Local Sports

Clapper, Kravetz do what it takes to earn victories

By Michael Boytim

mboytim@altoonamirror.com

Hollidaysburg's Emily Clapper and Aubree Waksmonski have been pretty even all season, trading first-place and runner-up finishes in the 400-meter dash.

Clapper won at the Altoona Igloo, but Waksmonski claimed the title at the Altoona Mountain Lion Classic.

The difference Wednesday during the second day of the girls District 6 Class 3A track and field championships at Mansion Park might have been a little rice.

Clapper edged her teammate in an extremely close finish with a time of 1:00.51 while Waksmonski finished in 1:00.79.

"Our competition has pushed both of us throughout the season," Clapper said. "We're always competing on the track but are good friends off of it. I ate before my race this time. Normally I don't, so maybe that was the key."

Two other athletes known to push each other are Altoona's Hailey Kravetz and State College's Sarah Tate. Kravetz has been on top in the 300-meter hurdles this season and broke the Altoona school record in the event, but Tate has gotten the better of her in the 100-meter hurdles.

Wednesday, Kravetz jumped out ahead early in the 100, but Tate closed the gap and briefly passed her before hitting her foot on the final hurdle.

"I definitely saw an opening," Kravetz said. "The second part of my race is always the best part of my race. I knew I had to get her at that point or I wasn't going to get her at all."

Tate's stumble slowed her down just enough for Kravetz to rally for a victory and set off a celebration past the finish line.

"I was definitely excited," Kravetz said. "She's beaten me all year. I definitely wanted this one. This is my junior year, and I have never been on top of the podium for this event, so I'm very grateful that I got here."

Kravetz went on to win the 300-meter hurdles by a comfortable margin later in the day to claim her second District 6 championship of the day.

Hollidaysburg's Lily Jodon won her third straight district title in the high jump despite clearing just 4 feet, 9 inches.

"This is my third," Jodon said. "It feels good, but it's definitely shocking. A lot of us were disappointed with our performance today. It was a low height, but it's exciting at the same time."

The Lady Tigers junior said she was looking forward to competing at Shippensburg next week and reuniting with some of the top jumpers in the state to hopefully get her momentum back.

Altoona's Megan Kelly will be going to states for the first time after winning the javelin with a throw of 109 feet, 6 inches as a freshman.

"The key was staying out of my head and aiming for first," Kelly said. "This is my first year, so I feel pretty amazing about this. I actually didn't want to throw the javelin at the start of track, but I ended up throwing it, and this is where it got me."

In Class 2A action, Portage's Cami Burkett lived up to her own standards with victories in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

"I was honestly more nervous than usual," Burkett said. "I was feeling some pressure, and the expectations from previous years started to get to me. But when I warmed up, I got more confident and ready to go. It's a good feeling, and the pressure is off now."

Burkett will try to return to the medal stand at the state meet after making it there as a sophomore.

Central Cambria's 3200-meter relay team of Abby George, Annaliese Niebauer, Alaina Sheehan and Abigail Sheehan will be trying to do more than get back on the stand. They will be trying to repeat as state champions.

"I feel like everything is clicking really well," said George, who also won the 800-meter individual District 6 title later in the day. "We're all dropping time. I think we're ready, and we have a positive outlook going into it."

The Lady Devils ran the race in 9:36.13, their best time of the year, to win districts.

"It's super exciting," George said. "I'm a little sad, but I'm happy I get to do it with the girls I love, and to have one last race with them is really exciting."

Tyrone's 400-meter relay team also took home gold. Rebecca Lewis, who ran the second leg, will compete at states in four events after winning the long jump on Tuesday. She was the runner-up in the 200-meter dash behind Burkett and was third in the 100-meter dash behind Burkett and Juniata Valley's Maddie Hopsicker, who qualified by finishing second.

"I'm hyped," Lewis said. "I didn't want to go without (my teammates), so I'm so excited. We worked a lot over the weekend and got a PR yesterday. We went out wanting to PR again today. We were ranked third, yesterday we were second and we just kept moving up."

