Above: Luke Martinez enroute to winning the PIAA 2A Pole Vault competition
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Who doesn't love a good surprise. At the PIAA Championship, we had plenty of them, but we picked out three that caught our attention the most.
1. Luke Martinez Stuns the Field in AA Boys Pole Vault
Who is Luke Martinez? Before this weekend's PIAA Championship you may have had no clue.
But the Schuylkill Valley senior bested his previous personal best by a foot and three inches to unexpectedly win the PIAA AA Boys Pole Vault Championship.
Entering the PIAA Championship, the District 3 Champion had a personal best of 14-3 and was the 12-seed. But that changed quickly on Saturday.
He first cleared 13-6 on his opening attempt. He then cleared 14-0 and 14-6 without issue. At 15-0 he missed on his first attempt before clearing.
Then at 15-6, he stunned the field by clearing the bar on his only attempt at the height, ever. Logan Gossard, Reed Yost, and Gavin Holcombe, the three favorites, were unable to overcome that height.
Martinez also finished third 11th in the triple jump final with a jump fo 43-4.75
2. Roemer Finishes 2nd in the 3200m and 3rd in the 1600m
What a weekend it was for Morgan Roemer.
Completing the challenging 800m, 1600m, and 3200m triple, the Dubois Area senior finalized her PIAA season with impressive results.
It all started in the 1600m. Roemer, from the slow section, ran a 4-second personal best and finished third overall. She nearly broke 4:50, running 4:50.03.
She then returned the next day in the 3200m. Carrying momentum from the previous day, Roemer posted a 10:33.48 for another personal best time. She was able to out-maneuver and outlast her opponents on a hot and humid day, finishing second to only Logan St. John Kletter.
She later returned in the 800m and posted a ninth place finish with her 2:14.38.
3. 4th to 1st for the Council Rock North in the Boys 4x800m
The Council Rock North boys finished fourth at the District 1 Championship, but this weekend, they won the PIAA Championship.
Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that the 2023 PIAA 3A Cross Country Champions won the 4x800m, but considering their position in their own district, and their margin of victory, the team's finish is wildly impressive.
They won by six seconds over Carlisle and posted the fifth fastest time in Pennsylvania history, a 7:38.79.
The favorites going in were Central Bucks West and Penncrest. They finished 1-2 at the District 1 championship with times of 7:41.79 and 7:42.33. Meanwhile, Council Rock North was in fourth with a 7:44.30.
They took control of the race at the PIAA Championship halfway and never looked back. Their 1:53.77 third leg by Joe Crowne opened things up and put them in a position to win. They had a two second lead on Souderton at the final exchange.
CRN's legs posted splits of 1:56.55, 1:56.41, 1:53.77 and 1:52.02.