Clarion Comets Track Club earns 6 medals at USATF Three Rivers Association Junior Olympics Championships
Photos by Matt Lerch – Above (L-R) Aidin Bish, Isaac Lerch, Eliza Datko, James Keenan, Hayden Weber
(By Matt Lerch)
The Clarion Comets Track Club resumed competing from the winter indoor season to the summer outdoor season. Seven Clarion County and Jefferson County athletes raced on the track and jumped in the pits against the elite Track and Field Clubs of Western Pennsylvania at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, June 17th and Sunday, June 18th. Coached by Tammy Lerch with assistants BJ Roth and Dan Patton, the athletes continued their success from their respective spring Track and Field seasons in Senior and Junior High Schools.
On Saturday, incoming Clarion Area sophomore Hayden Weber placed third and medaled in the Boys 17-18 800m. Clarion Area incoming Freshman Eliza Datko finished third and medaled in the Girls 15-16 800 with a blistering kick in the final 50m. Incoming Junior from Clarion Area Isaac Lerch qualified for the 100m finals placing 8th in a crowded field, with the finals taking place the following day. Incoming North Clarion Freshman Grace Carroll just missed the podium for the Girls 15-16 Triple Jump, placing fourth. In addition, Clarion Area incoming Junior James Keenan ran the Boys 17-18 200 placing 11th in an extremely competitive field. Punxsutawney High School was represented by incoming freshman Adin Bish who competed in the Boys 15-16 800 and placed fourth with a personal best time of 2:16.31.
Sunday morning, the races resumed with returning Bish running the Boys 15-16 1500 placing third and medaling. Lerch returned to race in the Boys 17-18 100m and finished 7th/ Lerch also medaled taking third place in the Boys 17-18 Long Jump with a new Personal Best of 19’10.75.” Incoming Redbank Valley sophomore Mylee Harmon took the top spot on the podium winning the Girls 15-16 High Jump easily winning the event. Carroll also jumped with Harmon taking 5th place in the Girls 15-16 High Jump and also placed 4th in the Girls 15-16 Long Jump with a personal best jump of 15’08.75”. Harmon wasn’t done, she finished second in the 400m with a time of 59.96 for the Girls 15-16 division, with her usual come from behind running style, just missing first place. Datko also ran the Girls 15-16 400 coming in 9th place with a personal best time of 1:09.61.
For the first meet of the season, the Comets were pleased coming away with 6 medals and competing against teams 5 times their size. Several more meets are scheduled around Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio for the Comets.
(Good Work, Comets!!!! Thanks to Matt Lerch for this article and photos!!)