Brendan Zerfoss’ Two Fifth Place Finishes Lead Clarion Area Contingent At 2018 State Track And Field Meet (05/30/18)

Senior Brendan Zerfoss’ with two fifth place finishes in Class AA, led a group of Clarion Area athletes, at the 2018 PIAA State Track and Field Championships, held Friday and Saturday, May 25th-26th, at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

(Photo by Rich Rhoades / Jeffersonian Democrat) Brendan Zerfoss rounds the curve during Friday’s 200-meter dash preliminary race.

Brendan’s medals came in the 200 meters and 400 meters. He ran a 22.94 in the 200 meter Finals, after posting a 22.86 in the Prelims and a 22.59 in the Semifinals. Finishing right behind Brendan was Brookville’s Ian Thrush with a sixth place time of 23.04. Brendan was first in his Prelim Heat and third in his Semi Heat. (Brendan broke his own school record in the 200 meters at the Redbank Invite, recently, with a time of 22.10.)

He secured the fifth place medal in the 400 meters by running a 50.19 in the Finals. His 49.65, in the Prelims, was the second fastest in his heat.

The Clarion Boys (Brendan) finished tied for thirtieth, with eight points. Brendan was the only Bobcat boy to compete in this year’s Championships.

Three Lady Cats made States this year, sophomore Laken Lewis and juniors Lexie Lauer and Phylicia Hockman.

Laken just missed a medal, in the Pole Vault, as she tied for ninth place, going 10-6. (Laken broke her own school record, this season with a vault of 11-0.)

(Photo by Rich Rhoades / Jeffersonian Democrat) Brendan proudly displaying his 2018 PIAA 5th place medal in the 400 meter dash

Lexie, who competed at States for the second time, finished in a tied Grove City’s Emma Eisenberg for fourteenth place in the High Jump, with a leap of 5-0.

Phylicia finished in twentieth place overall in the 800 meter run. She posted a 2:26.71 in her Preliminary Heat. Twelve girls advance to the Finals. Phylicia’s time was her personal best.

All of the area’s medalists this year were in Class AA. North Clarion’s Tori Obenrader led the way with a first place finish in the Girls shot put, with a throw of 45-5.75.

Other area medalists include:

Boys: Redbank Valley, Sam Hetrick – seventh, high jump; Clarion-Limestone, Riley Hummell – eighth, javelin; Keystone, Brody Coleman – fourth, triple jump; Brookville, Ian Thrush – sixth, 200 / Bryan Dworek – seventh, long jump / 4×100 relay: Thrush, Dworek, Jack Krug and John Frank – fifth / 4×800 relay: Krug, Thrush, Dillon Olson and Frank – fourth; Elk County Catholic, 4×800 relay: Jacob Carnovale, Matt Dippold, Logan Hoffman and Ben Hoffman – fifth; Moniteau, James Parenti – fourth, discus / Jacob Patton – third, 110 hurdles and sixth, 300 hurdles; Lakeview, Zac Tingley – third, 800.

Girls: Moniteau, Kendall Grossman – second, pole vault / Cambrie Campbell – fifth, javelin; Lakeview, Kendra Benton – seventh, 100 hurdles / 4×100 relay: Benton, Cecily Gregs, Michaela Ross and Mika Mathieson – eighth; Punxsutawney, Sam Dyson – seventh, shot put / Leah Miller – seventh, high jump; Johnsonburg, Skylar Sherry – second, javelin (her second silver medal in the event); Elk County Catholic, Taylor Newton – fourth, high jump.

(Thanks to Coach Nate McClaine for the information on the Clarion athletes and to Rich Rhoades, sports editor of the Jeffersonian Democrat, in Brookville, for the photos. CONGRATULATIONS ON A FINE CAREER, BRENDAN AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE GREAT THINGS NEXT YEAR, LAKEN, LEXIE AND PHYLICIA!!!!)