Breaking News
Local Sports

PIAA medal proof javelin was worth it for Tyrone’s Kylee Nelson

PIAA girls track and field

By Michael Boytim 4 min read

SHIPPENSBURG -- Prior to the 2025 track and field season, Tyrone senior Kylee Nelson had major shoulder surgery.

Nelson wrapped up her high school career Friday at the PIAA championships at Seth Grove Stadium and will now have to return to the doctor who treated her.

Not for an injury -- but to show the doctor her PIAA Class 2A fifth-place medal in the javelin after she decided to throw this year despite being told she should never compete in the event again.

"One hundred percent, I want to tell my doctor. With the state of my shoulder going into the season, I didn't know how I was going to do," Nelson said. "So medaling at states is definitely exciting."

Nelson qualified for the finals with a throw of 117 feet 10 inches and jumped up to fifth with a throw of 118 feet, 6 inches on her next-to-last throw.

"I was just happy to be here to be honest," Nelson said. "I made the finals, which was my goal. It wasn't my best throw, but I'm overall happy with how I performed."

Nelson signed with the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown to play volleyball, but she now plans on competing in both volleyball and track and field. She's convinced by next spring, she'll be throwing even further.

"I think once I get my shoulder 100 percent, I'll be even better," Nelson said.

Nelson wasn't the only girl from Blair County to throw her way to a state medal on Friday.

Altoona junior Kihlee Noel won a sixth-place medal in the Class 3A shot put with a throw of 39 feet, 0.25 inches.

"I felt pretty good," Noel said. "I really wanted to push out that last throw and make it to finals on my third throw. I'm proud of myself for medaling at this level."

Noel won the District 6 shot put title as a freshman but did not make states in the event last year. Missing out fueled Friday's performance.

"It definitely pushed me to work hard during the offseason and during the season," Noel said. "It has been my entire motivation to make it back here and achieve this. I'm really excited and happy with myself."

Juniata Valley senior Ella McCrum didn't just miss out on states last year. McCrum competed in only the 800-meter run and the 3200-meter relay as a junior after losing interest in running.

This past offseason, she regained her passion for the sport and capped it off by finishing seventh in the Class 2A 1600 run in 5:03.75.

"It's really exciting," McCrum said. "I definitely didn't feel the best today, but I'm proud of myself, because I feel like I pulled it together and had a strong race. My goal was to be in the top eight, so I feel like I'm ending on a good note, and I'm happy with that."

Altoona's Ashlyn Noce was 13th in the Class 3A race in 5:04.77.

McCrum will run at Bucknell University next year, but before that she'll compete in the 800-meter run as the District 6 champion on Saturday.

"My goal is to take a couple seconds off," McCrum said. "I'd like to get down to that 2:15 area and get as close to the top eight or top 10 as possible."

Other area results: Tyrone freshman Lola Woomer just missed a medal in the 2A high jump with a top clearance of 5 feet to finish in a tie for ninth. ... Altoona's Jill Long jumped 37 feet, 9.25 inches on her best triple jump and finished 12th in Class 3A. ... Penn Cambria's Kate Eckenrode (19th, 12.75), Tyrone's Sarah Chichester (27th, 13.07) and Bellwood-Antis' Ella Cherry (29th, 13.08) did not qualify for the finals in the 100 dash. Chichester (30th, 27.36) and Cherry (31st, 27.42) also did not make it through preliminaries in the 200 dash. ... In the 2A long jump, Cambria Heights' Brielle McMillen lept 16 feet, 10.75 inches to finish 14th, and B-A's Cherry was 23rd in 15 feet, 10 inches. ... Bellwood-Antis' Emma Taneyhill finished 16th in the 2A discus with a throw of 100 feet, 3 inches. ... Bellwood-Antis' Avah Hassler (25th, 1:02.39) and Bishop Carroll's Ava Pablic (26th, 1:03.46) did not qualify for the finals of the 2A 400 dash. In 3A, Hollidaysburg's Emily Clapper was 26th in 59.16 seconds. ... In the 2A 300 hurdles, Tyrone's Claire Lehman ended up 25th in the preliminaries with a time of 49.8 seconds, and in the 3A hurdles, Altoona's Hannah Owulade was 38th in 50.29 seconds. ... Penn Cambria (26th, 51.39), Bellwood-Antis (30th, 52.18) and Tyrone (32nd, 52.34) did not qualify for the finals in the 400 relay. ... The Tyrone girls also did not move past prelims in the 1600 relay when they finished 23rd in 4:17.81.

Starting at /week.