place, and fellow Greyhound Jordan Turner also finished eighth in the 300 hurdles with a time of 42 seconds. In the Class AAA high jump, Kendall Keepler of Chambersburg took fifth, and David Boarts of Ship tied for seventh.
In Class AA boys, Josh Booth of McConnellsburg picked up a pair of medals – sixth in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 300 hurdles – and Tyrelle White finished third in the discus and fifth in the shot put. Fellow Spartan Connor Johnson took third in the shot put, and Chance Hawbaker was sixth in the high jump to help the Spartan boys finish 11th in the team standings.
In Class AA girls, the Blue Storm had another three medalists. Finley Stewart finished fifth in the 100, Georgia Dunphy seventh in the 400 and Danessa Martin was eighth in the 3200. Mercersburg finished fourth as a team.
Jack Roddick Invitational
At Shippensburg University
Team Results
Class AAA Boys
1.State College 66.50, 2.Carlisle 62, 3.CD East 59, 4.Chambersburg 30.50, 5.Williamsport 29, 29.James Buchanan 9, 41.Shippensburg 3.
Class AA Boys
1.Camp Hill 97, 2.Bedford 52, 3.Northwest Area 49, 4.Trinity 48, 5.Chestnut Ridge 41.5, 11.McConnellsburg 27, 12.Mercersburg Academy 26, 14.Fannett-Metal 20.
Class AAA Girls
1.Susquehanna Twp. 88, 2.State College 66, 3.Cumberland Valley 47, 4.Carlisle 44, 5.Cedar Cliff 33.50, 30.Chambersburg 8.
Class AA Girls
1.Christopher Dock 112, 2.Boiling Springs 64, 3.Saint Basil Academy 55, 4.Mercersburg 49, 5.Trinity 44. 11.McConnellsburg 22.
Individual results
CLASS AAA BOYS
4x800 relay — 1.SC (Anthony Degleris, Eric Heatwole, Joey Feffer, Nick Feffer) 8:04.57; 110 hurdles — 1.Charles Bowman (CDE) 14.67, 15.Noah Shatzer (Chbg) 16.70; 100 — 1.Abdul Junaid (West York) 11.10, 8.Peter Hughey (JB) 11.39; 1,600 — 1.Matt Kravitz (North Pocono) 4:18.84; 4x100 relay — 1.SC (Tristan Daman, Max Herbst, Noah Woods, Kellin Valentine) 42.66; 400 — 1.Bowman (CDE) 48.70, 2.Peter Hughey (JB) 48.91; 300 hurdles — 1.Larell Anderson (William Penn) 40.35, 8.Jordan Turner (Ship) 42.00; 800 — 1.Ethan Gatchell (Red Lion) 1:55.45, 14.Tanner Amsley (Chbg) 2:01.73; 200 — 1.Chris Craig (CV) 22.32, 9.Hughey (JB) 23.10; 3,200 —1.Colin Abert (Easton) 9:17.75; 2000 steeplechase — 1.Brian Delany (Manheim Twp) 6:20.40; 4x400 relay — 1.CDE (Amin Amin, Dayne Fields, Luke Everidge, Quintin Smith) 3:20.88, 12.Chbg (Alex Aquino-Flores, Tanner Amsley, Caleb Thompson, Ali Brown) 3:33.84; Shot put — 1.Tyler Hoag (Manheim Central) 50-11, 8.Kelton Chastulik (Chbg) 45-07; Discus — 1.Kelton Chastulik (Chbg) 155-07; Triple jump — 1.Deshawn Millington (Car) 47-6.25; Long jump — 1.Terrance Massey-Porter (Williamsport) 22-1.5; High jump — 1.Qayyim Ali (Wil) 6-06, 5.Kendall Keepler (Chbg) 5-10, 7.(tie) David Boarts (Ship) 5-10; Pole vault — 1.Ryan Wilkes (Valley View) 15-9, 8.Zach Greenawalt (Ship) 12-9, 11.Evan Vink (Chbg) 12-3; Javelin — 1.Skyler Mason (W.Allegheny) 182-2, 2.Nate Long (Chbg) 182-1.
CLASS AA BOYS
4x800 relay — 1.Trin (Gerald Hempt, Matt Geisler, David Rapp, Matt Gross) 8:13.53, 8.McConn (Nate Peters, Nery Diffenderfer, Shawn Garlock, Patrick Keefer) 9:15.04; 110 hurdles — 1.Taylor Burger (Nw) 14.97, 6.Josh Booth (McC) 16.95, 13.Logan Taylor (McC) 18.65; 100 — 1.Jahvel Hemphill (Bloomsburg) 10.97; 1,600 — 1.Dominic Hockenbury (Lake Lehman) 4:20.21, 15.Steven Glodek (FM) 4:57.30; 4x100 relay — 1.Trin (Ethan Hornick, Tim Azizkhan, Drew DeBastianik, Brendon Latimore) 44.15; 400 — 1.Andrew Snyder (CH) 49.70, 7.Alex Jackson (MA) 53.49, 14.Garlock (McC) 57.99; 300 hurdles — 1.Tyler Burger (Nw) 39.57, 5.Booth (McC) 42.55, 10. Zac Deshong (McC) 44.69, 13.Craig Falcone (FM) 47.50; 800 — 1.Matt Gross (Trin) 1:57.65, 13.Keefer (McC)2:09.32; 200 — 1.Andrew Snyder (CH) 22.21; 3,200 — 1.Griffin Mackey (Sewickley Acad) 9:28.49; 2000 steeplechase — Gabriel Allgayer (MA) 6:56.42, 5.Alex Jackson (MA) 7:58.97; 4x400 relay — 1.CH (Alex Gallaher, Zack Kuntz, Cooper Leslie, Andrew Snyder) 3:30.59; Shot put — 1.Tom Peppernick (FM) 45-7.25, 3.Connor Johnson (McC) 43-9.25, 5.Tyrelle White (McC) 42-1; Discus — 1.Peppernick (FM) 159-03, 3.White (McC) 135-03, 7.Johnson (McC) 122-0; Triple jump — 1.Malachi Clark (Harrisburg Christian) 43-6.50; Long jump — 1.Austin Kratz (CD) 20-5.5; High jump — 1.Ryan Myher (Portage) 6-0, 3.Carlos Austin (MA) 5-8, 6.(tie) Chance Hawbaker (McC) 5-6; Pole vault — 1.Danny Stoner (Biglerville) 13-9; Javelin — 1.Michael Biddle (Williamsburg) 200-06, 5.Danny Shapira (MA) 154-11.
