On Friday afternoon at the PIAA Class 3A Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium her finish, at least, could not have been.

Owulade won a gold medal in the triple jump with a distance of 38 feet, 9 inches. It wasn’t her best personal performance distance wise, but with the cold and rainy conditions factored in, it might have been her most impressive.

“A lot of these athletes are not used to weather like this, but in Altoona we’re used to the rain and used to the cold,” Owulade said. “I just came out and performed and enjoyed it.”

Owulade was able to share the podium with Altoona teammate Jill Long, who finished fourth with a jump of 38 feet, 2 inches.

Altoona's Jill Long (left) and Hannah Owulade react after hearing where they placed. Mirror photo by Michael Boytim

“Hannah and I wouldn’t be the athletes that we are without each other,” Long said. “It’s not even a competition between us, it’s just that we love to push each other. We make each other better every single meet and every single time we compete together.”

Owulade was trying to hold back tears when asked what it was like to share the moment with Long.

“I love Jill so much. She’s my motivation to keep going and keep getting better,” Owulade said. “Seeing the way Jill competes makes me want to be better. It’s so nice to share the podium with her, it makes me so happy.”

Midway through the event, Owulade and Long were actually No. 1 and No. 2 in longest distance before Kiski’s Alaysia Bell ignited the crowd with a jump of 38 feet, 7 inches that turned out to be just short of Owulade.

Janiah Hudson of West Allegheny later added a third-place distance of 38 feet, 2.25 inches.

Altoona's Kihlee Noel stands on the podium with her fifth-place shot put medal. Mirror photo by Michael Boytim

“It was really exciting to be the top two,” Long said. “I knew anything could happen and didn’t get my hopes too high, but to see (Owulade) take first place is really exciting.”

Owulade is not currently set to compete in track and field when she attends college at James Madison, but she’s hoping to eventually earn a spot on the team.

“I’m really happy, because I was close to my PR, which is a 38-11,” Owulade said. “I was hoping for a 39 or 40, but the weather was really bad, so I’ll take it.”

Long is only a junior and is hoping to match her friend next year.

“I’m really excited, but I can’t wait to see what I do my senior year,” Long said. “Hopefully, I can get the next gold medal.”

Earlier in the day, there had already been another Altoona athlete reach the podium.

Kihlee Noel finished fifth in the shot put with a throw of 40 feet, 8.75 inches, tying her personal best.

“Since the beginning of the year, I had a goal of reaching top five in states,” Noel said. “I’m thrilled that I did that.”

Alivia Noecker of Wilson won the event with a throw of 46-7.75, and Selinsgrove’s Isabella Furgison was second just a quarter of an inch behind Noecker. State College’s Lydia Tate won an eighth-place medal with a throw of 37 feet, 9 inches.

“I’m really proud of myself and grateful for my coaches,” Noel said. “My family and friends have always supported me, and I’m just really grateful for all of that.”

Noel’s first throw of the day was 39 feet, 10.75 inches and basically locked up a spot for her in the finals.

“I turned to my coach and said how much pressure it takes off to have a good throw on my first attempt,” Noel said. “It made me feel a lot better.”

Noel will compete in the discus Saturday before handing in her Altoona uniform for a Shippensburg one at the college level and said it was a thrill to compete at her future collegiate home.

“I have been saying the whole time we have been here that it’s sinking in that the next time I compete here, I am going to be on their team and staying in the dorms,” Noel said. “I’m super excited for the next four years.”

Other area results

NOTE: If a competitor or relay team did not finish in the top eight in the preliminary race, they did not qualify for finals.

BOYS

– Hollidaysburg’s Rueben Manfred finished 15th in the 1600 meter run with a time of 4:20.23. Mifflin County’s Carter Smith won the gold medal in the event with a time of 4:02.63.

– Hollidaysburg’s Braelyn Ross was 23rd in the 110 hurdles qualifying with a time of 15.22 seconds. He was 22nd in the 300 hurdles prelims in 40.56.

– Hollidaysburg’s 400 relay team of Ross, Devin Walters, Cole DeLattre and Carter Muth were 20th in 42.78 during qualifying.

– DeLattre was 19th in the triple jump with a top distance of 44 feet, 8.5 inches.

– Walters was 21st in the 200 prelims with a time of 22.64 seconds.

– Collin Lutz of Altoona cleared 13 feet, 3 inches in the pole vault and finished tied for 17th.

– The Altoona 1600 relay team of Noah Stump, Dominic Verticelli, Hunter Kling and Colin Etters did not register a time after being disqualified.

GIRLS

– Ashlyn Noce of Altoona just missed a medal in the 1600 run with a 10th-place finish in 4:55.95.

– Hollidaysburg’s Jaclyn Sahlaney was 29th in 12.58 seconds in the 100 dash prelims.

– Altoona’s Sophia O’Dea was 21st in 100 dash qualifying with a time of 12.4 seconds. O’Dea finished 15th in the 200 dash with a time of 25.49.

– Owulade was 30th in 100 hurdles qualifying with a time of 15.59 seconds.

– Altoona’s 400 relay team of Jill Long, O’Dea, Brookelynn Weaver and Bailey Baron was 14th in qualifying with a time of 48.96 seconds.

– Altoona’s Ajaycia Alexander was 26th in the 300 hurdle prelims with a time of 46.99 seconds.

– Altoona’s 1600 relay team of Brionna Adams, Weaver, Adelyn Himmelwright and O’Dea just missed qualifying for Saturday’s final with a ninth-place finish in 56.81 seconds.