AAA Boys' Javelin Throw Preview
Thus far in 2018, a dozen javelin throwers have hit at least 204 feet. Two of those athletes will square off in the PIAA Class AAA final Saturday morning.
Both Alexander Scheivert of Penn Manor and Marc Minichello of Wyoming Area head to Shippensburg with district titles to their credit, with Minichello popping a PR and US#11 heave of 204-1 in District 2. Minichello joined the 200 club earlier this season with a runner-up performance at the Penn Relays in preparation for his first trip to the state finals.
A year ago, Scheivert rode the winds outside Seth Grove Stadium to the No. 2 spot in an extremely competitive final, losing out on AAA gold by less than a foot as five topped 190-0. The senior and three-time qualifier has been over 200 in three major meets in 2018, including his PA#1 and US#5 209-9 at the Lebanon-Lancaster League meet and his victory at the Jack Roddick Invitational on the same runway that will be used this weekend.
WPIAL champion Zach Gehm of Seneca Valley has improved by leaps and bounds with the 800-gram implement and did a lot of that improving at the District 7 meet, where his PR 193-9 added almost 13 feet to his previous big-meet best. Gehm will be extremely busy in the throws area as the senior and Youngstown State signee qualified in the top 5 with each implement.
Placing behind Gehm and Seneca Valley teammate Tyler Gross at the WPIAL meet was Daniel Jacobs of Elizabeth Forward. Jacobs was fifth a year ago with a throw of 190-6 and has added to his lifetime best this season.
As competitive as action was at the District 7 meet, the District 3 meet is sending four of the longest throwing qualifiers from last week's action. Led by Scheivert, Northern's Chris Barrett, Josh Eidemiller of Lampeter Strasburg and Brad Heck of Cocalico also bested 187-0 to finish within 6 feet of each other as a total of six throwers from that meet advanced to the PIAA final.
Back from the 2017 field is Hazleton Area's Joe Grula (10th), Hershey's Mark Suminski (11th), Eidemiller (14th), Barrett (16th) and Bangor Area's Eric Lyon (19th). Also back is Coatesville's Ricky Ortega, who finished 23rd a year ago as the only freshman in the field.
ENTRIES:
Event 718 Boys Javelin Throw AAA (26)
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NFHS Record: 246-09 2012 Billy Stanley, South Park HS, PA
PIAA Record: 246-09 2012 Billy Stanley, South Park 7
NFHS Hnr Rol: 193-00
178-00 SQS
Name Year School Seed Mark Finals
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1 Minichello, Marc 12 Wyoming Area 02 204-01 SQS
2 Gehm, Zach 12 Seneca Valley 07 193-09 SQS
3 Scheivert, Alexander 12 Penn Manor 03 193-01 SQS
4 Barrett, Chris 11 Northern 03 192-03 SQS
5 Eidemiller, Josh 12 Lamp Strasbrg 03 189-03 SQS
6 Heck, Brad 12 Cocalico 03 187-02 SQS
7 Tate, Devon 11 Lower Merion 01 185-11 SQS
8 Grula, Joe 12 Hazleton Area 02 185-04 SQS
9 Gross, Tyler 12 Seneca Valley 07 184-04 SQS
10 Jacobs, Daniel 12 Elzbth Forwrd 07 183-01 SQS
11 Krieger, Josh 12 Shikellamy 04 182-11 SQS
12 Lyon, Eric 11 Bangor Area 11 179-11 SQS
13 Krankoskie, Tate 12 Shikellamy 04 178-01 SQS
14 Stoudt, Chris 12 Pottsville 11 177-07
15 Richards, Logan 12 Baldwin 07 177-06
16 Ortega, Ricky 10 Coatesville 01 176-11
17 Folcarelli, Michael 11 Altoona Area 06 176-09
18 Suminski, Mark 11 Hershey 03 173-00
19 Spraut, Quinn 12 Wilson 03 172-01
20 Barnett, Hunter 12 Neshaminy 01 167-11
21 Esterley, Seth 12 Boyertown 01 167-01
22 Clark, Evan 12 CB East 01 166-04
23 Yarger, Grady 12 Clearfield 09 161-07
24 Smither, Nick 11 Grove City 10 159-09
25 Mersky, Leland 11 La Salle Cllg 12 138-08
26 Beavers, Derek 11 La Salle Cllg 12 137-06