Adams overcomes back injury to medal
PIAA track and field: Area roundup
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SHIPPENSBURG -- A couple weeks ago, Altoona junior Branson Adams didn't think he would even be competing in the District 6 championships.
On Saturday at the PIAA championships at Seth Grove Stadium, Adams finished off a whirlwind turnaround from injury by placing sixth in the 3A long jump.
"I had a lingering back problem most of the season," Adams said. "It sidelined me for a bunch of events, and I wasn't even supposed to jump at districts, but my coach let me. It's all thanks to my coach that I had this opportunity to jump here today."
Adams had a distance of 22 feet, 6.75 inches, which equaled fifth-place finisher Justin Johnson of Spring Ford but was done on a later attempt.
"I wasn't expecting it at all," Adams said. "I came here with the same mentality as at districts where I just wanted to hit a PR, and I did by an inch. When I heard my name being called for finals it was a surreal experience. I was seeded in the middle of the pack. I knew there was a chance, but I didn't know if I could do it. Being able to compete and get a medal is amazing."
Adams said his success on the track has lifted his spirits after dealing with his setbacks this season.
"My whole life feels like it's turned around and gotten better," Adams said. "It's just insane. I have been so happy these last couple weeks, and I hope that can continue into next season."
Hailey Kravetz also brought a sixth-place medal home to Altoona, improving on her eighth-place seeding, with a time of 45.11 in the 3A girls 300 hurdles. Spring Grove's Ella Bahn won the event in 41.98.
"All I wanted was to come in and beat my seed time," Kravetz said. "Coming in as the eighth seed, finishing sixth is what I wanted to do."
Kravetz, who will attend Pitt next year, leaves a solid legacy at Altoona which included her being named the Altoona Mirror Female Athlete of the Year recently.
"In the grand scheme of things, I think I did a great job at Altoona," Kravetz said. "I had the best coaches and the best teammates to get me to where I am. I'm excited to take all of what they taught me to Pitt next year."
Central sophomore Lanee Berkhimer began Saturday's action by finishing fifth in the 3200-meter run in 11:09.81 a year after struggling at the PIAA meet and not placing.
"I was injured, and it hurt my times a lot," Berkhimer said.
Berkhimer dealt with injury again this year after repeating as the District 6 champion in cross country and missed most of the track and field season.
"I didn't come back until a week before districts," Berkhimer said. "I had a hip injury, and every time I ran, it would lock and give out on me."
Berkhimer returned at the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship meet and finished as the runner-up to Bedford's Chloe May at the event by nearly 15 seconds.
May was one of the competitors Berkhimer topped on Saturday. May was sixth in 11:12.36 followed by LHAC competitors Natalia Mavridis of Richland in 11:14.54 and Somerset's Emily Fisher in 11:16.89. Berkhimer said running with familiar competition helped her time.
"It felt good," Berkhimer said. "It pushed me better."
With two years left to compete at the high school level, Berkhimer is setting even higher goals.
"It feels great, because at the beginning of the season, I didn't even know if I was going to make it here," Berkhimer said. "Now that I ran this, I want to get a 4:59 in the mile and get a 10:59 in the two-mile. That's what I'll be pushing for, and it will give me confidence. God has been so good to me to be able to do this, and I'm excited for the future."
Hollidaysburg sprinter Isaac Yarnell placed seventh in the Class 3A boys 100 dash with a time of 10.86. It didn't match his personal best time of 10.74 that he achieved in the preliminaries, but he was happy with the result.
"I was hoping for a 10.6, because I went 10.7 yesterday for the first time," Yarnell said. "I was hoping to be faster, but I can't be mad. I beat a competitor, and I was the slowest going into the race. It was pretty impressive, I think."
Yarnell got off to a hot start this season by breaking Hollidaysburg school records in both the 100 and 200 but battled some injuries midseason.
"Glory to Jesus who gave me the opportunity to be here," Yarnell said. "It feels great, because it was up and down as far as injuries and the whole weather being storm after storm. It was a pretty inconsistent season, but I'm happy to walk away with a medal today."
Back in the field, Central Cambria senior Christian Vasil threw 52 feet, 4 inches to claim the fourth-place medal in the Class 2A boys shot put. Penns Manor's Alex Polenik was the runner-up, and Clark Gulycz of Allentown Central Catholic won the PIAA championship with a throw of 58-3.75.
"I wasn't expecting this," Vasil said. "I definitely was coming in with some confidence though from the earlier days practicing here. I was happy with how I performed and what I was able to get here today."
Vasil achieved a new personal best throw twice on Saturday.
"I believe there's more to come in college," Vasil said. "I'm really happy with how I performed this year."
The Central Cambria girls carried on their tradition of earning medals in the 3200 relay at the PIAA meet with an eighth-place time of 9:49.92.
Abigail and Alaina Sheehan were members of the back-to-back state champions the last two seasons, and Morgan Brandis and Alaina Long joined the Sheehan sisters this season.
"It's awesome to be part of this tradition, and it almost leaves you speechless," Long said. "There is such a reputation that goes along with it. I'm so proud to be part of it and for our team to be part of it."
Juniata Valley's Bryce Weirich finished eighth in the boys pole vault, clearing 13 feet, 6 inches and tying his own school record.
"I was coming into today just trying to have fun," Weirich said. "It feels really good. I'm so grateful to come to states and perform here. It's really cool. My goals for the season were to get the school record and make it to states, so this exceeds that."
Other results
n Penn Cambria senior Carter McDermott capped a frustrating weekend in Shippensburg by finishing one spot short of the finals in the 2A triple jump with a distance of 43-4.75, good enough for 10th.
n Huntingdon senior Tyler Radar won a silver medal in the 800 run with a time of 1:54.92.
n Bishop Carroll's Ava Pablic was 12th in the 2A girls 800 run with a time of 2:23.28, and Central Cambria's Alaina Sheehan was 23rd in 2:36.76.
n Altoona's Mary Stoltz finished 25th in the 3A 800 run in 2:21.69.
n Annalyse Yost of Altoona was 23rd in the 3A girls javelin with a throw of 106-7.
n Cambria Heights' Brielle McMillen was 11th in the 2A girls triple jump with a distance of 36-4.25, and Tyrone's Nicole Ramsey was right behind her in 12th with a leap of 36-3.25.
n Hollidaysburg's Nathan Grabill cleared 6-2 in the 3A boys high jump and finished tied for 13th.
n The Altoona girls 3200 relay team finished 25th in 9:50.69 in the 3A race.
n The Tyrone boys 3200 relay team finished 18th in the 2A race in 8:30.48.
n Bedford's A.J. Koontz finished seventh in the 2A boys 300 hurdles and helped the Bedford 1600 boys relay team place fifth in 3:25.75.
n Richland's Sasha Garnett repeated as the 2A girls PIAA champion in the shot put with a throw of 43-7.5.
n West Catholic (2A girls), Slippery Rock (2A boys), Spring Grove (3A girls) and Coatesville (3A boys) won team championships.