Greencastle-Antrim's Campbell Parker commits to Penn

After his friend and rival Kelton Chastulik committed to an Ivy League school for track & field, it was only a matter of time before Greencastle's Campbell Parker announced his plan to join to the Ivy League.

Last week, Parker committed to compete for the University of Pennsylvania track & field team, on both the indoor and outdoor squads.

“We are very excited and proud of Campbell’s decision to continue his education and track career at Penn," G-A coach Devin McCauley said. "This is a great honor and he is deserving of the opportunity. He has worked extremely hard to establish his level of ability and has shown great leadership within our program.”

Parker began getting interest from throwing coach Jeff Pflaumbaum last year while Pflaumbaum was a coach at Lehigh University - and he continued to show interest in Parker after taking the head throws coach position at Penn in August.

"With it being his first year, he wants to build a really good throws crew," Parker said. "So he's recruited me and a couple other kids who are very similar in talent, academics and personality, with hopes that we can be training partners throughout four years and build off our strengths and weaknesses."

And the plan seems to working already. Parker said even on his short visit to campus, he could tell he would get along with the rest of the team.

"If anything the people made the visit for me," Parker said. "Philly is cool and all, but it's a lot different from here, so I'll have to get used to it, but it's definitely a place where I would fit in."

While Parker's clearly favorites the discus, he is "in the middle of the pack" in his two top high school events, and hopes to transition to the hammer throw at Penn.

"My private throwing coach does it, so I have some experience already," Parker said. "But I will still definitely work on my discus throw and shot."

And when it comes to his "lighthearted rival" in Chastulik, Parker looks forward to throwing against him on many occasions.

"I can't wait to continue the tradition," Parker said. "And I look forward to seeing some other familiar faces around the Mid Penn."

Parker competed at the New Balance Outdoor National Championships last year for the shot put and discus, and holds Greencastle school and stadium records in both of the events. He placed third in the discus and fifth in the shot put at the District 3 Championships to earn a spot in the PIAA meet.

He threw a personal record in both of his events during the Mid Penn Conference championships last year, hurling the discus 177-8, and throwing the shot 52-7.75.

In his final season at Greencastle, Parker hopes to medal at nationals.