Throwers Have A Field Day At Pennsylvania State Meet

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

It’s hard to believe but Friday’s historic discus title was a first for Schuylkill Valley’s Ashley Giles. At the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State Track and Field Championships held at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium, Giles launched the disc 165 feet, 4 inches to win the AA title and break the state meet record of 162-10, set in 1997 by Heather Colyer. Giles added to her impressive day winning the shot put title (49-2.25) while guiding her team to a co-state championship, as Schuylkill tied North Schuylkill with 39 points. 

Giles, ranked US#3 in the discus, already holds the overall state record of 169-3, which she achieved earlier this month at the BCIAA Firing Meet. 

Other highlights from girls AA action included Girard College senior Marget Conteh winning the 400 in a PIAA state meet record of 54.27. Conteh also won the 200 title in 24.58.

Shady Side senior Melissa Riggins claimed her third straight 1,600-meter title (4:48.91) and won the 800 (2:10.62).

Bishop McDevitt’s Taleea Buxton won a final state title for her school, as it was announced last Fall that Bishop McDevitt would close permanently at the end of the academic year. The sophomore won the 100 hurdles in 14.73. 

In boys AA competition on Friday, US#4 shot putter Connor Vass-Gal of Wilmington won the shot put (62-6.25) and finished second in the discus (158-9). 

Also in the throws, Bedford senior Elija Cook won the javelin (192-5), a current US#23, making him the fifth boy from Pennsylvania to be ranked in the top 25 this spring. 

The Southern Columbia Area boys ran away with the team title, scoring 62 points. Runner-up was Scranton Preparatory with 26 points. Junior Jake Rose won the 110 hurdles (14.10), 300 hurdles (39.22) and ran on the winning 4x100 (42.59) and runner-up 4x400 (3:27.83) for Southern Columbia. 

Saturday, May 29 - AAA

Weather conditions were less than ideal Saturday morning, but Gary Martin continued to shine. The junior from Archbishop Wood started off the AAA Championships by breaking the meet record in the 3,200-meter race, clocking 8:54.87. Martin, who holds the US#9 spot currently, broke the previous record of 8:55.60 set in 2005 by Zach Brehm of Carlisle. Martin nearly broke the 1,600 record as well, as he finished first in 4:08.67. He added a fifth place finish in the 800 (1:55.45) to lead his team to a fourth place finish with 24 points. 

In the team race, the State College boys defended their title from 2019, scoring 36 points.     

In the throws, Collin Burkhart of Nazareth Area beat out US#1 javelin thrower Matthew Prebola of Tunkhannock for the AAA title. Burkhart, ranked No. 3, threw 208-6 to claim the crown. Prebola finished second with a throw of 195-5. 

The discus title was won by Hempfield Area senior Daniel Norris, with a current US#7 mark of 195-10. 

Chloe Timberg of Central Bucks West won the pole vault title, clearing 13 feet. The senior currently holds the US#3 spot with a vault of 14-2.25. Timberg and Central Bucks West won the team championship with a dominant 53 points. 

In the throws, Siniru Iheoma of Council Rock South tossed a current US#9 throw in the discus of 164 feet to win the AAA title. Iheoma, currently No. 3 in the country in the shot put, won the event with a throw of 48 feet. 

Moon Area junior Mia Cochran won the girls 3,200 title in a U.S. top  25 time of 10:20.04. She led nine other runners to under 11 minutes in the event. Cochran added a 1,600 title to he day, winning the event in 4:51.01.

Freshman Laila Campbell of Spring Grove won the 100 (11.93) and 200 (24.27). 

Jaden Brown from Norristown Area won the boys 100 meters in 10.65, the fastest time in the state this spring.

Team Champions

AAA  –State College Area boys 36 points; Central Bucks West girls 53 points - RESULTS

AA – Southern Columbia Area boys 62 points; Schuylkill Valley & North Schuylkill girls (co-champions) 39 points - RESULTS