Track & Field: League Championship Weekend – LebCo Preview

Below is a team-by-team breakdown of some of the top LebCo athletes to look for at this weekend’s Lancaster Lebanon League Championship and Mid Penn Conference Championship. These are based on seedings, so do not be surprised if an athlete not listed ends up bringing home some hardware from their respective meet.

One thing to keep in mind: Leagues is not a direct qualifier for next week’s District 3 Championship Meet. Qualification for Districts is based off of performances, which could have happened at any point during the season.

Stay with us all weekend as we attempt to bring you all of the news through our social media accounts and on the website.

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Lancaster Lebanon League Championship

The Lancaster Lebanon League Championship Meet will take place at Hempfield High School over the course of two days. Several events are scheduled for Friday evening, though the weather forecast has already started to force some changes. The bulk of the meet will occur on Saturday, with many of the finals being contested. Here is a full schedule of the weekend. If you are interested in watching a livesteam of the meet, you can do so by visiting our friend Central PA Runner’s YouTube page.

Here is a list of the full seedings.

Girls

Annville will look to build on their momentum from the regular season as they look to repeat as District 3 AA Champions in 2024. Look for Miracle Hershey in the 100m (10th seed) and Kendall Cooper in the 200m (6th seed) to challenge for medals. Mackenzie Stellmach and Emily Maag will look to factor into the outcome of the 3200m before Stellmach challenges for a medal on Saturday in the 1600m. Among the main things to watch from the Dutchmen is their sprint relays as they enter the LL Championships with the 4th ranked 4x100m and the 5th ranked 4x400m, which each will feature the line-up of Hershey, Cooper, Jada Morales, and Sophia Caporaletti.

The Falcons can bring home several medals this weekend, including several golds. They will be headlined by Kaddel Howard, who enters the meet as the top seed in the 200m and 400m. The defending State 400m Champion sat out last year’s League Meet due to a nagging injury. She is now healthy and is the heavy favorite in both races. 

Another one to watch is Eliana Schneider, last year’s League Champ in the Javelin. She is the favorite to repeat in Jav, but is also the top-seed in the High Jump. Additionally, the sophomore is the #2 seed in the 800m, an event where teammate Lizzie Lowe (10th seed) could factor into the medal count.

Other Crest athletes to look for are Makenzie Wamsher (300 IM Hurdles), Emma Pavlesich (400m), Nachali Manon Aquino (Discus), Hailee Kreiser (Pole Vault), and Ruby Wolfe (Pole Vault).

When it comes to relays, watch out for the 4x800m, whose time ranks them as the #2 seed, just .1 behind Conestoga Valley. The 4x400m also laid down a 4:01.6 on Monday and will now enter as the #3 seed.

Makenna Haas will offer the Raiders their best chance at medaling. She enters the meet as the #2 seed in the Triple Jump and the #4 seed in the Long Jump. Also, look for Sara Miller in the 300m IM Hurdles, as she could find her way onto the podium.

Zariyah Whigham enters as the heavy favorite to win her 2nd straight LL League Championship in the Triple Jump. She is also the #3 seeded Long Jumper entering the weekend. What helps Whigham is that she won both of these events at the Black Knight Invitational, proving that she is ready for the runways that can often prove to be a challenge for other athletes.

Liliana Harrison will also be worth watching as she tries to medal in the Shot Put for the 3rd straight year.

Ayva Sechman will be seeking a medal when she enters the Shot Put as the #10 seed. It is worth nothing that many of her best throws have come in recent meets.

Boys

The biggest surprise of this past week was the ascendancy of sophomore David Moran, who enters the League Championship Meet as the top seed in the 800m. If he can come anywhere close to maintaining his 1:55.60, Moran could upset the balance of power in the LL. Landon Hostetter and Oliver Funck will also be worth watching in the 1600m. Also, be on the lookout for Annville’s 4x800m, who is entering the meet as the #5 seed.

