Three PIAA records bit the dust, and another was saved by a gust of wind at Day One of the Field Events at PIAA T&F State Champs @ Ship.
McDowell senior Nicole Smith is on fire this weekend. With her father - a professional golfer and a busy guy on most weekends - in attendance for his first state meet, Smith started her meet with two wins and an advance to the Semis of the 100 Hurdles. In the Long Jump, she wasn't credited with a PIAA record because it was wind-aided, but who would question the distance of 20-03 with a wind reading of 3.2? It's out there. "I just let the sand come to me."
Smith shouldn't have had the legs left for the effort after her seemingly endless head-to-head against Altoona junior Rachel Gehret in the High Jump. The two were even through 5-08, and after both missed at 5-09, they started a jump-off, Clearing 5-07, it was back to 5-08, which Gehret missed, and Smith cleared. But that was after running a 14.99 in the Trials of the 100 Hurdles. Oh, and Gehret took 2nd in the Long Jump. Her 19-01.25 would win many years. Just not this one.
Smith's leap was the near-record... but it doesn't go down in the books that way because of a wind reading of 3.2.
But there were three field marks that were rewritten. The first came in the AA Boys Javelin, when Osaya Osunde of Central Columbia unleashed a 207.10 throw to beat his nearest competitor by nine feet. Osunde, who is headed to Villanova in the fall to play football and compete in track in the spring, said that while he had been thrilled by his Penn Relays title in the event, this was even better. "And to get a state record, that's really incredible."
Record number 2 was happening at about the same time as a 201-09 Discus was being hurled by Central Dauphin senior Ryan Whiting, breaking his own record. Coming in the prelims, Whiting was pleased with the effort. But a reported 210+ throw on the finals was excluded because of a foul. Whiting is hoping for his first 70-foot Shot Put in Saturday's Shot Put competition, but knows he still has two more chances in the Nike and Junior Nationals meets.
The third record to go by the boards was in the AA Boys Pole Vault when Eric Sparks, Hickory, cleared 15-10. He won the AAA title last year, and this year, because Hickory dropped down a class, added the AA as well.
Not to be lost in the record blitz were the great throws by frosh Karen Shump of Penncrest who won her second state championship of the year in the Shot Put. She actually had several throws that would have won the event, but her best was a mark of 44-05. Six other girls broke 40-feet, but Shump was clearly the class of the field. "I really want the freshman record (49+ feet), but I have another chance at Nike."
In the AA Girls Long Jump, Brianna Liebold of Chartiers Houston went 18-05 for the win. Donegal senior Kelsey Buffenmyer did 18-00.50 for 2nd.
Westmont Hilltop junior "sprinter" Brad Kanuch concentrated on his jumping skills (all while advancing in the 100 and 200) to take a win in the Triple Jump at 47-02. The Boys AAA was won by Nate Gilbert with a monster 48-11.50 clearnance. Amber Gaffey, the favorite in the AA Girls Pole Vault, cleared 11-03 for the win. The AA Boys Shot Put was won by Colin Dugan with a throw of 54-09.25, a mere half-inch ahead of Lakeland's Joe Tuzze.
Natalie Clickett, Union City, won the Discus in AA Girls by half a foot, throwing 140-07. Brittany Maun of Reynolds cleared 5-05 to win the AA Girls High Jump. Carlisle's Kacey James threw the Jav 147-06 to beat Palmyra's by over six feet.
Whiting's record throw.
Osunde in the prelims of the AA Jav..
Sparks celebrates after clearing the bar at 15-10.
Smith in the prelims of the Long Jump.
Smith about the go over the bar at her first attempt at 5-08.
Shump in the prelims of the Shot Put.
