Knoch's Jordan Geist shattered the previous PIAA meet record by over four feet (Photo by Don Rich)
AA FRIDAY RESULTS | AAA FRIDAY RESULTS | ATHELTE INTERVIEWS | PHOTO GALLERIES
Jordan Geist set a new PIAA meet record and bettered his own Pennsylvania state record in the shot put, taking the win for the state title in the boys' shot put at the first day of the PIAA track and Field State Championship.
Geist, a junior at Knoch, threw 74-3.5 on his first throw of the competition to win the event and take Ryan Whiting's meet record from 2005.
Emily Stauffer of Cocalico finally got her elusive outdoor state championship (Photo by Don Rich)
In the AAA girls' shot put, Emily Stauffer of Cocalico ended her career on a high note winning with a throw of 45-3.25. Stauffer, who has won three indoor titles in the event, was yet to win an indoor title until Friday.
State College's Griffin Thompson had a monster afternoon in the pole vault, nearly breaking the state record on his final attempt. Thompson made it dramatic, nearly going out at 15-3, but staying in to hit 15-9 and then 16-3 before almost clearing 16-7 on his final attempt. It was a tight competition all around as Hatboro-Horsham's Nicholas Marino and Hempfield's Hayden Fox both hit 15-9 for second and third respectively.
Athens Area's Breana Gambrell won her second straight AA long jump championship (Photo by Kathy Leister)
Tyrone's Erika Voyzey won her third straight AA girls' high jump with a clearance of 5-7. Athens Area's Breana Gambrell also won another state title, winning the long jump with a leap of 19-3.75. Gettysburg's Ravaughn Dillard was another multi-time champ. Dillard went big on his final jump to win the AAA triple jump with a best of 48-7, a PA#1.
Mount Carmel's Maura Fiamoncini was second a year ago, but moved up to number one this year winning the AA girls' javelin with a toss of 155-1.
Laurel's Jake Wilson won the AA javelin with a throw of 195-3 (Photo by Patty Morgan)
One of the day's biggest upsets came in the AA boys' javelin, where Laurel's Jake Wilson knocked off the US#5 and US#7 to score the win. Wilson threw 195-3 to top a loaded field. Bedford's August Cook took second, while Elk Lake's Hunter Watkins was second Richland's Ethan Dabbs finished fourth.
Greer Gumbrecht of Easton has been waiting a long time for a state title. It happened on Friday as Gumbrecht won a close competition in the AAA girls' pole vault. Four girls---Gumbrecht, Council Rock South's Dominique Franco, East Pennsboro's Paige Ritter, and Liberty's Rachel Finn---all cleared 12-9, but Gumbrecht had the advantage on jumps.
Schuylkill Valley's Brendan Sparr, only a sophomore, won the AA long jump title (Photo by Dan Beck)
The battle for the win in the AA boys' long jump was just about as close as it can get. Schuylkill Valley's Brendan Sparr, the PA#1 headed into the weekend, tied Delaware Valley Charter's Jahmair Craig for the best jump of the day at 23-9.5. But it was Sparr who had the better second jump, giving him the win and state title.
Downingtown East's Evelyn Berecz came out on top in a talented AAA girls' triple jump field. Berecz jumped 39-5.5 for the victory.
Palmerton's Spencer Hay scored a nice win in the high jump, clearing a PR of 6-8 to take the victory in AA. In the AA discus, Evan Blaire of Hickory nearly matched his seed mark and took the win, throwing 184-4. He won by nearly ten feet over the next closest competitor.
Moniteau's Maura Kimmel edged out Hickory's Tori McKinley for the win in the discus. Kimmel bettered her PR that she set at district, tossing the disc 146-7.