The Falcons could have a chance for several medals. Junior Dylan Groff may be the most exciting athlete overall, as he enters the meet as the #2 seed in the Javelin and also has a chance to medal in the Triple Jump. Another event worth watching is the High Jump, where Leo Tirado and Cam Tirado are tied as the #4 seed. In the Field, Triistan Long and Alex Kissinger could bring home medals. Charlie Joffy (400m, #6 seed) and Reed Fretz (110m HH, #9 seed) could find their way onto the podium. In addition to the individuals, the 4x100m will enter as the #2 seed.

While ELCO has the opportunity for some outstanding performances, it’s their 4x400m that could earn them their highest medal. Having had recent success in the event, they will enter as the #5 seed with a time of 3:31.34. Chad Keller, a member of the relay team, will also look to find his way onto the podium in the 1600m.

Lebanon will flex some top-end talent led by seniors Ramon Urena Batista and Jalik Hill. Urena Batista enters the weekend as the #5 seed in the 1600m and the #6 seed in the 800m. Hill is the #3 seed in the 400m and the #5 seed in the 200m. Look out for Tyler Long to be in the running for the medal in the 400m (#7 seed). Sophomores Eddie Ferrer (Jumps) and Malachi Briddell (100m) could also have performances that could surprise many people.

The strength of Lebanon will also be shown in the form of its relays. The 4x800m will look to medal while improving upon their time of 8:11.08 that has them ranked as the #4 seed. The 4x400m will do that same as they look to challenge for a top spot on the podium as they enter the meet as the #3 seed with a time of 3:29. 

Tyler Shunk and Tanner Feagley will be the two Vikings most worth watching. Shunk has a chance at medaling in the 3200m (#8 seed) and the 1600m (#11 seed). Given his ability to push himself to the limits, this weekend could mean that he outpaces several of his higher ranked competitors. Tanner Feagley enters at the #5 seed in the Javelin and also has shown that he could put out a medal winning throw in the Discus.

Mid Penn Conference Championship

The Mid Penn Conference Championship Meet will take place on Saturday at Chambersburg High School. Among the teams attending will be the Palmyra Cougars. Below is a breakdown of what you might expect from our LebCo athletes that are representing the 17078.

For more information, check out theMid Penn performance lists.

Girls

Palmyra has a chance to bring home several shiny medals. Sofie Price is the top seed in the Javelin, while a pair of school record holders have an opportunity to climb high onto the podium. Freshman Maddy Waldron is the #3 seed in the 100m and is also the #8 seed in the 200m. Senior Abby Berarducci is the #4 seed in the 1600m and will also challenge for a medal in the 800m. Both Waldron and Berarducci will also factor heavily into the 4x400m and 4x800m relays, each with a great chance of winning a medal.

Off of the track, look for Elaina Potter to add to her medal collection. The junior will enter the Pole Vault as the #4 seed.

Boys

The Cougars have the chance to steal the show at the the Mid Penn Conference Championships. They will be led by Tyler Burgess, who is the heavy favorite to win both the Hurdles events. Jacob Burgess also has an opportunity to take three individual medals, as he is the #2 seed in the Long Jump and the #7 seed in both the 100m and 200m. The two brothers will join forces with Jonathan and Travis McDannell in the 4x100m, which they are the #2 seed.

Jonathan McDannell will look to medal in both Hurdle events, and he will enter as the #4 seed in the 110m High Hurdles and the #7 seed in the 300m IM Hurdles. In a sign of Palmyra’s hurdling prowess, Noah Stewart is also a top-eight seed in the High Hurdles.

Senior Mason Bucks also has a chance to bring home multiple individual medals as he is the #3 seed in the Pole Vault and the #6 seed in the High Jump. Cornelius Cummings has a chance to medal in both the 1600m and 3200m. In the Field, Cade Palmer enters as the #11 seed but could make his way onto the podium with a solid throw.

In addition to the 4x100m, the 4x400m (#6) and the 4x800m (#7) each have a chance to medal.