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Faulkner, Chastulik match up against tough competition


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A pair of area throwers had high expectations after winning District 3 championships last week – but with the toughest competition in the state traveling to Shippensburg University for the 2017 PIAA track & field championships, District 3’s best settled for a lower spot on the podium – which is perfectly alright with them.

Friday morning Greencastle-Antrim’s Jenay Faulkner placed second in the 3A girls shot put behind Payden Montana of Berwick, who won with a throw of 47-3.0 – nearly five feet in front of the field.

Faulkner’s second-place throw (42-4.75) was her final toss of the day after floating around 40-feet through prelims.

“I knew I wasn’t going to get first because (Payden) is a freak of nature, but it feels really good to get second,” Faulkner said. “I knew I had it in me, I just needed to do it.”

Chambersburg’s Kelton Chastulik had arguably the biggest challenge of the day going up against nationally-ranked thrower Jordan Geist in the boys 3A shot put.

But a year after not making it to the PIAA championships – Chastulik climbed to third in the state.

After improving my more than a foot on each of his final throws, Chastulik put up with a throw of 59-4 on his last attempt.

“It’s kind of funny because looking back on it I never would have considered going so far, I just thought track was going to be a one-year sport,” Chastulik said. “From not even being here last year to being up there I’m very happy. It’s been a long ride but I’ve had great coaches who have pushed me to my limits and I think those coaches changed my life.”

Geist, who was throwing nearly 10 feet further than the field, tossed a mark of 71-4.5 on his first throw of finals, but fouled on his final two attempts – including one that surpassed the 75-foot mark.

OTHER RESULTS: While Faulkner and Chastulik were F-F’s only medal winners on Day 1, four area athletes made it to event finals on Saturday.

Greencastle’s Taryn Parks will compete as the No. 3 seed heading into Saurday’s 3A girls 1600 final with a time of 4:59.31.

McConnellsburg’s Josh Booth (boys 2A 300 hurdles) and McKenzie Gelvin (girls 2A 800) each advanced to the finals of their respective events as the top seeds. Booth had a qualifying time Friday of 39.58, while Gelvin won her heat in 2:17.96.

Southern Fulton’s Chase Varner snuck into one of the last qualifying spots in the 2A boys 800 with a time of 2:01:53 to make it to the finals on Saturday.