Other area 2A girls who qualified for states included Cambria Heights' Rachael McClellan (third, 100 hurdles), Bellwood-Antis senior Lydia Worthing (third, pole vault), Niebauer (third, 800 run, second 3200 run), Tyrone's Reagan Irons (second, triple jump), Juniata Valley's Ellie Manyara (fourth, triple jump but reached state qualifying standard), Cambria Heights' Minyhah Easterling (fourth, shot put but reached state qualifying standard), the Central 400 and 1600 relay teams (both runner-up) and Central Cambria's 1600 relay team (third).

George and Niebauer both decided to scratch from the mile run at the PIAA meet, allowing Bellwood-Antis senior Alexis Lovrich and Central freshman Lanee Berkhimer to qualify for the state meet.

State College won the 3A team championship, and Forest Hills captured the 2A title.

3A

TEAM RESULTS/KEY

1, State College (SC) 209.5; 2, Altoona (A) 174; 3, Central Mountain (CM) 103.5; 4, Hollidaysburg (H) 94; 5, Bellefonte (B) 66; 6, Mifflin County (MC) 39; 7, Johnstown (J) 7.

INDIVIDUAL

100 dash: 1, M. Abdullah, SC, 12.2; 2, Hall, CM, 12.62; 3, Peachey, SC, 12.68; 4, Frazier, H, 12.73; 5, Field, SC, 13.0; 6, Underhill, MC, 13.08; 7, Vent, H, 13.23; 8, Plowman, CM, 13.42. 200 dash: 1, M. Abdullah, SC, 25.43; 2, Kravetz, A, 26.42; 3, Hall, CM, 26.46; 4, Plowman, CM, 27.07; 5, Frazier, H, 27.14; 6, Field, SC, 27.45; 7, DeVoir, SC, 28.05; 8, Tisinger, J, 28.1. 400 dash: 1, Clapper, H, 1:00.51; 2, Waksmonski, H, 1:00.79; 3, Schubach, CM, 1:02.78; 4, Warfel, MC, 1:03.46; 5, Himmelwright, A, 1:03.71; 6, Thomas, J, 1:05.1; 7, Hicks, H, 1:05.6; 8, Schellberg, SC, 1:06.36. 800 run: 1, Morningstar, SC, 2:18.96; 2, Stoltz, A, 2:21.61; 3, Poindexter, SC, 2:22; 4, Jackson, SC, 2:24.5; 5, Wilber, A, 2:24.85; 6, S. Clapper, H, 2:26.86; 7, Keohane, CM, 2:32.44; 8, Cernuska, B, 2:33.97. 3200 run: 1, Devan, SC, 11:06.91; 2, Kwasnica, SC, 11:07.2; 3, Wolfe, CM, 11:41.4%; 4, Bigger, SC, 12:10.8; 5, Carney, H, 12:12.1; 6, Liadis, B, 12:35.88; 7, Coffey, MC, 12:43.07; 8, Snare, A, 13:01.28. 100 hurdles: 1, Kravetz, A, 15.44; 2, Tate, SC, 15.71; 3, Wiseman, CM, 16.71; 4, Hall, CM, 17.13; 5, Kramer, SC, 17.61; 6, Watkins, SC, 17.68; 7, Baney, H, 18.92; 8, Owulade, A, 24.98. 300 hurdles: 1, Kravetz, A, 45.14; 2, Tate, SC, 46.96; 3, Owulade, A, 49.81; 4, Wiseman, CM, 51.33; 5, Kramer, SC, 51.39; 6, Wilt, CM, 51.39; 7, Watkins, SC, 51.4; 8, Long, A, 55.42.

