PREVIEW: District 3 Track and Field Championship

Who's Going to Win the 3A Boys Pole Vault?

The 3A Boys Pole Vault will make for one of the headline events thanks to the likes of Drake Risser (Lower Dauphin), Mason Bucks (Palmyra) and Breckin Swope (East Pennsboro Area), the current top three-ranked boy vaulters in the state. 

Risser has been on a roll for the past few months and will enter the district meet as the top seed. After winning the indoor state meet, he finished sixth at Nike Indoor Nationals. That momentum carried him into the solid outdoor campaign he is having, in which he cleared the state lead mark of 16-3. However, things start getting interesting when you look at Risser's head-to-head matchups with Bucks and Swope.

Despite having a stronger season best, Risser hasn't beaten Bucks or Swope since the indoor state meet. The most recent showdown between the three was at the Mid-Penn Championships, where Bucks won at 16-0, Swope was second at 15-6 and Risser was third, also at 15-6. 

Meanwhile, at the Penn Relays a few weeks ago, Swope finished second at 16-0, while Bucks was fifth at 15-2.25 and Risser was eighth at 14-8.

These three athletes have been engaged in thrilling competition throughout their careers, constantly pushing each other to new heights. The District 3 Championships will be yet another chapter in their intense and ever-evolving story of competition. 

Don't Miss Kaddel Howard in the 3A 400m Dash

There's no question that Kaddel Howard (Cedar Crest), the current PA No.1 and US No.17 400m dash runner, will defend her district title. The uncertain part of the equation is how fast she'll run this weekend to do it. 

Last year, Howard ran 54.68 to set the 3A Girls 400m Dash District 3 Record. At the Lebanon-Lancaster League Championship last week, she ran an unbelievable 53.63, over a second faster than her time at the district meet last year. That effort shows what kind of potential she has going into the championship portion of the season.

Howard's time is over two and a half seconds ahead of Jianna Long (Ephrata), the number two seed, at 56.24. With Howard running in a league of her own, it will be interesting to see if she attempts to lower her district record or if she just hits her qualifier and sets eyes on the state championship next weekend. 

Discus Domination

Genesis Castro (JP McCaskey), the current PA No.1, will enter the 3A Girls Discus competition seeded almost 10 feet ahead of the field. Castro has been on fire this season, throwing over 130 feet three different times, with the best being 139-2.

Meanwhile, on the 2A side, Margaret Bila (Lancaster Catholic) is seeded almost 20 feet ahead of the field. Bila, the current PA No.2 at 134-4, is undefeated against 2A throwers this season. 

Both girls are the favorites in their respective classifications and will likely dominate their competition. 

The 3A Boys Discus will also make for an exciting showdown. Josiah Newman-Kegerise (Exeter Township), the current PA No.4, posts a season-best mark of 175-2. He will have to beat the likes of Brady Mider (Berks Catholic), who has thrown 170-5, and Derek Lynch (Shippensburg), who has thrown 170-4. 

It should also be noted that along with his discus success, Mider is the current PA No.1 in the Shot Put at 62-4.75. He is the favorite to defend his district title in the shot. 

Will Claire Paci hold off the 3A Girls 3200m Field?

Claire Paci (Greencastle-Antrim), PA No.1 at 10:32.56, is the favorite in the 3A Girls 3200m but will need to hold off a strong field to secure the title. 

Kaitlyn Highduch (Governor Mifflin) and Ella Wolfe (Hempfield) are strong competitors who are also in the conversation. Highduch enters the meet with a season-best of 10:45.22, while Wolfe is just behind her at 10:45.93. 

The three competitors often go back and forth on the track and the grass. Friday's race should make for a strong preview of what's to come at the state championship.

Returning District 3 Champions

2A Girls

3A Girls 

2A Boys

3A Boys