LOCK HAVEN - The 18th Lock Haven High School Classic yielded some big performances Saturday with 23 national elite marks laid down and seven meet records broken.
But arguably no one had a day quite like Mifflinburg junior Brian Zimmerman. The Wildcats sprinter completed track's version of a triple -- triple winning the 100 (10.91), 400 (48.71) and 200 (21.88) all in times good for meet records and Mifflinburg school records.
Zimmerman's performances vaulted him to the top of the AAA leaderboard where he is now ranked first in the 200, third in the 400 and fifth in the 100.
"It feels really good," said the junior after setting his third meet record in the 200. "I've been getting a little practice in between baseball games."
Yes, that's right. Zimmerman spends the bulk of his time as Mifflinburg's centerfielder.
So its understandable that Zimmerman had been specializing - last year it was mostly the 400. And the he won it at the District 4 Class AAA meet.
But Mifflinburg coach James Sowers had an inkling that his part-time sprinter might have a chance to advance to the PIAA Championships in all three sprints after
Zimmerman put down a low number in the 100 last Tuesday.
"When he ran an 11.01 I thought he could do something special," said Sowers.
"This meet was a trial run for districts."
And it left the Mifflinburg coach almost speechless after Zimmerman posted his third meet record in the 200.
"He's a totally different animal this year," said the coach.
Molino in the 800
South Williamsport senior Griffin Molino set a meet record in the 800. (1:56.70). The two-time Class AA cross country champion usually specializes in longer races but Saturday was the last chance for Molino to take care of some unfinished business.
"That was the last (South Williamsport) distance record I didn't have," he said. "I broke the record of my coach today.
"That was really cool."
Molino said he got boxed in at the beginning of the race but after that things were firing on all cylinders.
"It felt pretty good. As soon as I got the lead it was my race."
A good way to close out what Molino said might be, "my last hard 800."
Williamsport sophomore Qayim Ali set the meet record in the high jump with an impressive 6-7 that vaults him to the top AAA ranking and Central Cambria' Bryce Desavish ran his own race in the 3,200 winning in the meet record time of 9:34.70.
Return to competition for McCartney
In between the PTFCA Indoor championships and the start of the outdoor season misfortune fell on defending AAA shot put champion Courtney McCartney when she suffered an ankle fracture.
Saturday marked her invitational return.
Since it was her right ankle that was injured McCartney wisely limited her throw in shot to a power throw. And in a testament to just how good the Arizona State bound thrower is, she won the event with a 43-5 ΒΌ good for third-best throw in AAA this season.
"Right now I'm not pushing off as much as I'd like to," said McCartney. "But as of now it feels really good."
In the discus the Selinsgrove senior did use a full rotation and saving her best throw till last won with a mark of 125-7. That puts her No. 5 on the AAA list.
All in all McCartney is just happy to be able to compete again.
"I'm still looking to keep pushing and train for the big meets," she said.
And what comes, comes.
"On the day I'll go out and throw and I'll be happy with it."
Lewisburg and Mifflinburg girls 4x800s dual for state top 3
Coming in second isn't always bad as the Mifflinburg girls 3,200 relay (Sarah Lemon, Audrey Macpherson, Jillian Miller, Grace Alexander) keep finding out when they run against Lewisburg (Allison Graham, Olivia Martin, Blake Baylor, Jenna Farmer) almost every weekend.
Saturday was no exception Lewisburg won the race - based on Farmer's strong anchor run - with its best time of the season (9:54.68) but Mifflinburg's second place (9:57.21) set a new school record and put them No. 3 in AA.
With the schools less than 10 miles apart, Mifflinburg coach Jeremiah Allen has had plenty of opportunity to observe his school's cross-county rival.
"We've kind of been watching them and learning," said Allen.
Farmer, who also won the 1,600 and anchored the winning 4x400, said she loves the competition with Mifflinburg.
"It's been amazing," said the Lewisburg senior. "They've been breaking their school record every week.
"I love to race them. No matter the outcome.
"We push each other."
Hughesville's Heather Merrifield was the individual girls standout Saturday breaking the meet record with her 45.89 run in the 300 intermediate hurdles.