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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – A number of standout performances and a pair of tight team races highlighted a banner day at the District 10 Class 2A Track and Field Championships from Slippery Rock University’s Mihalik-Thompson Stadium on Saturday.
In the end, the Slippery Rock girls prevailed by two points over Wilmington for the girls’ title and the Grove City boys edged Wilmington, 89-79. The win marked a 3-peat for the GC boys, while the Slippery Rock girls won again after capturing 3A in 2019.
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It was a 3-peat for the Grove City boys on Saturday
The Grove City 4×400 relay team won in the final event of the day to put them over the top, a team paced by Trey Reznor, Hunter Harris, Josh Dreves, and Ryan Locktosh to clinch the victory.
For the girls, the Slippery Rock duo of Anna Kadlubek and Maryann Ackerman helped lead them to the team title. Kadlubek took first in the 100 (12.52) and 200 (25.60). Ackerman, meanwhile, won the javelin (140-4) and discus (114-9).
“I wanted to get a good throw in and my first one was pretty good,” said Ackerman of her toss in the javelin. “The goal was to qualify and win and I did that.”
Grove City’s Gabe Nichols had a lot to do with the team triumph for the Eagles, nabbing a win in the 1600, his signature event, as well as the 3200 with a time of 9:34.01.
“The 1600 has always been my strong suit,” Nichols said. “Going into states I feel really confident about that. In the 3200, I don’t really run it much, but I know that I can run fast times in it. Today it was all about points with the 32.”
For the girls, Grove City star Abby Steffler took first in both the 800 (2:22.35) and 1600 (5:23.91).
Wilmington’s Lindsey Martineau was also brilliant, sweeping the hurdle races with times of 15.19 and 47.11, respectively.
Also for the Wilmington girls, Lizzie Miles won the 400 (59.88) and Grace Mason the 800 (2:20.05). They teamed with Martineau and Becka Book to win the 4×100 relay as well (51.01).
Other gold medalists on the girls’ side included Reynolds’ Grace Bresnan in the triple jump (33-6 ¼), Grove City, Fairview’s Maddie Hayes in the 1600 (5:07.44), edging Conneaut’s Meara Shannon by just over a second. Shannon went on to win the 3200 (11:13.39) by nearly 14 seconds.
Anna Bayer of Fort LeBouef cleared 5-0 to win the high jump, while Oil City’s Emma Horn won the pole vault at 10-6 and North East’s Mercedes Myers the shot put at 36-6 ½.
For the Class 2A boys, Youngsville’s Jake Hogg captured first in both the high jump (6-5) and triple jump (44-10 1/4.). It was Hogg’s third D10 title in the high jump.
“I felt pretty good,” Hogg said. “It’s been great. I was so excited for today after not being able to compete last year.”
Wilmington’s Connor Vass-Gal was also a double winner in the field, winning the shot put (66-6 ¾) and discus (152-3). His throw in the shot came very close to breaking the D-10 mark set by Hickory’s Evan Blaire in 2017 of 66-10 ½.
Hickory’s Cole Frazier was a double winner on the track, taking the 400 (50.51) and 800 (1:57.7).
Titusville had a pair of winners on the track, including Kaleb Sopher in the 100 (11.31) and Frank Barger in the 110 hurdles (15.52).
Also for Wilmington, Ethan Susen sprinted to a win in the 200 in 22.85 and teamed with Darren Miller, Luke Edwards and Trevor Sturgeon to win gold in the 4×1 (43.95).
The 300 hurdles belonged to Wilmington’s Ty Tate (41.18), while Lakeview’s Isaac Lightcap won gold in the pole vault (14-0), Dietrich Williams the long jump (21-10) and Oil City’s Sean Stack the javelin (166-4), nipping Luke Faber of Reynolds (163-11.).
The top two place-winners and those who met state qualifying standards advanced to next Friday’s PIAA championships at Shippensburg University.
