The Bigger the Meet, the Higher Noah Gunderson Jumps and the Shinier the Gold

BY JEFF FALK

 Editor

 SHIPPENSBURG – First, Noah Gunderson competed against the field. Then, he competed against himself.

He found the competitions to be equally challenging and rewarding, partly because Gunderson emerged victorious in each.

On a muggy Friday at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium, the Annville-Cleona junior was Lebanon County’s lone gold medal winner during the opening day of the 97^th annual District Three Track and Field Championships. Gunderson captured top honors in the boys’ Class AA high jump with a personal-best of 6-6.

While Gunderson’s effort was certainly the most spectacular, it was one of a host of solid showings turned in by Lebanon County student-athletes at the district meet. Among the locale’s District Three medal haul were three silvers and a pair of bronzes.

The District Three meet will continue on Saturday at 9 a.m. and conclude later tomorrow afternoon.

“Everybody was jumping 6-0, and I hadn’t had that type of competition all year,” said Gunderson. “I’m happy I had good competition, because it really pushed me. I was so nervous. I was so ready this week.

“When I won, I was so excited, but then I had to focus on the next height,” continued Gunderson. “It was a good day at the biggest meet of my high school career. My goal was 6-6 and I’m so happy I got it. I’m on top of the world right now.”

Gunderson secured the gold medal and the championship with his second try at 6-2. Then he cleared 6-4, and 6-6 on his third try, and fell just short of clearing 6-7.

Gunderson’s Little Dutchman teammate Da. Modric Green finished in a three-way tie for second in the event by leaping 6-0.

“My back has been bothering me a little bit,” said Gunderson. “But today, I felt amazing. I was so surprised I got 6-6. Going into my high school career, I never thought I’d get 6-6. So to get it at districts as a junior is amazing.

“I was so close to 6-7,” added Gunderson. “I think I can get it next week. But if I could get to 6-8, that would be crazy.”

The high jump gold medal was Gunderson’s third of the postseason, after previously winning championships at the Lebanon County Track and Field Championships and the Lancaster-Lebanon League meet. Last season as a sophomore, Gunderson finished as the runner-up in the boys’ Class AA high jump.

But for Annville-Cleona senior Braetan Peters, Friday’s result in the girls’ 3200-meter run was a little less satisfying. Seeded first, Peters ran second to Wyomissing’s Addie Cohen.

Peters battled Cohen neck-and-neck for the first four laps, before the Wyomissing sophomore took control. Peters, who was clocked in 11:35.28, had finished third in the Class 3200-meter run as a junior in 2021.

“I definitely like leading out and setting the pace,” said Peters, who will be seeking another medal in Saturday’s 1600-meter race. “For the first half of the race, I set the pace. But on the fifth lap, she did make a move and I tried to stay with her. I was more focused on place than time today. It’s not what I wanted.

“It was really hot and I tried to focus on fighting through it,” Peters continued. “I was hoping to stay with the top three. I tried to stick along with Addie and she pulled away. We’re not used to running in this heat.”

If Peters’ runner-up performance was a bit of a disappointment, Elco’s Carissa Bender’s silver medal in the Class AAA girls’ pole vault was a pleasant surprise. Bender cleared 11-6, while the Lancaster-Lebanon League champion Katie Urbine of Solanco won with a height of 12-0.

Another local surprise came from Annville-Cleona freshman Ava Hoover, who took third in the girls’ Class AA high jump with a mark of 4-10. Palmyra’s Mason Bucks, a sophomore, collected a bronze medal in the boys’ Class AAA pole vault with a 14-3.

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