CLASS AAA GIRLS
4x800 relay — 1.Ephrata (Megan Mahlandt, Sydney Morgan, Taylor Mahlandt, Haley Schaller) 9:36.53; 100 hurdles — 1.Mahendra McWhite (Dieruff) 14.22.; 100 — 1.Lynne Mooradian (South Western) 12.39; 1,600 — 1.Mady Clahane (CV) 5:00.30, 5.Abby Yourkavitch (Chbg) 5:12.06, 10.Kaylee Mowery (Chbg) 5:17.97; 4x100 relay — 1.ST (Katy Alberici, Yasmin Brooks, Alysha Evans, Chrstina Johnson) 47.27; 400 — 1.Megan Mansfield (Mechanicsburg) 56.83, 9.Miana Harrison (Chbg) 1:00.36; 300 hurdles — 1.McWhite (Dieruff) 44.; 800 — 1.Clahane (CV) 2:18.06, 11.Yourkavitch (Chbg) 2:26; 200 — 1.Johnson (Susquehanna) 25.39, 15.Kiki Hodge-Shindledecker (Way) 26.88; 3,200 — 1.Ally Rome (Dallas) 10:58.46; 2000 Steeplechase — Cailtin Salomon (Kennard-Dale); 4x400 relay — 1.Dallastown (Shiane Daugherty, Haven Evans, Taylor Forrester, Amari Johnson) 4:04.03, 9.Chbg (Cirsten Kelly, Madison Swain, Racheal Berman, Harrison) 4:12.42; Shot put — 1.Emily Stauffer (Cocalico) 45-7.75, 8.Reagan Winebrenner (Chbg) 34-2.; Discus — 1.Emily Johns (LL) 128-02; Triple jump — 1.Veronika Karpenko (SC) 38-11.25; Long jump — 1.Karpenko (SC) 18-11.5; High jump — 1.Katie Kravitsky (Dallas) 5-4, 9.(tie) Jenna Carbaugh (JB) 4-10, 14.Lindsey Henke (Way) 4-8; Pole vault — 1.Erin Winters (Lebanon) 11-9, 6.Sammi Lowery (Chbg) 11-3; Javelin — 1.Steph Sievers (Daniel Boone) 139-04.
CLASS AA GIRLS
4x800 relay — 1.CH (Allison Einig, Ali Herr, Emma Raich, Samantha Smeal) 10:09, 8.McC (Michaela Kendall, Morghan Taylor, Breanna Worthing, Kellyn Perry) 11:01.20; 100 hurdles — 1.Tatiana Purnell (MA) 15.67; 100 — 1.Reagan Hess (Annville-Cleona) 12.62, 5.Finley Stewart (MA) 12.96, 11.McKenzie Gelvin (McC) 13.71; 1,600 — 1.Maddison Landis (CD) 5:08.65, 9.Molly Taylor (MA) 5:42.21, 14.Kendall (McC) 5:52.21; 4x100 relay — 1.CD (Emily Custer, Haley Anderson, Niki Clements, Bailey Kratz) 51.16; 400 — 1.Nicole Leonzo (HC) 59.62, 2.Gelvin (McC) 59.72, 7.Georgia Dunphy (MA) 1:03.76; 300 hurdles — 1.Purnell (MA) 44.65; 800 — 1.Shannon Quinn (Trin) 2:13.51; 200 — 1.Leonzo (HC) 25.80, 3.Purnell (MA) 26.59, 4.Stewart (MA) 26.89; 3,200 — 1.Jordan Haberstroh (Columbia) 11:40.95, 8.Danessa Martin (MA) 13:01.76; 4x400 relay — 1.Trin (Shannon Quinn, Hannah Schuchart, Clair Mackin, Emily D'Amico) 4:10.72, 6.McC (Worthing, Kendall, McKenzi Garlock, Gelvin); Shot put — 1.Sheila Plunkett (SBA) 35-10.5, 2. Isiuwa Oghagbon (MA) 35-0.25, 5.Sam Roberts (McC) 31-3, 15.Veronica Stone (McC) 28-7.; Discus — 1.Sheila Plunkett (SBA) 113-10, 6.Roberts (McC) 91-05, 8.Stone (McC) 90-0, 9.Lizzie Peppernick (FM) 87-05; Triple jump — 1.Abby Martin (Boil) 36-10.25; Long jump — 1.Hess (A-C) 18-3; High jump — 1.Shannon Donnelly (Boil) 5-02; Pole vault — 1.Megan Silva (Trin) 10-9; Javelin — 1.Jadyn Tiracave (Penn Cambria) 135-00, 9.Roberts (McC) 99-11, 13.Stone (McC) 86.