PENNSYLVANIA STATE MEET

Brian DiCola Wins Fast Boys 3,200 Meters In Meet Record 8:47.39

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

In perhaps the most exciting race of the weekend at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University, May 26-27,, standout distance runner Brian DiCola of Hataboro-Horsham won the boys 3,200 meters in a 3A meet record time of 8:47.39, destroying Gary Martin’s 2021 record of 8:54.87.

DiCola’s time is US#14. Second-place finisher junior Ryan Pajak of Ringgold finished under the record as well (US#18 8:48.20) and third-place finisher Drew Griffith of Butler clocked US#30 8:52.20 to slip under the old record time.

Dale Hall, a junior from Hampton, claimed the 1,600 title in 4:08.52, barely edging out Griffith (4:08.59). 

On the field, Jersey Shore Area’s Peter Bellomo won the javelin with US#4 throw of 214-3. Current US#5 thrower Drew Mruk of Wyoming Area was second (208-3). 

Emmaus’ Kyle Moore won the long jump with a top 15 mark of 24-5.25. 

Chambersburg won the 3A boys state championship.

In girls 3A, Solanco senior Katie Urban broke a 3A meet record in the pole vault on Friday, clearing 13-9. 

Spring Grove’s Lalia Campbell won the 100 (11.56) and 200 (23.54), while freshman sensation Kaddel Howard of Cedar Crest ran 53.50 to win the 400, currently tied for US#12. 

Junior Logan St. John Kletter of Mount Lebanon broke the meet record in the 3,200 clocking 10:12.86, a top 25 time nationally. The top five runners finished under 10:25. 

Sophomore Olivia Cieslak of Haverford led her team to the state title winning the 800 (2:07.45) and 1,600 (4:49.01). 

Ava Alexander of West Chester defended her triple jump title (41-5.50). 

Ella Lucas won the discus in a US#8 throw of 163-9.

Class 2A

It took just one throw, her first one in fact, for Union-Allegheny Clarion Valley’s Evie Bliss to win the javelin and break a meet record.

Bliss unleashed a Class 2A record of 170-2 to break the previous mark of 167-2 from 2008. Bliss’ victory was a massive personal best and third-best in state history. Her mark is currently US#2. 

On the track, senior Tale Buxton of West Catholic won the 100 hurdles in a record time of 13.80.

Jolena Quarzo of Brownsville Area won the 1,600 in 4:55.45 and added a title in the 3,200 in 10:21.29. 

The Class 2A title went to Central Columbia with 39 points

In boys AA action, Hayden Smith of Union-Allegheny Clarion Valley won the high jump, learning 6-8 and teammate Landon Chalmers won the discus (171-5). 

Conemaugh Township Area’s Ethan Black claimed the 100 (10.55) and set a class record in the 200 running 21.07, beating the 2018 record of 21.30. 

Rory Lieberman of Danville Area won the 3,200 in 9:08.28, beating out East Juniata’s Logan Strawser by a second (9:09.29). Danville claimed the boys state team title with 45 points, while Slippery Rock was a close second with 40 points. 

Tyler Arnold of Southern Columbia won the javelin (US#9 205-4).

Team Champions

Class AAA: Chambersburg boys 48 points; Haverford Township girls 51 points - RESULTS

Class AA: Danville Area boys 45 points; Central Columbia girls 39 points - RESULTS