Matthew Knaub: Mifflin's Ermold, Wyomissing's Williams win golds at first day of BCIAA Track and Field Championships
May 13—Two throwers dominated on the first day of the at the 79th annual William H. Firing Memorial Victory Meet on Thursday at Shillington.
Gov. Mifflin senior Annika Ermold and Wyomissing junior Jven Williams both won two titles at the meet that serves as the Berks championships, earning gold medals in the shot put and discus.
Ermold won the shot put at 40-0.5 and the discus at 127-1, a season best. The county titles are the first of her career.
"It's such an honor," Ermold said. "It means the world to me, especially on my home court."
After suffering an ankle injury earlier in the spring, Ermold was able to recover and win medals at the Leonard Stephan Invitational and Panther Invitational earlier this season. She will continue her senior season next week at the District 3 Championships at Shippensburg University.
"I'm just blessed to have this opportunity," Ermold said. "I'm thankful to be a county champion."
Williams won the shot put at 61-10, tying a career best. He won the discus at 167-8.
"It felt really amazing to be able to win both," Williams said. "This is a really big achievement for me."
In what Williams said likely will be his final season of track and field, he won multiple medals at the county championships for the first time in his career. He won the county championship in discus last year.
"My goal was to stay calm and collected," said Williams, an offensive lineman who committed to Penn State in February. "I stayed cool and ended up hitting a couple big ones."
Other boys event winners from the first day of the county championships included: 3200: Anthony Engle, Twin Valley, 9:39.73; javelin: Collin Niedrowski, Wyomissing, 164-7; long jump: Gabe Sample, Muhlenberg, 22-2.75; triple jump: Amory Thompson, Wyomissing, 44-5.5; high jump: Justin Walker, Reading High, 6-1; and pole vault: Camden Gehris, Tulpehocken, 13-9.
Other girls event winners from the first day of the county championships included: 3200: Caryn Rippey, Wilson, 11:00.08l javelin: Samara Eschleman, Muhlenberg, 117-04; long jump: Madison Ziska, Schuylkill Valley, 17-0.5; triple jump: Alice Bogia, Oley Valley, 34-10; high jump: Laura Biegel, Twin Valley, 4-11; and pole vault: Juniper Sherman-Bauroth, Exeter, 9-3.
Niedrowski won the boys javelin and Rippey the girls 3200 for the second straight season.
The meet will resume Saturday at 10 a.m.