400 relay: 1, State College (M. Abdullah, Peachey, Field, S. Abdullah), 48.91; 2, Central Mountain, 50.68; 3, Hollidaysburg, 51.67; 4, Altoona, 53.72; 5, Mifflin County, 53.74; 6, Bellefonte, 55.46. 1600 relay: 1, State College (Tate, M. Abdullah, Morningstar, Poindexter), 4:04.94; 2, Altoona, 4:05.03; 3, Hollidaysburg, 4:06.37; 4, Bellefonte, 4:26.21; 5, Mifflin County, 4:29.59; 6, Central Mountain, 4:30.2. 3200 relay: 1, State College (Kwasnica, Poindexter, Devan, Morningstar), 9:25.06; 2, Altoona, 10:12.68; 3, Hollidaysburg, 10:21.25; 4, Bellefonte, 11:09.5; 5, Mifflin County, 11:27.87; 6, Central Mountain, 11:45.76. High jump: 1, Jodon, H, 4-9; 2, Wilt, A, 4-9; 3, Tyson, B, 4-9; 4, Younkin, SC, 4-9; T-5, E. Clapper, H, 4-7; T-5, Workman, SC, 4-7; 7, Downing, CM, 4-7; T-8, Laws, SC, 4-5; T-8, Basenbeck, H, 4-5. Long jump: 1, Hendricks, CM, 17-7; 2, Antoniono, SC, 16-2.75; 3, Shoemaker, H, 16-0.25; 4, Plank, MC, 15-10.5; 5, Workman, SC, 15-8.5; 6, S. Abdullah, SC, 15-7.75; 7, Miller, B, 15-4.75; 8, McNitt, MC, 15-0.75. Discus: 1, Deitrich, B, 100-4; 2, Abbott, A, 99-10; 3, McMinn, A, 93-0; 4, Noel, A, 92-0; 5, Rizzo, CM, 89-1; 6, Bumberger, H, 86-4; 7, Kratzer, MC, 75-8; 8, Kanagy, MC, 75-1. Javelin: 1, Kelly, A, 109-6; 2, Yost, A, 102-10; 3, Schellenberg, B, 102-9; 4, Miller, B, 100-1; 5, Sheaffer, MC, 96-7; 6, McKendree, J, 95-0; 7, Lippincott, SC, 93-1; 8, Bumberger, H, 92-3.

2A

TEAM RESULTS/KEY

1, Forest Hills (FH) 87; 2, Central Cambria (CC) 61; 3, Tyrone (T) 56; 4, Richland (R) 51.33; 5, Huntingdon (H) 48; 6, Central (C) 37.33; 7, Bellwood-Antis 37; 8, Juniata Valley (JV) 35; 9, Marion Center (MC) 33; 10, Cambria Heights (CH) 29; 11, Penns Valley (PV) 28.33; 12, Portage (P) 28; T-13, Purchase Line (PL) 22; T-13, River Valley (RV) 22; T-15, Southern Huntingdon (SH) 20; T-15, Homer-Center (HC) 20; 17, Westmont Hilltop (WH) 17; 18, Mount Union (MU) 16; 19, Bald Eagle Area (BEA) 14.5; 20, Penns Manor (PM) 13; 21, Penn Cambria (PC) 9; T-22, Blacklick Valley (BV) 5; T-22, West Branch (WB) 5; 24, Northern Cambria (NC) 4; 25, Bishop McCort (BM) 2; 26, United (U) 1; 27, Juniata (J) 0.5.

