District 3 track and field: Day 2 highlights and results
Day two of the District 3 Track and Field Championships kicked off on Saturday, with athletes from Adams, Franklin, Lebanon and York counties looking to build off the success of trials and take home some gold medals.
There were already a few gold medals handed out on Friday, with a few area athletes taking top spots:
Claire Paci, Greencastle-Antrim, Class 3A Girls 3200 meters
Weber Long, Greencastle-Antrim, Class 3A Boys 3200 meters
Matthew Nawn, Hanover, Class 2A Boys 3200 meters
Noah Gunderson, Annville-Cleona, Class 2A Boys high jump
JJ Kelly, Chambersburg, Class 3A Boys triple jump
After a rainy start Friday, Saturday was nothing but sun and heat, with the high expected to hit 90 degrees in Shippensburg.
Campbell adds to her legacy with record-setting weekend
Laila Campbell got off the podium and tried to slink away unnoticed.
Of course, there was no chance of that.
The Spring Grove runner was stopped by multiple District 3 officials ― to have her picture taken and to have her hand shaken. One person remarked that members of Spring Grove's state-qualifying boys' 400-meter relay don't think they're good enough to run with her.
Some boys' runners from other schools called her "The GOAT" as she passed by them.
"I'm just used to it," she said about the attention while barely breaking a smile. "I don't let it get to me."
Campbell added two more gold medals to her trophy case Saturday. She took first in the 100-meter dash (11.63 seconds) and 200-meter dash (25.01 seconds).
This after setting District 3 records in both events in the semifinals Friday. Her mark of 11.61 in the 100 broke Reading’s Chris Robertson's 31-year-old mark of 11.70. Her time of 23.93 in the 200 broke a record just set last year.
By herself.
Campbell is used to competing against herself. After winning state gold medals in both her events last season, she usually knows it's a forgone conclusion she will take first place in high school races. She needs to find other ways to motivate herself.
"I'm trying to PR every meet. Which I know is hard to do, but that's my goal for every meet," Campbell said. "I'm happy with what I did here, especially running three rounds of everything in this heat."
This season had a different feel to it for Campbell than last year. She decided not to play high school basketball in order to run indoor track in the winter. She said that let her train "hard" as soon as the spring season began this year.
She's often found herself "chasing" after the Spring Grove boys' runners in practice ―including her older brother, Chris ― as she looks to stay motivated.
Still, the same goals remain. She hopes to win two more gold medals at the state championships last week. Then she'll be competing at New Balance Nationals in the middle of June in Philadelphia.
"We're going to start peaking and see how we do," said about states with a small smile. "I want to break some more records and then next year break my own records."
York County's other returning state champion, Dallastown's Kristian Phennicie, was not able to repeat as District 3 champion in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. He took a DQ in the 100, but still qualified for states in the 200 with a third-place time of 21.97 seconds.
Football star finishing high school career in style
Anthony Smith admitted his head is racing.
The Shippensburg senior is approaching graduating and hoping to finish his high school athletic career with a big performance at the state championships next week. He's also turning 18 during the championships.
And then he's leaving to begin his college football career two days after the championships. He needs to report to the University of Minnesota on June 2.
"But it's a happy feeling," he said. "I couldn't be happier. I don't think it will affect me much next week. It's been a long time coming and I'm 100% ready to go to Minnesota and I'm excited to compete at states.
Known for his exploits of the football field and basketball court, the 6-foot-6, 280-pound Smith ― with massive hands to match ― added to his legacy with a District 3 Class 3A title in the discus Saturday. He entered as the No. 3 seed but finished first with a school-record throw of 164 feet, seven inches. His top throw this season had been 154 feet, eight inches.
His winning throw came on his first attempt of the day. Dallastown's Gavin Wentz finished second place at 150 feet, three inches.
Smith didn't even compete at the District 3 track and field championships last season. He said he didn't do much with track his first two years of high school but started working on it more last year and this year.
"I was super excited, but I know the other guys in my heat can really throw and they could beat me," Smith said. "I'm thanking my lucky stars that they didn't really hit a throw. I'm really, really happy to get the school record and this (gold medal) is just something added on top."
"I'm truly blessed to have the opportunity to win districts and go on to the state meet, but it's bittersweet that it's the end of my high school career."
Fairfield runner wins a bet ― and gold medal.
Fairfield's Emily Dennison was extremely nervous.
A year after taking second in the Class 2A 300-meter hurdles, she was the top seed by a good margin. That added more pressure in her mind, and she needed something to ease the tension.
A bet with Green Knights coach Grant Smith helped her relax.
"We said if I won, he has to shave his beard," said Dennison, who added the bet was first made before the season. "That was a big motivator because everyone wants to see him without a beard on.
Dennison took first place with a season-best time of 47.11 seconds. She easily topped Greenwood's Rebekah Brinser, who took second with a time of 48 seconds.
