PIAA track and field: Handful of York-Adams athletes one race closer to state titles
High school track and field season is in its last days.
The first day of the PIAA championships was held Friday at Shippensburg University, with medals being awarded in half of the field events and 1600 meters. Prelims were held in sprints, including 100/110 hurdles, and two relays.
Competition concludes Saturday with the rest of the field events, sprint and relay finals and 3200 meters.
Results are through the morning session. They will be updated after the afternoon session.
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Silver lining
Bermudian Springs junior Alison Watts had more time to prepare for the Class 2A long jump competition than she is used to.
She used it to her advantage.
Her coaches told her to shake off her short stay in the high jump competition and concentrate on the long jump. After clearing the first height of 4-8, she missed three attempts at 4-10.
Two hours later she was focused on the long jump. Her focus led to a personal-best 17-9.25 and a shiny PIAA silver medal.
"My coaches told me not to think about [the high jump], so I just focused on the long jump," Watts said. "I'm just happy to be hitting 17 feet again. I haven't hit that since ninth grade."
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She hit 17-5 to finish second at districts behind Susquenita's Samantha Wechsler. Watts said she didn't realize Wechsler jumped 17-3.50 to move into second place. It wasn't long before Watts landed her silver-medal leap to beat her personal best by .25 inch.
It's too early for Watts to do much celebrating. She might indulge in some wings for dinner to help her get ready for Saturday afternoon's triple jump competition.
Finals bound
The following YAIAA athletes will compete in Saturday finals:
Perry Addey: The West York senior made it one-two for the YAIAA in the 300 hurdle prelims. He ran 38.47 to finish .23 behind South Western's Bernard Bell.
Ella Bahn: The Spring Grove freshman shook off a false start that got her bumped from the 100 hurdles to finish with the second-fastest prelim time in the 300 hurdles. Her time of 43.42 trails only the 43.26 by Keturah Darwon of West Chester Rustin.
Bernard Bell: The South Western senior tied for the fastest prelim time in the Class 3A 110-meter hurdles at 14.33. He tied Pottsgrove sophomore Trevon Foster, who ran in the heat before him. ... Bell ran the fastest prelim time in the 300 hurdles, a 38.24 that was just ahead of West York's Perry Addey (38.47).
Laila Campbell: The Spring Grove junior is the two-time defending PIAA champ in the 100 and 200. She ran the fastest prelim time in the 100 at 11.63. Macaela Walker of Oxford Area was No. 2 at 11.90. ... Campbell was the only girl to break 24 seconds in the 200, pulling in the top prelim time at 23.78. McCaskey's Kamyah Wright was second in 24.42.
Ava Deming: The Fairfield senior ran a 59.05 to reach the Class 2A 400 meters as the seventh seed. Ka'Nai Bey-English of Mastery Charter North was the only runner to break 56 seconds in 55.39.
Ryleigh Marks: The Susquehannock senior had the fourth-fastest prelim time in the Class 3A 100-meter hurdles at 14.54. Damira Allen of Chester had the top time in 14.48.
Other local competitors
Perry Addey, West York: The senior finished 13th in the Class 3A 110 hurdles in 15.07 and didn't make the final.
Gemma Galligani, Dover: The senior missed out on the Class 3A 100 hurdle final by .30 second to finish ninth. ... She finished the 300 hurdle prelims in 47.26, off the pace to reach the final.
Kailey Granger, Dallastown: The senior finished 14th in the Class 3A 1600 in 4:57.71.
Kenny Johnson, Dallastown: The Pitt football commit ran a 22.34 in the Class 3A 200-meter prelims, but didn't make the final.
Fina Mochi, Delone Catholic: The senior made her first Class 2A high jump attempt at 4-8, but couldn't clear 4-10.
Ryder Noel, Delone Catholic: The senior ran the 16th fastest time in Class 2A 100-meter prelims in 11.24 and did not reach the final.
Jakob Rager, Dallastown: The senior finished 26th in the Class 3A 1600 meters in 4:25.54.
Maya Richwine, New Oxford: The senior finished 12th in the Class 3A 100 hurdles prelim at 15.30.
Victoria Rodriguez, Dallastown: The sophomore finished 17th in Class 3A 1600 meters in 5:00.09.
Luka Schroeter, Christian School of York: The District 3 Class 2A long jump champ finished 20th with a best jump of 19-9.5.
LaDainian Strausbaugh, Red Lion: The senior missed out on the Class 3A 100 meters final, taking 12th place in 10.84. ... He ran a 22.14 in the 200 prelims to finish 16th.
Alison Watts, Bermudian Springs: The District 3 Class 2A champ cleared 4-8, but missed on three attempts at at 4-10.
Nico Wright-Phillips, West York: The senior ran 21.94 in the 200-meter prelims to just miss out on reaching the final.