INDIVIDUAL

100 dash: 1, Burkett, P, 12.45; 2, Hopsicker, JV, 12.83; 3, Lewis, T, 12.86; 4, Piscatello, R, 13.07; 5, Brower, JV, 13.13; 6, Hahn, H, 13.22; 7, Cramer, WH, 13.27; 8, Harper, SH, 13.32. 200 dash: 1, Burkett, P, 26.1; 2, Lewis, T, 26.76; 3, Piscatello, R, 27.18; 4, Garner, C, 27.18; 5, Harper, SH, 27.43; 6, Ramsey, T, 27.71; 7, Hahn, H, 27.78; 8, Brower, JV, 27.86. 400 dash: 1, Stitzer, PV, 1:00.59; 2, Ward, PL, 1:01.59; 3, Miller, MC, 1:02.44; 4, Taylor, BEA, 1:03.64; 5, Faight, WH, 1:03.72; 6, Hassler, BA, 1:04.32; 7, Berkebile, BM, 1:05.23; 8, Phillips, PL, 1:05.36. 800 run: 1, George, CC, 2:20.65; 2, Ryen, MC, 2:21.45; 3, Niebauer, CC, 2:21.56; 4, Stitzer, PV, 2:24.05; 5, Chobany, P, 2:24.87; 6, McMath, SH, 2:27.02; 7, Hoover, CH, 2:30.03; 8, Miller, NC, 2:32.12. 3200 run: 1, Dumm, FH, 10:32.57**; 2, Niebauer, CC, 11:37.39; 3, Smith, PV, 11:39.81; 4, Berkhimer, C, 11:43.94; 5, Lovrich, BA, 11:52.91; 6, Al. Sheehan, CC, 12:14.84; 7, Brandis, CC, 12:21.15; 8, Orner, PM, 13:00.56. 100 hurdles: 1, Glessner, FH, 15.71; 2, Skopic, MU, 16.54; 3, McClellan, CH, 16.89; 4, Fatula, BV, 17.26; 5, Karabinos, PC, 17.89; 6, Barnett, SH, 17.98; 7, Hassen, NC, 18.11; 8, Irvin, BEA, 20.68. 300 hurdles: 1, Papcunik, FH, 47.29; 2, Skopic, FH, 48.68; 3, Glessner, FH, 49.6; 4, Decker, C, 49.65; 5, Smith, PM, 51.34; 6, Stoltzfus, BA, 52.62; 7, Hawbaker, SH, 54.26; 8, Marshall, U, 59.07.

400 relay: 1, Tyrone (Ramsey, Lewis, Green, Irons), 51.61; 2, Central, 51.71; 3, Richland, 52.3; 4, Huntingdon, 52.44; 5, Westmont Hilltop, 52.63; 6, Bellwood-Antis, 52.71; 7, Cambria Heights, 53.5; 8, Forest Hills, 53.67. 1600 relay: 1, Forest Hills, 4:10.47; 2, Central, 4:10.66; 3, Central Cambria, 4:12.75; 4, Marion Center, 4:20.3; 5, Purchase Line, 4:21.15; 6, Southern Huntingdon, 4:22.05; 7, Penns Valley, 4:26.14; 8, Bald Eagle Area, 4:30.94. 3200 relay: 1, Central Cambria (George, Ab. Sheehan, Niebauer, Al. Sheehan), 9:36.13; 2, Marion Center, 9:54.92; 3, Purchase Line, 9:58.54; 4, Forest Hills, 10:17.38; 5, Southern Huntingdon, 10:42.27; 6, Cambria Heights, 10:47.03; 7, Bellwood-Antis, 10:48.13; 8, Juniata Valley, 11:07.1. Triple jump: 1, Mark, H, 36-6.75; 2, Irons, T, 35-10; 3, Kane, WH, 35-9.25; 4, Manyara, JV, 35-8.25*; 5, Buonaccorsi, H, 35-5.5; 6, McMillen, CH, 35-2.75; 7, Ramsey, T, 34-11.75; 8, Hall, C, 33-2.25. Shot put: 1, Sharp, HC, 44-1.5; 2, Garnett, R, 42-2.75; 3, Jackson, RV, 37-2.5; 4, Easterling, CH, 37-2.5*; 5, Leasure, MC, 35-3.75; 6, Danel, FH, 34-3.75; 7, Pablic, CC, 33-9.25; 8, Garner, C, 33-6.75. Pole vault: 1, Ford, R, 11-0**; 2, Krug, FH, 10-6; 3, Worthing, BA, 10-6; 4, Rolley, H, 10-6*; 5, Bowman, PM, 10-0; 6, Buonaccorsi, H, 9-6; 7, Boone, JV, 9-0; T-8, Leskovansky, BEA, 8-6; T-8, Stoner, J, 8-6.

*--Qualified for states by reaching PIAA qualifying standard

**--Meet record

%--Qualified for states due to scratches