Altoona Area High School junior Nikki Kerns was taking an Advanced Placement European History test Friday afternoon, and there was some concern about whether she would finish in time to make it over to Mansion Park in time to participate in one of her three individual events in the West Central Coaches Invitational Track and Field Meet.
Kerns not only finished the test in time, but wound up schooling her competition in the Class AAA field in the process.
Kerns won the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.06, the high jump with an effort of 5-4, and the 300 hurdles in a time of 45.92 - becoming the event's only girls' triple-winner in the Class AAA and Class AA events combined.
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Nikki Kerns
Kerns' accomplishments led Altoona to second-place team finish in the Class AAA standings behind State College.
"We fully expected her to do well today, because she was seeded right near the top in all three events, but she was taking an AP test in the early afternoon, and I was concerned about her making it here in time for the 100-meter hurdles trials,'' Rhodes said. "But she made it here on time, she was strong in every event, and in the 300 hurdles, she had her best race of the season.''
Kerns appreciated Saturday's seasonable, sunny but somewhat brisk weather.
"It was nice today,'' she said. "It wasn't too hot, it wasn't too cold, the weather seemed to cooperate. The weather is definitely a factor. You can't do anything if it's disgusting outside.''
Kerns finished the 300 particularly strong.
"In the 300, I didn't feel tired on the back stretch,'' she said. "I felt like I could kick it in, and I didn't feel like I was dying.''
She also finished the 100 hurdles strong after a slow start.
"In the 100 hurdles, I just kept pushing through,'' she said. "I had a terrible start. I fell out of the [starting] block, but I just kept going.''
The West Central Coaches Invitational, which brings in track programs from all across the state, is good preparation for the upcoming District 6-AAA and PIAA, Class AAA state tournaments.
"It's a big meet, and it's a good meet to get your times down,'' she said. "You can build confidence in a meet like this, which is always good.''
Kerns was joined as an individual champion by Altoona teammate Kelly Davis, who won the Class AAA 100 dash in 12.42.
In Class AA, Philipsburg-Osceola senior Allison Patrick won the long jump in 16-9, and the 400 dash in 60.92. Bedford's Brittany Kidd was a champion in the pole vault with a 10-9, Penn Cambria's Jess Delic won the javelin with a 132-4, Northern Cambria's Ashley Kirsch captured the triple jump in 35-3, and Northern Bedford's Maria Snyder won the 3200 run in 11:04.23.
Two Northern Bedford relay teams also won first places. The 1600 relay team of Alyssa Smith, Katie Reighard, Esther Wind, and Leah Hershberger won its race in 4:12.98, while the 3200 relay team of Hershberger, Snyder, Smith and Wind won in 9:54.20.
Altoona's Davis was quick at the start to win the 100 dash.
"I knew I had some tough competition,'' said Davis, who was seeded second to South Western's McKenzie Wall. "But I had an excellent block start.''
In Class AA, P-O's Patrick won the long jump in 16-9 and 400 dash in 60.92.
"Place-wise, I think I did well, but I didn't like my time or distance,'' Patrick said. "I want to break a minute in the 400. That was my goal coming into the season.''
Delic heaved the javelin 132-4.
"That was the second-best throw I've had all year,'' she said. "It gives me a good start heading into the Laurel Highlands Conference meet and the District 6-AA meet.''
Bedford's Kidd was a state qualifier last year in the pole vault, and won that Class AA girls event Friday with a distance of 10-9.
"The weather was definitely much better today than it has been this season, and I always do better at invitationals,'' Kidd said.
Northern Cambria's Kirsch achieved her goal of a 35-foot effort in the triple jump.
"I never got that before, and that was my goal for today,'' she said. "I worked on my form, videotaped it, and tried to perfect everything so I could get my jump.''
Northern Bedford took home two gold medals in relay events, and also boasted a 3200-meter run champion in Snyder, a sophomore.
"She is phenomenal,'' Northern Bedford assistant coach Danyel Brallier said of Snyder. "She impresses us every week, and she works hard. She's a great competitor, no matter what the weather is.''
Girls AA
Key, team scoring: 1, SC-State College, 171; 2, AA-Altoona, 82.5; 3, DB-DuBois, 68.5; 4, BD-Bradford, 57.5; 5, CM-Central Mountain, 44; 6, IV-Indian Valley, 42; 7, SW-South Western, 41.5; 8, JT-Johnstown, 41; 9, HB-Hollidaysburg, 36; 10, PX-Punxsutawney, 26.5; 11, IA-Indiana, 25; 12, RL-Red Lion, 22.5; 13, LT-Lewistown, 21; 14, SA-Somerset, 12; 15, BF-Bellefonte, 7; 16, CF-Clearfield, 2.
