Lebanon Federal Credit Union Presents Athlete of the Week, Ending May 28

It could’ve been better. It could’ve been worse.

Noah Gunderson has set the bar so high for himself – both figuratively and literally – it’s difficult to discern where the highlights begin and where they end.

On Friday at Shippensburg University, Gunderson earned a fifth-place medal in the Class AAA high jump, during the annual contesting of the PIAA Track and Field Championships. It represented the highest medal claimed by a Lebanon County student-athlete at states.

Gunderson cleared 6-2 to earn the medal. The Annville-Cleona junior attained that height on his first attempt, then missed on three tries at 6-3.

Hayden Smith of Union-Allegheny Clarion Valley won the competition with a leap of 6-5.

A week earlier, during the District Three Class AA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg, Gunderson had cleared 6-6 in winning the Class AA gold medal in the high jump. At that meet, he just missed clearing 6-7, a close call that heightened his expectations for states.

Last year as a sophomore, Gunderson finished eighth in the Class AA high jump at the PIAA Track and Field meet.

– Jeff Falk