Great Showing At Districts For Bobcat Track And Field; MVP Laken Lewis, Eva Lerch, Phylicia Hockman, Noah Schill Head To States (05/19/19)

on 19 May, 2019 at 17:40

(All photos by Matt Lerch)
Above L-R: Nathaniel Lerch, Bella Scott,Noah Schill,
Gavin Brinkley, Evelyn Lerch, Laken Lewis, Clay McElravy, Nick Schill

(By Coach Rosary Pennington)

The Clarion Area Girls Track and Field Team have three athletes coming out of the District 9 meet that will advance to the PIAA State Meet at Shippensburg next weekend.

Laken Lewis atop the podium for pole vault

Laken Lewis had an outstanding day, placing in four events and taking home the Girls James Manners MVP award for the AA classification. She was a busy girl running from event to event, not leaving the infield, but she was very satisfied at the end of the day. She won the pole vault by clearing 11-6 cleanly on her first attempt setting a new meet record. She also won the triple jump with a leap of 34-1, took second in high jump at 5-0 and third in long jump with a distance of 16-5.75

Evelyn Lerch leading the field on way to 400 win

Evelyn Lerch also had a great day, winning the 400 with a time of 1:00.05. She has been dropping her time in that event over the past couple of meets . She also took fifth place in the 200 in 27.28 seconds.

Though Phylicia Hockman took second in the 800, she will also advance to States with her two other teammates. She ran a career best time of 2:22.76 taking two seconds off her previous best time.

Rebekah Ketner captured fourth in the shot put

Rebekah Ketner stood on the podium for fourth place in the shot put after a throw of 33-0.25 feet. Isabella Scott ran the 3200 in 13:27.54, crossing the line in ninth place.

The girls team took third place overall behind Brookville and Johnsonburg.

For the boys, there were initially no Bobcats moving on; however we had a turn of events this afternoon as we found out that Noah Schill will be competing at Ship in the 800. He put his heart into his race dropping four seconds off his personal time at 2:01.49 and came up short by feet at the line, a difference of .37 seconds.

Boys 4×800 (Daniel Ketner, Nick Schill, Noah Schill and Donnie Cunningham captured third place.

It was an emotional moment when he thought that would be the end of high school track career; his family and the coaches are so happy for him to get this opportunity to have another meet to compete. Noah also ran a leg of the 4X800 relay with his brother Nick along with Dan Ketner and Donny Cunningham. They ran a season best time of 8:29.21. This relay was undefeated in dual meets this season.

Nathaniel Lerch also took home a bronze medal for third place in the 3200, with a time of 10:22.21.

Athletes Noah Schill, Phylicia Hockman, Evelyn Lerch and Nick Schill with Coach Roth

Gavin Brinkley stepped on the podium to collect two medals himself. He earned third place in the long jump with a personal best jump of 21-3.5 and sixth in the triple jump, with a leap of 41-4.75 feet. He also competed in the high jump and was eighth overall, going 5-11.

Nick Schill took home a medal in his individual event. He ran 4:39.65 in the 1600 to place fifth.

Clay McElravy moved out of his underdog seed to grab a fifth place medal in the discus, with a toss of 119-1. He was so happy to make the finals from the lower flight. He ended up tenth overall in the shot, throwing 42-8.

Last event of the day, the boys 4X400 relay of the Schill brothers, Josh Mitchell and Donny Cunningham, finished in sixth place coming out of the slower heat with a season best time of 3:41.52.

The boys overall team place was ninth.

(Thanks to Coach Pennington for this article and to Matt Lerch for the photos.Congratulations on a great district meet, Cats!!!! Have a great state meet Laken, Eva, Phyllicia and Nick!!!!)