100 dash: 1, Davis, AA, 12.42; 2, Wall, SW, 12.55; 3, Bonness, SC, 12.87; 4, Sciremammano, DB, 13.02; 5, Smothers, JT, 13.10; 6, Henry, JT, 13.27; 7, Langley, DB, 13.28; 8, Coleman, SW, 13.37.
200 dash: 1, Wall, SW, 26.22; 2, Toretti, SC, 26.55; 3, Davis, AA, 26.50; 4, Toner, CM, 26.59; 5, Bonness, SC, 26.81; 6, Ball, DB, 27.46; 7, Smothers, JT, 27.53 .
400 dash: 1, Gardner, BF, 62.53; 2, McGarvey, PX, 63.57; 3, Guilyad, DB, 65.37; 4, Veney, IA, 66.24; 5, Purnell, Sw, 67.08; 6, Port, AA, 66.17; 7, Lindrose, JT, 68.19; 8, Turner, CF, 68.24 .
800 run: 1, Schmidt, SC, 2:15.02; 2, Long, IV, 2:21.27; 3, McNaughton, SC, 2:23.01; 4, Preston, HB, 2:24.91; 5, Becker, LT, 2:28.24; 6, Sheffo, DB, 2:28.25; 7, Ebersole, AA, 2:30.09; 8, Gardner, BD, 2:30.39.
1600 run: 1, Sheffo, DB, 5:13.07; 2, Adams, SC,5:14.86; 3, Strohecker, IV, 5:19.06; 4, Pheasant, HB, 5:25.02; 5, Grubb, SC, 5:26.37; 6, Bujdos, IA, 5:28.62; 7, Lidwell, AA, 5:28.67; 8, Ryan, CF, 5:38.76.
3200 run: 1, Schall, PX, 11:39.48; 2, Cousins, SC, 11;42.10; 3, Bujdos, IA, 11:47.24; 4, Balogh, SC, 11:50.37; 5, King, IV, 12:02.74; 6, Wiseman, BD, 12:19.90; 7, Byerly, PX, 12:22.74; 8, Race, BD, 12:35.84.
100 low hurdles: 1, Kerns, AA, 16.06; 2, Love, SC, 16.94. 3, Barshinger, RL, 17.14; 4, Fry, SC, 17.52; 5, Luciano, AA, 17.85; 6, Shaffer, DB, 18.80; 7, Turner, BF, 21.99; 8, Sciremammano, DB, DNF .
300 intermediate hurdles: 1, Kerns, AA, 45.92; 2, Marshall, BD, 47.52; 3, Bland, SC, 48.24; 4, Lake, IV, 48.73; 5, Rinfrette, BD, 49.08; 6, Luciano, AA, 49.29; 7, Fry, SC, 49.83; 8, Muir, HB, 50.61.
400 relay: 1, State College, 50.04; 2, Greater Johnstown, 50.85; 3, South Western, 51.00; 4, DuBois, 51.99; 5, Red Lion, 52.57; 6, Central Mountain, 53.00; 7, Bellefonte, 53.50; 7, Indian Valley 53.52.
1600 relay: 1, State College, 4:07.28; 2, Indian Valley, 4:09.54; 3, Altoona, 4:13.74; 4, Bradford, 4:12.98; 5, Hollidaysburg, 4:17.97; 6, DuBois, 4:19.42; 7, Central Mountain, 4:20.16; 8, Puxsutawney, 4:45.26
3200 relay: 1, State College, 9:32.51; 2, Indian Valley, 9:46.96; 3, Hollidaysburg, 9:53.; 4, Red Lion, 10:28.68; 5, Altoona, 10:31.48; Bradford, 10:32.75; Punxsutawney, 10:33.39; 8, Central Mountain, 11:17.12.
High jump: 1, Kerns, AA, 5-04; 2, Hryn, DB, 5-03; 3, Rosenberger, IA, 5-00; 5, Snyder, LT, 5-00; 5, Truiett, RL, 5-00; 7, Bishop, IV, 4-10; 8, Weston, AA, 4-10; 8, Shiock, PX, 4-10.
Long jump: 1, Wyatt, JT, 17-01.50; 2, Toner, CM 17-01.25; 3, Davis, AA, 16-06; 4, Daniels, SC, 16-04.50; 5, Coyle, ST, 16-02; 6, Carrow, BD, 15-10; 7, Asadi, CM, 15-09; 8, Marchione, SC, 15-07.50.
