Fran McLaughlin\'s Friday States Stories

May 23, 2008

Fran McLaughlin's Friday States Stories

Karen Shump four-peats in the AAA Girls Shot Put.

Anybody who has ever witnessed Karen Shump compete knows how intense the Penncrest thrower can be in heat of the moment. So when the normally stoic Shump took time to smile and playfully pose for pictures shortly before the finals of the girls AAA shot put, it was becoming obvious to all that even she had begun to realize and appreciate the scope of her own accomplishments.

Even though it could materialize again Saturday if Ryann Krais wins the 300 hurdles, typically, sweeping an event for four straight years is hardly an everyday occurrence.

Shump may have come short of her goal of 50 feet, and Elaine Sobansky’s meet record of 50-1.25 is safe for another year, but her toss of 47-6 was easily good enough to dismantle the competition and claim her fourth straight shot put crown. To put her domination in perspective, all six of her throws bested the competition by more than two feet.

“It’s starting to sink in,” said Shump, who will attempt to add a discus gold on Saturday. “I’ve been throwing against these girls for four years. It was nice to see everyone. It was nice to have my family here. It was fun.”

Cheltenham junior Dayna McCrewell’s throw of 43-1 in the AAA girls’ shot put was a personal best. It was also a school record. And in a world not dominated by Shump, it would have been good enough to win. “I’m happy (to see her graduate.),” joked McCrewell, who captured the silver. “I’m happy she got her fourth. I know she really wanted that.”

Ryann Krais is halfway to winning four individual events... with help from her competition.

Ryann Krais wins Friday's long jump, going 19-2
- Photo by Timothy O'Dowd, Irishrunner.com

For the first time in her incredible prep career Ryann Krais is attempting to capture four individual gold medals at the PIAA Outdoor Championships.

While to some it may seem that this weekend will serve as a great tune-up when she takes aim at the U.S. Junior heptathlon record early next month, the ever-humble Krais preferred to downplay the future and live in the moment.

“Just four events, trying to win,” said the UCLA bound star, which had run anchored Methcton’s 4x400 relay in lieu of the high jump at previous state meets. “It was my decision.”

After Friday’s action, Krais is half way to her goal, winning both the AAA long jump (19-2) and the high jump (5-5), while advancing to the semifinals of the 100 and 300 hurdles.

If she can pull it off, a team title could be an added bonus. But ever the competitor, Krais expects stiff competition, especially in the 100 hurdles, where she was pushed by Harrisburg senior and hurdler newbie Alysha Cook to a new PIAA meet record of 13.66 in the prelims, breaking her own mark of 13.73 set in 2007.

Said Krais, whose 42.04 in the prelims of the 300 hurdles was a second and half better than her nearest competitor: “When they handed out numbers I found out Alysha Cook was with me. So I said ‘ok it’s going to be fast.’ Her start is great. She was over the first couple of hurdles way before I was. It’s nice to run against her. She pushes me.”

For Abbey Way, 4th time is the charm.

For some people, it’s the fourth time that is the charm. Apparently, Abbey Way is one of those people.

Way, the Mount Pleasant senior bound for East Carolina next fall, is a veteran of the state championship meet, qualifying for the girls’ AA pole vault in each of her first three years. But each time she finished ninth, one spot shy of a medal.

Overflowing with confidence after successfully clearing 12-feet in practice earlier this week, not only did Way make it to the medal stand this time, she moved right to the top rung, winning the girls AA pole vault by clearing 11-6 on her final attempt.

“Every year I could have placed and didn’t do very well,” said Way. “That just made me want it even more. I was really confident coming in. I really just wanted to win. I would have been happy just getting on the medal stand, too.”

Bethlehem Catholic’s Kerry McDermott led a contingent of four vaulters that cleared 11-0.

Ted Heitzman wins his 4th state title - but first in Track & Field

All it took was one great throw into a tricky crosswind to give Southern Columbia senior Ted Heitzman a fourth state championship, spanning two sports.

With a personal best-matching effort of 198-7 on his first throw of the finals, Heitzman claimed the boys’ AA javelin title.