Dennison has plenty of motivation entering next week's state championships. In her first appearance at states last year, she said she had a seed time just over 48 seconds but finished in over 50 seconds.
A Seton Hill commit, she said she's learned to clear her head entering big meets.
"I young and I was so in my head," Dennison said. "I'm hoping to place this year. "You've got to forget everything going on in your head. You've got to relax and know what you're going to do. I was determined I wanted to do it this year. I wanted it so bad."
Shippensburg runner's confidence fuels surprise win
It might've been an upset on paper, but not to Jillian Sydnor.
The Shippensburg junior entered the Class 3A 400-meter dash seeded third behind the Cumberland Valley duo of Riley Ebersole and Mia Boardman. But Sydnor beat the pair at a regional meet last week, giving her confidence entering Saturday.
That confidence led to the best performance of her season. Sydnor won gold with a time of 55.67 seconds ―better than her seed time of 56.19. Ebersole (56.31) took second while Boardman (56.40) took third.
"Coming into this I felt more comfortable with myself running against them because I knew I could beat them," she said. "They're both amazing track athletes. It just makes you feel good to compete against better athletes."
Sydnor will compete at the state championships for the first time next week. She said she's interested in running in college but doesn't have a plan yet.
"I feel comfortable going to states now," she said about winning districts. "Can't wait to see what happens."
Bermudian Springs going for the gold
Alison Watts acknowledged this year has been different.
Last year, she took the state by surprise on her way to winning a state title in the Class 2A triple jump as a wide-eyed and shy freshman. This year has brought a new level of pressure.
She also battled a foot injury early in the season and had a disappointing fourth place finish in the long jump (16-4) Friday.
But she bounced back Saturday with a first-place performance in the triple jump with a mark of 36 feet, 10 inches. Her best mark this season is 39-01 ―better than her state title-winning jump of 38-4.5 from last year.
A year ago, Watts admitted she didn't know what the state championships were at the beginning of the season. But she has a much higher awareness now.
"There's more pressure because there's more expectation than last year," Watts said. "I'm really excited for states. I'm kinda nervous but I'm always nervous for meets. I'm excited to see what I can do and what everyone else can do."
It was an impressive morning for Bermudian Springs, as they took home two gold medals in the morning, and even had a chance at some records.
Lilyana Carlson rose above the competition in the 2A pole vault, taking home the gold medal with a jump of 11-0, a foot higher than second place. Lilly LaBure took home the gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.83, her second straight gold medal in the event.
"It feels great," Carlson said. "Beyond my expectations."
After her victory was decided, she had a couple of attempts at the district record, which was at 11-7, set in 2016. Her attempts came just short.
"I was pretty close on my second attempt, Carlson said. "I almost thought I had it."
But now she heads to states, hoping to get another chance at some medals and maybe a record.
"I definitely wanted to PR and get 11 feet, but I was pretty excited when I got 10-6, qualify for states," Carlson said. "A lot of emotions."
That wasn't the only success Carlson had on Saturday, finishing second in the 100m hurdles. But it was her teammate, LaBure, who just got the edge.
LaBure had some rough trials that led her to be seeded fourth entering Saturday.
"Yesterday I had some rough races," LaBure said. "So I knew I really had to have my best race today."
She did just that, bouncing back in a big way.
"I was nervous, I was very anxious going into today, but I knew what I had to do," LaBure said. "I had to just stay calm and do what I do best."
Shippensburg bounce back
Friday didn't go as planned for Spencer Edey.
Coming into the triple jump, Edey was thought to be a top contender, but the rainy conditions made things difficult, as he finished fifth.
He got his redemption on Saturday in the long jump, coming out on top with a 21-10.75.
"I feel like I do better in warmer weather, so I was more loose, and while I was jumping I felt better," Edey said after the competition.
The rain delay threw a lot of things off on Friday, and Edey, who made states in both events last year, was poised to do it again.
"I was going to do what I do best."
Edey wasn't the only Shippensburg jumper with a big day Saturday. Senior Dakota Arena won the high jump with a mark of six feet, six inches. He entered as the top seed with a top jump of 7-0.
Palmyra relay blazes to first place
The quartet of Jose Morales, Kasen Bixler, Quinton Townsend and Anthony Mansfield lived up to the hype Saturday.
Palmyra's boys' 400-meter relay took first place in Class 3A with a time of 42.56 seconds. The Cougars entered as the top seed.
Spring Grove (Zyree Brooks, Andres Strode, Patrick Dab, Alex Smith) took third with a time 43.16 and Cedar Crest (Kyle Rauchut, Nick Garman, Joseph Santiago, Gabe Lewis) took fifth with a time of 43.26 to qualify for states.
Dallastown was seeded second but suffered a DQ and did not place.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: District 3 track and field: Laila Campbell has record-setting weekend
