Skip to main content

TRACK AND FIELD: Fox golden in district javelin


SHIPPENSBURG >> Adam Fox passed up the chance to compete for a Lancaster-Lebanon Lebanon League title last week to attend his Annville-Cleona High School prom.

Got a little grief for it, too.

Fox, though, apparently knew what he was doing. Because when it came time to compete again in his specialty event, the javelin, at Friday's District Three Track and Field Championships, the Little Dutchmen junior more than made up for any opportunities he let go by last week.

With a winning throw of 173 feet, seven inches, Fox captured the AA district javelin title on Friday at Shippensburg University, unseating defending champ Matt Reinhart of Berks Catholic while also sewing up a spot in next week's PIAA State Championships at Shippensburg.

Not everyone would have done it Adam Fox's way, but this just in: Adam Fox's way worked.

"It wasn't the plan originally," Fox said with a smile of the conflict that arose with the L-L meet and prom. "I did take a lot of grief for not throwing at leagues, but I feel like I did pretty well here at districts."

Fox, who later added a sixth-place medal in the shot put, fell well short of his personal best of 181-4 that had him seeded second heading into the event.

But his 173-7 on his first throw of the finals was more than the top-seeded Reinhart, who struck gold with a 185-4 last year, or third-place finisher Matt Hurda of Biglerville could match.

"I knew it was gonna be tough, I knew it was gonna be a battle to get up there," Fox said. "I didn't expect all these throws to be so low, but I finally got one out there and took it.

"I knew what I needed to do, and I wanted to get to states, any way possible."

So did the week off for prom help or hinder his performance on Friday?

"My back started to hurt a little," he said. "But I don't think it would have helped or hurt. I think it would have been the same outcome.

"I thought I would have had to go a lot higher (to win it) but I'm happy 173 did take it."

Fox's golden performance highlighted a busy day for Lebanon County competitors on the medal stand.

Joining Fox in the county limelight were pole vaulters Damian DiAngelis of Northern Lebanon and Jesse Brownstein and Eric Peiffer of Lebanon High.

DiAngelis cleared a personal best of 14 feet to grab third in the boys AAA pole vault, while Brownstein (4th, 13-6) and Peiffer (tied for 5th, 13-6) were close behind en route to assuring themselves of a berth in next week's PIAA state meet at Ship.

"It feels pretty good," said DiAngelis. "I had all my coaches here, my brother, all the people that have been motivating me. And I had the competition to push me. It all came together."

Indeed, with the clearance of the 14-foot barrier, which brought a smile to the eyes of DiAngelis, the reigning Lancaster-Lebanon League champ.

"I knew I had it in me, I just had to do it," he added. "Your heart's going so fast, you just kinda look up at in amazement. You know you made it now, and you can go higher."

Also reaching great heights again were Brownstein and Peiffer, who will give DiAngelis some friendly rivals with which to share the state meet experience.

"It's nice to be going with the local guys," DiAngelis said. "You know more people. We've gotten to know each other and we cheer each other on. It's nice."

Joining Fox and DiAngelis and company at states next week will be a trio of AAA girls — Cedar Crest's Shanna Sweigart and Palmyra's Miranda Salvo and Katy McClellan.

Sweigart was fourth in the shot put (39-1 1/2), Salvo fifth in the 3200 run (11:01.47) and McClellan sixth in the javelin (127-3).

Also earning medals from the county on Friday were Matt Vines of Northern Lebanon (6th, AAA boys discus), Chris Kelly of Cedar Crest (8th, boys AAA discus) Derek Bosworth of Annville-Cleona (7th, boys AA triple jump) Destinee Holloman of Cedar Crest (8th, girls AAA long jump) and Tori Malloy of Annville-Cleona (5th, girls AA long jump).

And advancing out of Friday's track trials to today's finals were Holloman (AAA girls 100 dash), and Annville-Cleona's Timeshah Clark (AA girls 100 dash) and Stanley Miller (AA boys 100 dash).

Annville-Cleona's Reagan Hess, the sophomore sprinting and jumping standout, did not compete on Friday after being forced to withdraw from all her events because of a hamstring injury suffered at last week's L-L meet.

The district meet resumes and wraps up today, with action beginning at 9 a.m.