Boys Track & Field: 2024 LebCo All-County Team

The LebCo male Track & Field athletes had an exceptional season, with many young men finishing on the podium at Leagues, Districts, and States. Given the number of high-level athletes competing from LebCo schools, the voting was highly competitive. Below is a full list of the honorees who were chosen following the intense process.

The 2024 LebCo Male Track & Field Athlete of the Year honor goes to Tyler Burgess, the Palmyra junior who asserted himself as Pennsylvania’s King of Hurdles when he won two gold medals at the PIAA State Championships.

Mason Bucks, also of Palmyra, finished the year and his high school career with an impressive resume that led to him being named the runner-up for LebCo Male Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Together, Burgess and Bucks helped Palmyra finish as the second-best team at States.

Thank you to everyone who took time to review the nominees and then vote. For more information on the nominees, you can go back to the nominations by clicking here.

Keep in mind, with the level of talent on all of the LebCo Track & Field rosters, even being nominated was an accomplishment. Congrats to all of the award winners.

LebCo Girls All-County Track & Field

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LebCo Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year

Tyler Burgess

Following two State medals in the Hurdles during his sophomore year, Burgess returned as a junior with the goal to become a State Champion. Throughout his quest, he was an unstoppable force. Nearly every week, Burgess was setting a new record, which included besting 1979 State Champion Hollis Pencheff’s school record in the 300m IM Hurdles. At the District 3 Championships, he then set a District 3 record in the 300 IM Hurdles and added a victory in the 110m High Hurdles with times that were good enough for the top seed in both events at the PIAA State Championships.

During Memorial Day weekend, Burgess blew out the field of the best hurdlers from across Pennsylvania to claim two gold medals. His time in the 110m High Hurdles was 13.74, while his 300m IM Hurdle time was 37.47. His 20 points helped Palmyra finish as a State runner-up in the team competition.

Throughout the season, Burgess used his skills to help the Cougars win their 5th straight Mid Penn Keystone Division Championship. This included joining his brother, Jacob, along with Jonathan and Travis McDannell, in running the 4x100m that finished 9th in the State.

Runner-up: Mason Bucks

Bucks capped off his storied high school career with a bronze medal finish in the Pole Vault at the PIAA State Championships, his third State medal in the event. His six points helped Palmyra to finish 2nd in the team standings.

Prior to States, Bucks was the District 3 Champion when he cleared 16’3″. At the LebCo Championships, Bucks broke the meet record that had stood since 1979 after finished 5th at the Penn Relays that were held earlier in the day.

After the high school season ended, Bucks returned to Franklin Field, the site of the Penn Relays, for the New Balance National Championship Meet. At the meet, Bucks cleared a height of 16’8.75″ to claim the National Championship.

In addition to being among the best Pole Vaulters anywhere, Bucks used his athleticism as a top-end High Jumper, an event in which he placed 4th at the Mid Penn Championships.

He is headed to Penn State University, where Bucks will continue his Track & Field career.

First Team All-County

Sprinter of the Year

Jalik Hill – Lebanon, Senior

Hill finished his high school career medaling with a 7th place in the 200m at the District 3 AAA Championships. He also placed 14th in the 400m. He earned two medals at the Lancaster Lebanon League Meet, coming in 3rd in the 200m and 4th in the 400m. Additionally, he was the LebCo Champ in the 400m event. His best times of the season were 22.60 for the 200m and 50.74 for the 400m. Hill is headed to Bloomsburg University, where he will continue his Track & Field career.

Distance Runner of the Year

Ramon Urena Batista – Lebanon, Senior

Urena Batista was a State Qualifier in the 1600m where he finished 26th overall. However, that only tells part of the story of his season. he won two medals at the Lancaster Lebanon League Championships, placing 5th in the 1600m and 7th in the 3200m. In the 800m, he was the LebCo Champion and then went on to finish 12th in the event at the District 3 Championships. His season-best time in the 800m was 1:57.49. His times of 4:17.18 in the 1600m and 9:30.16 in the 3200m were both Lebanon records. Urena Batista, who only began running following a boxing injury, is set to continue his Track & Field career at Shippensburg University.

Hurdler of the Year

Tyler Burgess – Palmyra, Junior

Jumper of the Year

Mason Bucks – Palmyra, Senior

Thrower of the Year

Dylan Groff – Cedar Crest, Sophomore

Groff had an incredible sophomore season throwing the Javelin. He won the gold medal at the Lancaster Lebanon Championship Meet in record-setting fashion with a throw of 180’6″. He then placed 5th at the District 3 Championships and 17th at the PIAA State Championships. Groff’s best throw of the season was 186’3″

Relay Team of the Year

Palmyra – 4x100m

The team consisted of two sets of brothers: Jacob Burgess, Tyler Burgess, Jonathan McDannell, and Travis McDannell. They were the LebCo Champions and went on to place 3rd at the Mid Penn Championships. They then placed 6th at the District 3 AAA Championships and qualified for States on time. At the PIAA State Championships, this talented team finished just shy of the podium with a 9th-place finish. Their season-best time was 42.51. All of the members of this team will return next season except Jonathan McDannell, who is headed to Mansfield University to continue his athletic career.

Second Team All-County

Sprints: Jacob Burgess – Palmyra, Junior

Distance: David Moran – Annville-Cleona, Sophomore

Hurdles: Jonathan McDannell – Palmyra, Senior

Jumps: Jacob Burgess – Palmyra, Junior

Throws: Tanner Feagley – Northern Lebanon, Senior

Relay: Annville-Cleona – 4x800m

Link to the Nominations

All-County Honorable Mention

Sprints: Collin Readinger – ELCO, Sophomore

Distance: Tyler Shunk – Northern Lebanon, Senior

Hurdles: Luke Macchione – ELCO, Senior

Jumps: Leo Tirado – Cedar Crest, Senior

Throws: Alex Kissinger – Cedar Crest, Junior

Relay: Lebanon – 4x400m

The nominations for this honor were done by the coaches.  The final rankings were compiled based on votes by the coaches, our writers, and the members of the LebCoSports.com community.