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F-F athletes bring home 8 PIAA medals


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Franklin and Fulton counties put on a show at the 2017 PIAA Track & Field Championships, bringing home eight medals, including two golds and two silvers. 

Greencastle-Antrim's Taryn Parks and McConnellsburg's Josh Booth each won PIAA championships and can potentially defend their crown next year. 

The area's other medalists include five seniors who made their final PIAA championship meet count. 

Chambersburg's Kelton Castulik became the school's first double-PIAA medalist in the throws with a third-place finish in the boys 3A shot put and eighth place in the boys discus thanks to a throw of 167-10. 

READ: Parks wins 1600 state title to cap off stellar freshman year

MORE: Josh Booth wins PIAA gold, expects nothing less in 2018

McConnellsburg's McKenzie Gelvin settled for second after getting outkicked in the final 100 meters of the girls 2A 800 in 13.25 for a new PR and school record. 

Maggie Linton of Delco Christian challenged Gelvin on the final stretch and passed her with about 50 meters to go.

"Most of the year I've been able to go out fast the first lap, which kind of kills other people off, but it didn't work against her," Gelvin said. "I thought I had it in the last 200 but she came up on me and I just didn't have anything left."

Southern Fulton's Chase Varner almost didn't make it to the finals of the boys Class 2A 800, but stepped onto the medal stand with a seventh-place finish, PR and school record for his first PIAA medal. 

"To be the 12th seed in a 12-man race, I was a little bit of an underdog," Varner said, "and the fact that these people were going to look at me and expect me to come in last was motivation to come in and beat these guys."

Greencastle's Jenay Faulkner claimed second in the girls 3A shot put, while Campbell Parker, also of Greencastle, place fourth in the boys discus. 

After fouling on all three marks on Friday in the boys shot put, Parker had to get back into the right mindset for his final chance at a PIAA medal. 

"It's all mentality," Parker said. "I fouled all my throws in the shot last year at states and then I had a bad day in discus and that crushed me. But this year realizing what is in the past is in the past gave me a better mentality. I got a good night sleep and all that good stuff helped me refocus and get it done."

Parker threw for 179-3 on his first throw of the trails, which was good enough for a fourth-place finish.