“I knew it was out there as soon as I let it go,” said Heitzman, who had previously won PIAA championships as member of the Southern Columbia football team during his freshman, sophomore and junior campaigns. A fourth title was temporarily derailed last fall when Southern Columbia failed to advance out of the district in football.

No problem, Heitzman simply switched to track and field to complete the rare and gratifying feat.

“Both feel great;” said Heitzman, the runner-up a year ago, “doing it as an individual feels awesome.”

Wilmington Area senior Ryan Bell, the leader after the prelims, finished second in 197-6. Defending champ Eric Skedel (189-03) finished fifth.

“I’m happy. It was a good throw,” said Bell. “The wind didn’t help us today.”

Lauren Loht was thrown into the jav... and then throws for a state title - first in school history.

Laura Loht’s first experience with the javelin was a not exactly a heart-fluttering, love-at-first-site affair. Fortunately, it only took the Indian Valley coaching staff one throw to realize Loht and the javelin would eventually make the perfect couple.

Now the relationship has blossomed into a state championship.

A former high jumper turned reluctant javelin thrower, Loht won the AAA javelin with a personal best 141-08, edging runner up Renee Arey of York County School of Technology (137-10).

“It’s great, really exciting,” said Loht, a sophomore who became the first girls’ track and field state champion in school history. “My goal from the beginning of the season was just to place, but winning is a big plus. I didn’t like (the javelin) right away because I felt like I was just being thrown into it, but it’s grown on me.”

So much so that she plans on spending some quality time this summer competing in meets with – her javelin.

Kristy Woods keeps her title. Cuz Emily gets close.

The AA discus was a true family affair with West Grove senior Kristy Woods defending her title with a throw of 143-8, while her cousin Emily Woods, a Hickory sophomore, finished second at 138-3. Not surprisingly, both efforts were personal bests and school records for the relatives and rivals.

“I was very happy with what I did today,” said Kristy Woods. “My goal was to break the record, but I can’t argue, the competition was fierce today. It’s an honor to be throwing with those girls. They really push you to be your best.”

“It’s always good competition,” Emily said. “We always PR when we play each other.”

After two straight seasons at the top of the medal stand, Kristy will take her talents and Olympic aspirations to the University of Buffalo in the fall, leaving the door wide open for Emily and the rest of the field.

“That means it’s my turn to win the next two,” said Emily Woods with a smile.

D.J. Horton three-peats in the pole vault.

Sporting the pole vaulter haircut of the day – a Mohawk , D.J. Horton wasted little time. Once his third consecutive AA pole vault crown was secure with a vault of 15-0, he went straight for the record. Asking for the bar to be raised just above the AA meet record of 15-10, Horton came up short on his first two attempts at that height before narrowly missing on his final attempt.

“The goal has been to go for that record for a while,” said Horton, who became the first three-time AA champ in decades.

Doing Yohman's work wins a shot put title for Paul.

Standing high atop the awards stand on the infield at Seth Grove Stadium, Paul Yohman looked like a quarterback flanked by a rather imposing offensive line. In reality, 180-pound Yohman simply was standing amongst his larger-bodied shot put peers, who he had just defeated.

A senior from Wilmington Area, Yohman took the AA shot put with a throw of 52-6, three inches better than runner up Greg Reiber, Grove City.

The quarterback metaphor aside, Yohman hardly resembles your typically shot putter, weighing a throwing implement or two less than his typical competitors.

“I get that a lot,” said Yohman, who credits his success to “hard work, dedication and lots and lots of lifting.”
Yohman’s teammate and training partner Josh Falvo finished seventh (50-0).

Folarin Ijelu jumps his state-best lead a few inches.

Folarin Ijelu has a tendency to get better as the day goes on. So naturally, when the Wissahickon senior, who came into the day as the top ranked jumper in the state, nearly matched his personal best on his first attempt, he figured it was going to be his day.
And it was.

Ijelu built on his early momentum, eventually upping his personal and state best to 48-6.5 to claim the boys’ AAA triple jump.

“My goal was to win,” said Ijelu, a University of Pittsburgh signee. “After my first jump, I jumped 48-3. I was in the lead. My goal was to win.”
Hanif Johnson of Harrisburg (47-8.25) was the best of four jumpers over 47 feet to claim second.

Fran McLaughlin's Friday States Stories