5/17/19
RECAP >> As Day 2 of the District XI track and field championships wrapped up on Thursday evening at the Zephyr Sports Complex in Whitehall, perhaps no coach had a bigger smile on her face than Kami Reinhard.
For 21 reasons, the Hornets second year coach had plenty to smile about.
That’s how many of her athletes will be making the trip to the final landing spot that all at in the sport of track strive for at the beginning of the season — Shippensburg University, or as most refer to as just ‘Ship.”
“Having 21 athletes on the state qualifying list is something I did not imagine and I am so grateful,” said Reinhard late on the final day of competition. “Overall, the boys held a very strong presence at the meet throwing out many surprises, and the girls team performed well, but there were a few upsets. “
“As I mention often, there were too many variables out of our control to be able to predict much with confidence this year. The coaching staff knew we did everything we could to train and prepare the athletes.”
It worked.
A total of 14 boys and seven from the girls squad all qualified for next week’s PIAA State Championships which get underway on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25 at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Compare that number from a year ago, where the girls sent the same amount, while the boys didn’t have any of their athletes qualify.
Perhaps no one had a better two days than Hornets junior Mason Boyd who was the only male athlete to compete in four events.
“Mason had an absolutely incredible district meet,” said Reinhard of Boyd. “His potential in track and field as a multi-event athlete is extraordinary. “
“He started the season season a few weeks late due to the basketball team being in states and he also had a minor injury. He earned a podium finish in all three of his individual events when he was not seeded to place in any.”
Boyd took third place in the 400m (51.65) and fourth in both the long jump (21-06) and triple jump (44-00).
Boyd’s teammates on the 4 x 800 m — senior Jacob Brown, junior Mark Magee, sophomore Keshav Shankar and junior Paul Petre – along with the 4 x 100 m relay – seniors Allen Doelue, Lubens Myers and Izaiah McPherson along with sophomore Colin Byrne — will also be heading to states for the first time in their high school careers. Both relay teams finished second in their respective races.
“The 4 x 8 was of the most exciting races of the district meet with Emmaus, Parkland and Liberty once again battling for the top two places to get to states, ” said Reinhard of her team who finished in a time of 8:08.42, behind Parkland that finished first 8:06.86. “Coach (Kelly) Bracetty has done a wonderful job improving the speed of these athletes throughout the season to be able to race at the state level.”
“The 4 x 100 relay blew everyone away,” she added. “No one was expecting for it all to finally come together for our three seniors who have gone through many ups and down the past four years. I have been working with them (the three seniors) for four years, and to see this reward come though for them is one of the highlights of my coaching career at Emmaus.”
Emmaus finished the race in a time of 43.25, only behind Wilson who was first at 42.76.
Also heading to states for the first time will be senior Keyon Carroll-Herring who took second in the high jump (6-01).
“Keyon is a humble soul and struggles to accept that he is one of the top high jumpers in the state,” said Reinhard. “Coach (Zach) LaBar has been working closely with him on technique to gain the confidence he needed to get to the state level. Although he is disappointed he did not achieve his best mark (6-5 was previous best), he is thrilled to get one more opportunity to break the school record of 6-7.”
Four other boys — sophomore Geoffrey Kleinberg and freshman Holden Brown along with Gabe Trexler and Aidan Dougherty — will also make the trip to ‘Ship’ as alternates in the 4 x 8 and 4 x 1 relays.
While all of the boys will be making their first-ever trip to states, it will be a second appearance for the girls 4 x 100 m relay team of sophomore Halle Jennett and juniors Alanna Smith, Mackenzie Dries and Kayla Smith.
“Losing (junior) Breyanna Roper to an injury in pre-season put a lot of question in the ability of the 4x100m to make it to states again this year,” said Reinhard.
“Halle had big shoes to fill and was able to improve significantly to pull off the automatic time once again to make it to states. I’m very proud of the girls for being able to work together in a different order and different method this year in order to accomplish the goal.”
The other member of the girls squad to qualify for states for the first time was senior Lindsay Lumsden who took third place in the triple jump (37-02).
” Lindsay had a revival this week after failing to place at EPC’s the week prior in triple jump,” said Reinhard.
“She did not let that stop her from not only placing at districts, not only breaking the school record again, but by far overachieving the automatic state qualifying mark for triple jump with a 37-2! This has been a goal for Lindsay for this season and the credit goes to Coach LaBar for his incredible knowledge in jumps “
Sophomore Madison Brown and freshman Heather Augustin will serve as alternates in the 4 x 100 m relay and are also headed to states for the first time.
Additional highlights from day 2 at Districts:
Alanna Smith – 100m dash 3rd place and 200m dash 5th place
Mason Boyd – 400m dash 3rd place and long jump 4th place
Paul Petre – 800m 5th place
Kera Reinhard – 1600m 6th place
Madison Brown – 400m 6th place
Ashleigh McNellis – 400m 8th place
Girls 4 × 400m relay – 4th place
Boys 4 × 400m relay – 5th place
For complete coverage of next week’s state meet, follow @Emmaussports.com on twitter and ‘like’ Emmaus track on facebook.