Track & Field: 2024 District 3 Championship – Girls Preview

Introduction

Friday and Saturday, athletes from across South Central Pennsylvania will convene at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium for the 2024 District 3 Track & Field Championship Meet.  For every athlete who is competing, they have accomplished a feat that very few have done.  Out of this competition, a select few will be invited back to Shippensburg to compete next weekend at the PIAA State Championship Meet.

The District meet serves as a qualifier for the State Championships.  In the AAA competition, the top five finishers in each event will earn an automatic bid.  For AA athletes, they must finish in the top two in order to earn an automatic invitation.  In both classifications, the PIAA will accept up to eight qualifiers from each event who meet the State Qualifying Standard. Below is a list of this year’s Standards.

When reviewing the information below, keep in mind that every school competes in AAA, except Annville-Cleona, who competes in AA.

Below is a brief preview of each school fortunate enough to qualify athletes for the District Championships.  Included with each school is a list of the LebCo athletes who are entered into each event, along with where they are ranked heading into the weekend.  While the current rankings give an indication as to whether an athlete may be able to finish in the top eight to earn a medal and/or qualify for States, anything can happen at a meet like this when all of the hard work these athletes have endured is put to the ultimate test.

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Annville-Cleona is sending a large and talented group as they work to defend their 2A District 3 Team Championship. They will be led by the group of sprinters that make up the top-ranked 4x100m and 4x400m relays: Kendall Cooper, Miracle Hershey, Sophia Caporaletti, and Jada Morales. Each will be a medal contender in individual events, with Cooper being the highest seed, ranked #2 in the 200m. Annville-Cleona will also rely on its solid distance crew, which will be led by Mackenzie Stellmach, Emily Maag, and Megan Brophy. Madison Long is likely to nab some hardware in the jumps, while no one should be surprised if Caitlin Shay and Kya Missimer also leave Shippensburg with medals. 

4x100m Relay – 49.33 (1st)

4x400m Relay – 4:10.26 (1st)

4x800m Relay – 10:10.58 (4th)

Kendall Cooper – 200m – 26.10 (2nd) / 100m – 12.64 (5th)

Miracle Hershey – 100m – 12.81 (6th) / 200m – 26.66 (7th)

Emily Maag – 3200m  – 11:56.28 (3rd) / 1600m – 5:35.44 (5th)

Kya Missimer – 300m Hurdles – 50.27 (11th) / 100m Hurdles – 17.24 (12th)

Madison Long – Triple Jump – 33’6.25″ (7th) / Long Jump – 16’1″ (9th)

Mackenzie Stellmach – 3200m – 11:24.65    (2nd) / 1600m – 5:29.89 (3rd)

Megan Brophy – 800m – 2:31.58 (9th)

Sophia Caporaletti – 400m – 1:02.28 (4th)

Jada Morales – 200m – 27.57 (11th)

Caitlin Shay – Pole Vault – 8’6″ (8th)

Emily Shuey – Long Jump – 16’1.5″ (7th)

Rowan Ulrich  – 100m Hurdles – 17.92 (16th)

The Falcons will be one of the most intriguing teams to watch at this year’s District Championship Meet, as they will vie for several medals and be in the hunt for multiple golds. Leading the charge will be Kaddel Howard, who is the heavy favorite in the 400m with a top time over 2.5 seconds faster than the next closest competitor. She is also the top seed in the 200m, which could set up one of the most anticipated races of the meet if she goes head-to-head with Spring Grove’s Laila Campbell, the three-time Pennsylvania State Champ in the event. Eliana Schneider will also contend for top medals in three events, all of which she put forth her top performances last week. Her record-breaking throw of 153’11” in the Javelin has her as the top seed by over twenty feet. Lizzie Lowe will be another one to watch as she enters the weekend as one of the District’s top 800m runners. This all sets up for some exciting relay options for Coach Bare, each of which could yield State qualification.

When asked about the meet, Bare said, “Cedar Crest is coming off a great League meet performance. We are excited for the opportunity in front of us, and that is performing our best at the District Championships. We are ready!”

4x400m Relay – 4:01.84 (5th)

4x800m Relay – 9:37.23 (3rd)

Eliana Schneider – Javelin – 153’1″   (1st) / High Jump – 5’6″ (2nd) / 800m – 2:17.64 (4th)

Kaddel Howard  – 200m – 24.26 (1st) / 400m – 53.63 (1st)

Opeyemi Ojo   – Long Jump – 17’6.5″ (8th) / Triple Jump – 35’1″ (19th)

Makenzie Wamsher – 300m Hurdles – 48.34 (24th) / 100m Hurdles – 16.99 (40th)

Hailee Kreiser – Pole Vault – 10’6″ (15th)

Lizzie Lowe – 800m – 2:17.54 (3rd)

Ruby Wolfe – Pole Vault – 10’6″ (15th)

Junior Makenna Haas has been having a fantastic season and now holds ELCO’s school records in both the Triple Jump and the Long Jump. She will contend for a top spot on the podium in the two events and will likely continue her season next weekend at States. Senior Sara Miller will be running in her last meet for ELCO and will look to put one last hallmark on her outstanding high school career before moving on to Flagler University.

Makenna Haas – Triple Jump – 37’6.5″ (4th) / Long Jump – 17’8.25″ (5th)

Sara Miller – 300m Hurdles – 48.74 (30th)

Zariyah Whigham has had an incredible career thus far. The senior now enters Districts as the top seed in the Triple Jump and will also contend for the Long Jump title. Her consistency and ability to perform under pressure should not be discounted. Overall, it is always worth noting that her ascendency to becoming one of the region’s top jumpers was done without having a pit in which to practice (until last week). 

Zariyah Whigham – Triple Jump – 39’1.25″ (1st) / Long Jump – 18’1.5″ (3rd)

The Cougars bring a large contingent to Shippensburg this year and have a chance to leave with several medals. Sofie Price enters the weekend as the #2 seed in the Javelin after winning the Mid Penn Championship Meet. The only thrower seeded higher is Eliana Schneider, whom she was able to defeat at the LebCo Championships. Abby Berarducci will be worth watching in the 1600m, as the Palmyra record holder will make a charge at State qualification. Her career-best time is just one tick off of the state qualifying standard. Elaina Potter could potentially win a medal in the Pole Vault, while freshman sprinter Maddy Waldron will take on the largest challenge of her young career.

4x400m Relay – 4:08.76 (15th)

4x800m Relay – 10:00.36 (15th)

Delaney Miller – 100m – 12.74 (27th) / 200m – 26.70 (37th)

Maddy Waldron– 100m – 12.58 (16th) /  200m – 26.23 (19th)

Abby Berarducci – 1600m – 5:09.06 (10th)

Carmen McConaghy – 300m Hurdles – 48.55 (27th)

Sofie Price – Javelin – 132’3″ (2nd)

Elaina Potter – Pole Vault – 10’10” (9th)

District 3 Track & Field Championships Time Schedule

Full District 3 Track & Field Program

Lancaster Lebanon League Championship Results

Mid Penn Championship Results

Lebanon County Meet Championship Results