Triple jump: 1, Daniels, SC, 36-03; 2, Wyatt, JT, 36-02.5; 3, Coyle, SA, 35-02.50; 4, Marchione, SC, 35-02.25; 5, Toner, CM, 34-07; 6, Alexander, AA, 34-03; 7, Gross, DB, 33-09; 8, Sciremammno, DB, 33-04.75.
Shot put: 1,Denapoli, DB, 36-09; 2, Kenney, SC, 35-01; 3, Smith, JT, 35-00; 4, Weaver, SW, 33-10; 5, Gladman, LT, 33-10; 6, Frisini, BD,33-04; 7, Martz, P, 33-00; 8, Sikorkas, CM, 33-04.
Discus: 1, Frisina, BD, 111-11; 2, Lambing, IA, 110-11; 3, Wilt, AA, 108-09; 4, Sikorksis, CM, 106-03; 5, McConnell, HB, 102-09; 6, Allison, SC, 101-01; 7, Sikorskas, CM, 100-00; 8, Arey, SW, 95-00.
Javelin: 1, Kenney, SC, 151-06 (New Meet Record); 2, Sikorkas, CM, 111-06; 3, Martz, PX, 111-04; 4, Marshall, BF, 109-09; 5, Lauver, LT, 106-03; 6, Heckman, BF, 104-00; 7, Shaffer, SA, 103-07; 8, Thompson, CF, 101-10.
Pole vault: 1, Arey, SW, 11-00; 2, Pollick, SC, 9-06; 3, Teribery, BD, 9-06; 4, Love, SC, 9-00; 5, Young, RL, 8-06; 6, Williams, HB, 8-6; 7, Anthony, IA, 8-06; 8, Copella, BD, 8-06; 8, Kappes, SW, 8-06
Girls AA
Key, team scoring: 1, EC-Elk County Catholic, 88; 2, FH-Forest Hills, 60.5; 3, CC-Central Cambria, 54; 4, NB-Northern Bedford, 50; 5, PV-Penns Valley, 45.5; 6, PO-Philipsburg-Osceola, 43; 7, BD-Bedford, 41; 8, HD-Huntingdon, 36; 9, J-Juniata, 32; 10, K-Kane, 31.5; 11, WH-Westmont Hilltop, 22; 12 (tie), SM-St. Marys and SH-Southern Huntingdon, 19; 14, NC-Northern Cambria, 18; 15 (tie), ET-Everett, JB-Johnsonburg and U-United, 16; 18, PC-Penn Cambria, 14; 19, HC-Homer-Center, 16; 20, CR-Chestnut Ridge, 10; 21, MD-Meyersdale, 9.5; 22, BM-Bishop McCort, 9; 23 (tie), BB-Berlin Brothersvalley, BG-Bishop Guilfoyle and TM-Tussey Mountain, 8; 26, WD-Windber, 7; 27, BA-Bellwood-Antis, 5; 28, CH-Cambria Heights, 4; 29, PL-Purchase Line, 1.
100 dash: 1, Darr, PV, 13.05; 2, Gould, FH, 13.20; 3, Ritzman, J, 13.25; 4, Witter, PV, 13.28; 5, Waugerman, BD, 13.29; 6, Salter, WH, 13.35; 7, Davis, WH, 13.39; 8, Fowler, JB, 13.42.
200 dash: 1, Darr, PV, 26.58; 2, Patrick, PO, 27.00; 3, Davis, WH, 27.50; 4, Waugerman, BD, 27.57; 5, Isett, HD, 27.65; 6, Bard, FH, 27.94; 7, Seese, CR, 28.01; 8, Hershberger, NB, 28.04.
400 dash: 1, Patrick, PO, 60.92; 2, Gallaher, FH, 62.47; 3, King Brothers, CC, 62.16; 4, Ritzman, J, 62.42; 5, Coffman, TM, 62.47; 6, Barton, ET, 62.67; 7, Granlun, SH, 62.89; 8, Baker, BD, 63.28.
800 run: : 1, Weisner, EC, 2:17.59; 2, Stump, CC, 2:21.84; 3, Wind, NB, 2:22.49; 4, Bridges, SM, 2:26.24; 5, Trulick, BB, 2:27.96; 6, Stapleton, BA, 2:28.64; 7, Coffman, TM 2:29. 17; 8, Rajter, WH, 2:30.40..
1600 run: 1, Weisner, EC, 5:03.42; 2, Snyder, NB, 5:09.01; 3, Gennocro, SM , 5:18.97; 4, Wirfel, FH, 5:20.74; 5, Zanella, ET, 5:22.48; 6, Spisak, BM, 5:35.20; 7, Fether, U, 5:36.06; 8, Feathers, WD, 5:37.74 .
