The PIAA Track & Field Championships were contested on May 26 and 27 at Shippensburg University. It was a fabulous weekend – and not just because of the great weather. Local student-athletes brought home heaps of medals to Bucks and Montgomery counties, with four winning gold medals in individual events. Dozens more made it onto the podium for individual and relay events. Check out our top finishers along with lots of photos from Day 1 and Day 2 from photographer Dan Rainville.
Four local athletes claim individual titles
Hatboro-Horsham senior Brian DiCola has been winning championships and setting records all season, including a gold medal in the PIAA Cross Country championships this fall. The Penn State commit closed out his high school career with another gold, as he won the Class 3A boys 3,200-meter run. DiCola made his move in the final lap of the race to separate himself from the pack and crossed the finish line at 8:47.39. In addition to winning the state title, DiCola also set a PIAA record in the event. DiCola took fourth in the boys 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:10.64.
Palisades senior Thomas Smigo won the Class 2A boys 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:13.05. He had placed third in the event last season as a junior. The Lehigh University commit also finished 12th in the 3,200-meter run, clocking in at 9:31.38. Smigo completed his high school career as a two-time PIAA cross-country champion and a four-time PIAA District 11 champion in cross country. He won a District 11 title in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters this spring, setting a meet record in the former (4:18.18).
North Penn senior Taylor Forbes is the PIAA Class 3A girls long jump champion after her leap of 18-9. Just prior to her individual win, Forbes, along with teammates Madeline Lewis, Jael Sykes and Maya Adams, won the 4×100 relay. Their time of 47.12 is the best in the state this season.
Abington junior Luke Coleman took first in the Class 3A boys 400-meter dash with a time of 47.26. That was the top time in the state this season in the event. It was an impressive outing by Coleman, who finished seventh in the District One 3A championships with a time of 49.01.
Boys Class 3A
200-meter dash:
- 7. Zyan Greene, Bensalem 23.60
800-meter run:
- 5. Robert Walton, Bensalem, 1:54.52
- 10. Joe Sims, CB East, 1:55.48
1,600-meter run:
- 4. Brian DiCola, Hatboro-Horsham, 4:10.64
3,200-meter run:
- 1. Brian DiCola, Hatboro-Horsham, 8:47.39
- 7. Drew Brill, La Salle, 9:07.94
300-meter hurdles:
- 5. Otani Ekpe, Quakertown, 38.77
High Jump:
- 4. Colin Graham, Upper Moreland, 6-5
Triple Jump:
- 3. Jared Hess, Pennridge, 45-8.75
Discus:
- 11. Jacob Tannenbaum, CB East, 153-2
- 13. Matthew Henricksen, Council Rock North, 149-5
Pole Vault:
- 14. Lucas Knappenberger, CB South, 13-0
Shot Put:
- 13. Justin Buonato, Hatboro-Horsham, 49-8.75
4×400 meter relays:
- 1. Abington, 3:16.19
- 3. Central Bucks West, 3:18.34
- 7. La Salle, 3:25.69
4×800 meter relays:
- 4. La Salle, 7:50.60
- 8. Central Bucks West, 7:53.60
Photo finish:Day 2 of the PIAA Track and Field Championships
Boys Class 2A
1,600-meter run:
- 1. Thomas Smigo, Palisades, 4:13.05
3,200-meter run:
- 12. Thomas Smigo, Palisades, 9:31.38
High Jump:
- 11. Marco Demeo, New Hope-Solebury, 6-0
Long Jump:
- 2. Anthony Conrey, Conwell-Egan, 22-2.5
- 13. Marco Demeo, New Hope-Solebury, 20-10
Triple Jump:
- 9. Lucas Bottelier, Palisades, 42-11.75
Pole Vault:
- 13. Micah Mast, Dock Mennonite, 12-9
4×400 meter relay:
Girls Class 3A
400-meter run:
- 3. Mimi Duffy, CB West, 55.12
800-meter run:
- 3. Gwen Hamilton, Archbishop Wood, 2:10.34
- 4. Emily Simko, Hatboro-Horsham, 2:10.47
- 6. Ashley Landis, Pennridge, 2:10.90
- 12. Julia Pye, CB South, 2:14.22
1,600-meter run:
- 4. Emily Simko, Hatboro-Horsham, 4:51.01
3,200-meter run:
- 14. Lillian DiCola, Hatboro-Horsham, 10:48.60 (Photo)
300-meter hurdles:
- 5. Victoria Angelo, Pennridge, 44.48
High Jump:
- 7. Grace Patterson, Council Rock South, 5-04 (Photo)
- 14. Lindsey Balmer, Pennridge, 5-2
Long Jump:
- 1. Taylor Forbes, North Penn, 18-9
- 2. Madeline Lewis, North Penn, 18-7.75
- 12. Brooke Lobban, Upper Moreland, 17-3.75
Triple Jump:
- 4. Taylor Forbes, North Penn, 39-1.25
- 6. Madison Gee, North Penn, 37-9.75
- 8. Brooke Lobban, Upper Moreland, 37-7.75
Discus:
- 9. Zianna Dobson, North Penn, 115-9
Javelin:
- 10. Mia Rivera, CB East, 116-6
Shot Put:
- 13. Peyton Meenan, Pennridge, 35-4.5
4×100 meter relays:
- 1. North Penn, 47.12
- 7. Souderton, 48.45
4×400 meter relays:
- 6. Central Bucks West, 3:53.22 (Photo)
- 8. North Penn, 3:56.22
4×800 meter relays:
- 3. Pennridge, 9:16.82
- 8. CB West, 9:22.80
- 10. CB East, 9:23.71
- 11. North Penn, 9:24.70
Photos:Day 1 of the PIAA Track and Field Championships
Girls Class 2A
800-meter run:
- 11. Naava Richlin, New Hope-Solebury, 2:20.9
High Jump:
- 4. Paige Casterline, Palisades, 5-4
Adaptive Combined
Adaptive Combined 100-meter dash:
- 3. Ryder Kelly, Bristol, 13.12
- 7. Julian Santiago, Bristol, 14.09
Adaptive Combined 400-meter run:
- 6. Devin Myrick, Bristol, 1:03.75
Adaptive Combined Long Jump:
- 2. Ryder Kelly, Bristol, 16-8
- 9. Julian Santiago, Bristol, 14-3.25
Adaptive Combined Javelin:
- 11. Jayson Delgado, Bristol, 57-3.5