To make it onto the PIAA track and field medal stand is an impressive achievement. To reach the top is like climbing a mountain.
The final weekend of the season is here. The best in the state will compete Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University.
Here are some Lancaster-Lebanon League athletes with a chance at gold.
The favorite
Kaddel Howard, Cedar Crest: The sophomore is the No. 1 qualifier as she attempts to go back-to-back in the girls Class 3A 400. Howard’s 54.93 is 0.32 seconds ahead of top challenger Mimi Duffy of Central Bucks West. That’s a bit misleading. Howard went under 54 seconds when setting the L-L meet record two weeks ago.
The contenders
Eliana Schneider Cedar Crest: The sophomore will finally be tested in the girls Class 3A javelin after coasting without a challenger in the L-L and District Three meets. Schneider set her PR at 153-1 to break the L-L meet record and hit 149-11 at districts. That puts her No. 2 in the field behind Blue Mountain’s Rosalind Gergely at 154-8.
Olianna Oravitz, Solanco: Once a girls long jumper surpasses 19 feet, she’s in elite company. Oravitz became just the third L-L athlete to cross that threshold when she reached 19-0.5 to win District Three gold. That places the junior second in the Class 3A field and only two inches behind top seed Aria Messner of Pittston.
Genesis Castro, McCaskey: The junior took silver in Class 3A at districts when she reached 130-9. That places Castro third on the girls performance sheet behind North Penn’s Zianna Dobson at 135-1 and Mechanicsburg’s Maria Clark, the District Three champ at 135-0. Castro’s PR is 139-2, which is the best throw in the state this season.
Margaret Bila, Lancaster Catholic: Bila is in a similar position to Castro. The junior is the No. 2 qualifier in the Class 2A girls discus after winning the district title at 126-7. That's not her ceiling. Bila reached 134-4 in a dual meet in April, which is the best throw in Class 2A this spring. Kyndra Seddon of Lakeview is the top seed at 128-11.
David Moran, Annville-Cleona: Don’t count out the sophomore in the Class 2A boys 800. Moran’s qualifying time of 1:57.31 places him 13th in the field. His PR of 1:55.57 ranks him seventh in Class 2A, less than three seconds behind No. 1. Gabriel Cuffey of Archbishop Carroll is the favorite.
Ethan Peffley, Manheim Township: The Class 3A boys 800 field is incredibly crowded. Only 1.08 seconds separates the top 10 qualifying times. Peffley set a PR at 1:53.57 at districts, which ranks ninth in L-L history and places him ninth in this race. Carter Smith of Mifflin County is No. 1 at 1:52.61. This is the event Hempfield’s Aidan Hodge won from the slow heat last season. It’s up for grabs.