3200 run: 1, Snyder, NB, 11;04.23; 2, Seymour, CC, 11:24.66; 3, Brandis, CC, 11:51.38; 4, Sorg, EC, 12:07.64; 5, Simcox, PO 12:43.40; 6, Singer, EC, 12:51.81; 7, Paronish, NC, 12;53.45; 8, Hilliard, PL, 12:59.46
100 low hurdles: 1, Petrosky, EC, 15.88; 2, Revercomb, SH, 16.65; 3, Niovich, FH, 16.69; 4, Luther, CC, 16.72; 5, McMullen, WD, 16.79; 6, Reivel, WH, 17.24; 7, Paden, J, 17.55; 8, Long, MD, 20.12.
300 intermediate hurdles: 1, Petrosky, EC, 46.88; 2, Saquin, K, 47.23; 3, O?Reilly, BM, 47.74; 4, Wasilko, PO, 47.93; 5, Diflauro, FH, 48.24; 6, Long, MD, 49.12; 7, Luther, CC, 49.37; 8, Benson, JB, 49.72 .
400 relay: 1, Penns Valley, 50.50 (New Meet Record); 2, Forest Hills, 51.39; 3, Westmont Hilltop, 51.45; 4, Bedford, 52.40; 5, Berlin Brothersvalley, 52.40; 6, Huntingdon, 52.93; 7, Chestnut Ridge, 53.00; 8, Meyersdale, 53.27.
1600 relay: 1, Northern Bedford, 4:12.98; 2, Central Cambria, 4:16.79; 3, Elk County Catholic, 4:17.10; 4, Bedford, 4:19.77; 5, Philipsburg-Osceola, 4:20.10; 6, Penns Valley, 4:20.24; 7, Chestnut Ridge, 4:20.69;8, Westmont Hilltop, 4:21.35 .
3200 relay: 1, Northern Bedford, 9:54.20; 2, Saint Marys, 10:13.52; 3, Bedford, 10:25.33; 4, Northern Cambria, 10:31.69; 5, Cambria Heights, 10:32.66; 6, Elk County Catholic, 10:34.66; 7, Windber, 10:39.43; 8, Homer Center, 10:41.85
High jump: 1, Ledford, HD, 5-00; 2, Meck, BG, 5-00; 3, Granlun, HS, 4-10; 3, Showlater, CR, 4-10; Valyo, HC, 4-10; 3, Deitle, FH, 4-10; 3, Gover, PV, 4-10; 8, Beyer, FH, 4-10; 8, Wasson, PV, 4-10.
Long jump: 1, Patrick, PO, 16-09;2, Smay, FH, 16-02; 3, King Brothers, CC, 16-00.50; 4, Hershberger, NB, 16-00.00; 5, Delic, PC, 15-11.50; 6, Eschbach, EC, 15-10.50; 7, Wood, PO, 15-10.50; 8, Kirsch, NC, 15-0.
Triple jump: 1, Kirsch, NC, 35-03.25; 2, Bucheit, K, 34-07.25; 3, Brown, J, 34-03.25; 4, Baker, BD, 34-01.50; 5, Sellers, HD, 34-00.25; 6, Eschbach, EC, 33-07.75; 7, Zimmerman, J, 33-03.5; 8, Revercomb, SH, 32-02.75 .
Shot put: 1, Dornish, EC, 44-03; 2, McGaha, U, 34-08; 3, Galasso, HC, 34-07; 4, Petrosky, EC, 33-01; 5, Daughenbaugh, CC, 32-04; 6, Detrick, K, 32-02; 7, Feuillet, ET, 30-05; 8, Feuillet, ET, 30-04.
Discus: 1, Dornish, EC, 133-09.00 (New Meet Record); 2, Williams, J, 116-03; 3, Anderson, JB, 108-11; 4, Ogorek, K, 106-00; 5, Roth, HD, 102-11; 6, Hower, J, 102-02; 7, Bussard, TM, 92-08; 8, Norris, HD, 91-03.
Javelin: 1,Delic, PC, 132-04; 2, Dornish, JB, 124-06; 3, Skedel, U, 121-04; 4, Zubek, FH, 113-05; 5, Walker, SH, 105-04; 6, Holmes, PV, 103-02; 7, Krepps, BA, 102-05; 8, Cook, CC, 101-08.
Pole vault: 1, Kidd, BD, 10-09; 2, Ledford, HD, 10-09; 3, Bair, ET, 9-03; 4, Moran, K, 8-09; 4, Long, MD, 8-09; 6, Kocjancic, K, 8-09; 7, Cunningham, Hd, 8-09; 8, Morris, FH, 8-09.
