District 2 Championships
Brooke Estadt (Lakeland) | Photo by Dan Beck
Dominic Hockenbury of Lake Lehman wrapped up his District 2 career with a romping win in the 3200 meters. Hockenbury took out the pace as expected early on and never had to look back. The goal was sub-9, but he said he fell asleep around the midway point, but he still took a meet record and 9:13 for the win. Now the Syracuse-bound senior turns his attention to attempting to win yet another state title in a week and try to go under that 9-minute barrier.
Hanover's Brandon Chafin was the day's biggest
breakthrough performer. Chafin put down a pair of huge PRs on the runway in the
long and triple jumps. Chafin won the long jump with a PA AA #2 jump of
22-9.75. Then he also won the triple jump with a leap of 43-0.25. The junior
will be one to watch in a week at states.
Elk Lake's Hunter Watkins kept up his great season, winning the javelin in 198-0. It's just off his PA AA #4 throw and he appears ready to take on some of the stars next week at Ship.
AA GIRLS: On the girls' side Holy Redeemer's Caroline Banas put up a season best in the high jump, clearing 5-6, matching her clearance at the indoor state meet. She's PA AA #3 headed into states. She also took second in the 400 meters to Elk Lake's Lydia Ofalt.
Lakeland's Brooke Estadt was busy on Tuesday. The junior took two wins and a second place, dominating the jumps. Estadt won the long jump (17-2.5) and triple jump (36-4.5) and placed second to Banas in the high jump, clearing 5-2.
Susquehanna Community's Skyla Wilson took the win in a new PA AA #5 in the 300 meter hurdles over Blue Ridge's Lindsey Rupakus. Wilson clocked a 45.31 for the win.
Ukattah Uzoije (Dallas): District 2 AAA 100 and 200m Champ | Photo by Dan Beck
Abington Heights' Katie Dammer continued her huge sophomore season on Monday with a great performance all around. First, she helped take her 4x800 relay team to second place to winner's Lake Lehman (9.36.22). Then Dammer pulled off the upset of the meet, beating Dallas' Ally Rome in the 1600. The time was a huge PR for Dammer of 4:59.53. Dammer held back from a fast early pace from Rome and pounced late to grab the win. In the 800, the sophomore claimed another win, clocking a 2:17.30 for first place.
Rome then dominated in her best event, the 3200. The Princeton-signee was a runaway winner in 10:51.08 to grab the win in a race that didn't feature indoor 3000m state champion Erin Feeney of Scranton Prep. Feeney is out for the season with a stress fracture. Rome is now focused on states where she'll look to close out her high school career on a high note.
Dallas' Katie Kravitsky bettered her own District 2 AAA record in the high jump. First she went over 5-6, and then solidified it with a 5-7 clearance to take the win in a PA AAA #3.
In the throws, North
Pocono's Jessica Slagus outdueled
Berwick's Payden Montana in the
discus for the win. Slagus threw 130-7 in the winning effort. Montana did come
back to win the shot put with a throw of 40-2.5.
In a tight competition in the girls' javelin, Hazleton's Kayla Merkel came out on top, winning with a throw of 136-1.
Madisyn Hawkins of Coughlin beat North Pocono's Lucianne Burner in a close pole vault battle, Hawkins got over 12-0 for the win, while Burner cleared 11-6 for second.
Speaking of close competitions, the girls' triple jump was another one. Scranton Prep's Kaitlin McGrath squeaked out a win over Wyoming Valley West's Ashley Blannard. McGrath jumped 36-7.25 for the win.
For the boys', Ray Richard of Wyoming Valley West was impressive, dropping a 49.02 for the win in the 400 meters.
North Pocono's Matt Kravitz helped his 4x800 relay team to the win to start the meet and closed out the individual portion of the meet with a win in the 3200, running away with the victory and clocking a 9:19.38.
North Pocono's Matt Slagus joined his sister as District 2 discus champion. Slagus went over 180 for the second time in his career, throwing 184-1 for the win.