PIAA State Track & Field Championships – Day 1: Lebanon County Athletes Collect Four Medals, Set Stage for More

 

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PIAA State Track & Field Championships – Day 1: Lebanon County Athletes Collect Four Medals, Set Stage for More

On Friday, the PIAA State Track & Field Championships kicked off under cool and cloudy conditions at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium, where Pennsylvania’s best gathered for the opening day of the two-day meet.

With the top eight finishers in each event earning State medals, Lebanon County athletes turned in a tremendous Day 1 effort, collecting four medals while also putting several more athletes in position to add to that total on Saturday. Makenzie Wamsher medaled for Cedar Crest in the Girls AAA 1600m, while Annville-Cleona’s Oliver Funck medaled in the Boys AA 1600m, Palmyra’s Jaxton Barger reached the podium in the Boys AAA Pole Vault, and Annville-Cleona’s Dominic Wentling earned a medal in the Boys AA Discus.

Between those gutsy podium finishes, finals qualifiers, near-misses, and one of the state’s biggest storylines surrounding Cedar Crest superstar Kaddel Howard, the county was well represented on the Commonwealth’s biggest stage.

Girls Recap

Makenzie Wamsher got Cedar Crest on the medal stand in the Girls AAA 1600m, earning Lebanon County’s first medal of the weekend with an 8th-place finish in 4:55.53. After missing much of the season while dealing with injury concerns, Wamsher delivered when it mattered most, closing her final lap in 1:11.97 and passing two competitors late to secure her final medal position on the podium.

In the Girls AAA 100m, Palmyra junior Maddy Waldron nearly punched her ticket to Saturday’s final in her first State appearance in the event. Waldron ran 12.16 in the prelims, which stood as the 8th-fastest time overall, but the advancement format sent the five heat winners and next three fastest times into the final. That left Waldron 9th overall, just .01 behind the final qualifying time.

Adding to the frustration, a questionable false start reversal in the previous heat played into how the final qualifying picture unfolded. Still, Waldron’s performance placed her right on the edge of the State final and gives the junior plenty to build on heading into her senior season.

The biggest headline of the day came from Kaddel Howard, who entered the Girls AAA 400m as Pennsylvania’s three-time defending outdoor champion in the event. The University of Florida commit ran 54.37 in the prelims, the fastest qualifying time in the field, putting herself in position to chase another State title on Saturday.

However, an injury flare-up later forced Howard to scratch from the 200m. Her status for Saturday’s 400m final will be a game-time decision, with her planned trip to the National Championship in three weeks likely factoring into the decision.

With Howard unavailable for the Girls AAA 4x400m Relay, Cedar Crest adjusted its lineup as Jordan Ketner joined Makenzie Wamsher, Ryan Stopper, and Eliana Schneider. The Falcons finished 30th in 4:24.08.

Boys Recap

Annville-Cleona’s distance group helped lead the boys side of Lebanon County’s Day 1 performance, highlighted by Oliver Funck earning a State medal in the Boys AA 1600m. Funck improved his personal best by .33 seconds, crossing the line in 4:16.70 to finish 6th in Pennsylvania.

It was a smart, strategic race from Funck, who opened with a 2:10 through the first 800m before closing strong in 2:06 over the final half of the race. With one individual State medal already secured, the Dutchmen senior will look to add another on Saturday when he returns for the Boys AA 3200m.

Teammate Benjamin Boyd, a junior, also turned in a strong 1600m effort, finishing 14th in 4:23.55. David Moran, the defending Boys AA 800m State Champion, treated the 1600m as part of his preparation for Saturday’s title defense, finishing 34th in 4:56.97.

A short time later, Cedar Crest senior Landen Weaber ran 10.88 in the Boys AAA 100m prelims to finish 13th overall. Weaber then came back in the Boys AAA 4x100m Relay, joining Isaiah Zimmerman, Nolan Lingle, and Cam Tirado for one of the Falcons’ biggest moments of the day. Together they clocked a 42.29 to finish 2nd in their heat while posting the 6th-fastest time in the prelims. That performance moved the Falcons into Saturday’s State final, giving the group a chance to chase a medal on the final day of the season.

Palmyra senior Jaxton Barger also delivered on the State stage, earning the first State medal of his career in the Boys AAA Pole Vault. The two-time defending District 3 Champion cleared 14’3” to finish 7th, putting a fitting final stamp on a tremendous high school career for the Cougars standout.

In the Boys AA Discus, Annville-Cleona sophomore Dominic Wentling added another medal for the Dutchmen. The District 3 Champion qualified for the finals with a throw of 153’1”, then saved his best for last, launching the discus 153’5” on his final throw to secure 8th place. Among all non-seniors in the event, Wentling finished 2nd, making his State medal even more impressive. The Dutchmen sophomore will have a chance to add a second State medal on Saturday afternoon when he enters the Shot Put as the #2-ranked thrower.

Annville-Cleona’s Boys AA 4x400m Relay team of Sam Cantor, Benjamin Boyd, Jon Moran, and David Moran finished 12th in 3:28.68. The Dutchmen made a strong late push, with Jon Moran running a 52.04 third leg that moved the team up five spots before David Moran anchored in 49.49 to gain six more positions in the final standings.

What’s Next?

Several Lebanon County athletes will return to action Saturday with medals and State titles still in play. Cedar Crest’s Boys 4x100m Relay will race in the AAA final, while Kaddel Howard remains a game-time decision for the Girls AAA 400m final after posting the fastest qualifying time on Friday.

Among the other biggest stars to watch will be Cedar Crest’s Eliana Schneider, who will chase medals in the Javelin, High Jump, and 800m. Annville-Cleona’s David Moran will look to defend his Boys AA 800m State Championship, Oliver Funck will return for the Boys AA 3200m, and Dominic Wentling will chase another medal in the Boys AA Shot Put.

Good luck to all Lebanon County athletes competing on Saturday at Ship!

See below for the full list of Day 1 Lebanon County results. Medalists are this color. Saturday’s qualifiers are this color.

 

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Full Lebanon County Results

Girls

AAA

100m Prelims
9th – Maddy Waldron (Palmyra) – 12.16

400m Prelims
1st – Kaddel Howard (Cedar Crest) – 54.37
Qualified for Saturday’s final

1600m
8th – Makenzie Wamsher (Cedar Crest) – 4:55.53

200m
Kaddel Howard (Cedar Crest) – Scratched

4x400m Relay
30th – Cedar Crest (Jordan Ketner, Makenzie Wamsher, Ryan Stopper, Eliana Schneider) – 4:24.08

Boys

AAA

100m Prelims
13th – Landen Weaber (Cedar Crest) – 10.88

4x100m Relay Prelims
6th – Cedar Crest (Isaiah Zimmerman, Nolan Lingle, Cam Tirado, Landen Weaber) – 42.29
Qualified for Saturday’s final

Pole Vault
7th – Jaxton Barger (Palmyra) – 14’3”

AA

1600m
6th – Oliver Funck (Annville-Cleona) – 4:16.70
14th – Benjamin Boyd (Annville-Cleona) – 4:23.55
34th – David Moran (Annville-Cleona) – 4:56.97

4x400m Relay
12th – Annville-Cleona (Sam Cantor, Benjamin Boyd, Jon Moran, David Moran) – 3:28.68

Discus
8th – Dominic Wentling (Annville-Cleona) – 153’5”

Full Meet Results