Photo by Phil Grove
AA Boys' 3200m Preview
Quaker Valley's Zach Skolnekovich has long awaited state gold, and the William & Mary recruit's best chance for one will come in the AA 3200 meters on Saturday morning. Skolnekovich enters this weekend in the midst of a terrific senior season on the track. He picked up wins in the event at Butler, Baldwin and WPIALs. After a runner-up finish at XC states, Skolnekovich would love to close out his career with state gold.
The one who beat Skolnekovich in XC will likely be his best competition this weekend. Waynesburg Central's Ben Bumgarner will contest the 3200 meters. He ran an 8:33 for 3000 meters at the Penn Relays and should give his usual rival a run. Bumgarner was victim to a fall at indoor states and wants some redemption.
After those two, the field looks fairly open for the rest of those medals. Elk County Catholic's Zachary Wortman is PA-AA#3 after a 9:36 at West Central Coaches. The District 9 champ was 15th in this race a year ago, but he has it in him to move up this time around. Brenden Miller of Upper Dauphin ran 9:40.78 to take the District 3 title and looks to be hitting stride at the right time.
Bishop McCourt's Jacob Schulte and Southern Huntingdon's Andrew Stanley are a pair of strong District 6 runners to keep an eye on. Loyalsock's Quinn Serfass, Winchester Thurston's Ben Littmann, and Wyomissing's Matthew Driben make up some other medal contenders.
Event 610 Boys 3200 Meter Run AA (23)
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NFHS Record: 8:34.23 2008 German Fernandez, Riverbank HS, CA
PIAA Record: 9:04.09 1997 Chris Dugan, So Moreland 7
NFHS Hnr Rol: 9:02.00
9:48.01 SQS
Name Year School Seed Finals
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1 Skolnekovich, Zach 12 Quaker Valley 07 9:32.61 SQS
2 Miller, Brenden 11 Upper Dauphin 03 9:40.78 SQS
3 Schulte, Jacob 12 Bshp McCort 06 9:47.01 SQS
4 Stanley, Andrew 11 Sthrn Hntngdn 06 9:47.71 SQS
5 Wortman, Zachary 12 Elk Cnty Cath 09 9:49.12
6 Bumgarner, Ben 12 Wynsbrg Cntrl 07 9:50.22
7 Driben, Matthew 11 Wyomissing 03 9:53.85
8 Littmann, Ben 12 WnchstrThrstn 07 9:54.20
9 Serfass, Quinn 11 Loyalsock Twp 04 9:55.02
10 Lewis, Josh 10 North East 10 9:56.82
11 Mackey, Griffin 12 Sewickley Acd 07 9:57.01
12 Kohler, Zach 10 Tyrone Area 06 9:57.57
13 Ellis, Casey 12 NE Bradford 04 9:57.78
14 Healey, Andrew 9 Holy Cross 02 9:58.61
15 Barnes, Ben 11 Riverview 07 10:01.17
16 Hoffman, Ben 9 Elk Cnty Cath 09 10:03.10
17 Reilly, Wayne 10 Minersville 11 10:08.79
18 McCormick, Chris 12 No Schuylkill 11 10:09.48
19 Wheeler, Tim 12 Northwestern 10 10:17.07
20 Jackson, Joshua 11 Jenkintown 01 10:22.81
21 Eckenroad, Silas 11 Brln Brthsvly 05 10:27.38
22 Colon, Isaac 11 Masterman 12 10:56.47
23 Njiru, Stephen 10 Masterman 12 11:07.61