CHAMBERSBURG — The area track and field season had its traditional opening Saturday at Trojan Stadium for the Tim Cook Invitational under not exactly ideal weather conditions.
Nevertheless, area teams put up some pretty good results, with first-place finishes in 13 events — including five of the six relays — and another eight runner-up performances.
Antonio Harrison
"All of our coaches were pleased with the grit out guys showed today, competing in tough weather conditions," Chambersburg boys coach Jim Boyer said.
Five boys won individual events — Chambersburg's Antonio Harrison in the 100 (11.18) and Jermere Jones in the 110 hurdles (15.43), Greencastle-Antrim's Hayden Parks in the 3200 (9:50.22) and Conner Wright in the javelin (155-0), and Shippensburg's Derek Lynch in the discus (159-4).
Chambersburg also captured a pair of relays. The team of Imari Watson, Harrison, Blake Mallast and Jones won the 4 x 100 in 43.42, and the 4 x 800 team of Kaden Rife, Liam Kirkpatrick, Bryton Hazelton and Ari Snyder won in a time of 8:24.87.
"It was especially nice to start off the season with some fast relays," Boyer said.
On the girls side, Waynesboro had a pair of champions in True Benchoff in the 300 hurdles (51.19) and Jada Creager in the pole vault with a height of 9-0. Claire Paci of Greencastle had a winning time of 11:07.72 in the 3200, nearly a minute ahead of the runner-up.
Jaxin Frazer
All three relays were won by local teams — Chambersburg in the 4 x 100 in 50.45 (Jaxin Frazer, Natalia Holmes, Jahnaya Wimberley and Lashae Hang); Shippensburg in the 4 x 400 in 4:24.09 (Skylen Renshaw, Ava Frontino, Louise Fischer and Victoria Kalp); and Mercersburg Academy in the 4 by 800 in 10:04.39 (Ella Blanco, Anne Sehon, Leah Willis and Quinn Nelson).
Second-place finishes in the girls events were produced by the Trojans' Holmes in the 100, Sienna Scott in the high jump and Frazer in the long jump, and by the Maidens' Benchoff in the 110 hurdles and Gracie French in the 200.
Chambersburg coach Chris Monheim said, "Our highlight was the 4 x 100 relay win — that 50.45 was a really good early-season time. Holmes ran a good 100 with a great start, but she couldn't beat the Spring Grove girl (state champion Laila Campbell).
"Frazer had a really good day in the jumps (2nd long jump, 3rd triple jump) — she's going to be a good point scorer for us. Lexi Boyd ran a nice mile and a really great leg in the 4 x 400, and Cami Bender had a nice day in the javelin (tie for 3rd, 103-6)."
Peter Mertz was second in the boys shot put for the Trojans, G-A's Noah Parks took second in the 800 and Waynesboro's Nathan Nolan was the pole vault runner-up.
Boyer said, "We're extremely grateful to our athletic department, trainers, officials and parent and athlete volunteers who helped make this event run smoothly, and especially to meet director Bob Walker."
Tim Cook Invitational
GIRLS
100 — 1.Laila Campbell (Spring Grove) 1206; 2.Natalia Holmes (Chambersburg) 12.68; 3.Jada Creager (Waynesboro) 13.10
200 — 1.Campbell (Spring Grove) 25.31; 2.Gracie French (Way) 27.34
400 — 1.Cassie Nugin (Cedar Cliff) 1:03.19; 3.Skylen Renshaw (Shippensburg) 1:04.56; 5.Maggie Holtry (Chbg) 1:06.05
800 — 1.Rian Johnson (North Hagerstown) 2:24.43; 5.Ava Frontino (Ship) 2:31.95
1600 — 1.Lauren Stine (N.Hagerstown) 5:12.16; 4.Lexi Boyd (Chbg) 5:28.18; 5.Madelyn Koons (Chbg) 5:41.13
3200 — 1.Claire Paci (Greencastle-Antrim) 11:07.72; 4.Raegan Hepner (Chbg) 12:41.33; 5.Katherine Board (G-A) 12:47.03
110 H — 1.Myel Cornelius (East Pennsboro) 16.80; 2.True Benchoff (Way) 17.39; 3.French (Way) 17.505.Emma Kolb (Chbg) 18.27
300 H — 1.1.Benchoff (Way) 51.19; 2.Sierra Rae (Way) 52.08; 3.Marlee Jackson (Chbg) 52.12
4 x 100 relay — 1.Chambersburg (Jaxin Frazer, Holmes, Jahnaya Wimberley, Lashae Hang) 50.45
4 x 400 relay — 1.Shippensburg (Renshaw, Frontino, Louise Fischer, Victoria Kalp) 4:24.09; 3.Waynesboro (Rae, French, Benchoff, Isabella Ruefle) 4:24.50; 3.Chambersburg (Holmes, Holtry, Hang, Olivia Coy) 4:26.68
4 x 800 relay — 1.Mercersburg Academy (Ella Blanco, Anne Sehon, Leah Willis, Quinn Nelson) 10:04.39; 5.Chambersburg (Boyd, Samantha Faust, Natalie Quinn, Koons) 10:25.47
High jump — 1.Ella Bahn (Spring Grove) 5-0; 2.Sienna Scott (Chbg) 4-10
Pole vault — 1.Creager (Way) 9-0; 3.Camryn Bonner (Way) 8-0; 5.(tie) Alaina Morris (Chbg) and Jolene Patton (Ship) 7-6
Long jump — 1.Bahn (Spring Grove) 17-2; 2.Frazer (Chbg) 16-3.5; 3.Jaylynn Schmuck (G-A) 16-1.75; 4.Wimberley (Chbg) 15-10.5
Triple jump — 1.Imani Hopper (Harrisburg) 33-9.5; 3.Frazer (Chbg) 33-4; 4.Schmuck (G-A) 32-9.5; 5.Coy (Chbg) 32-2
Shot put — 1.Erin Miles (Milton Hershey) 36-7
Discus — 1.Maddie Henne (Wilson) 110-1; 3.Bailey Hurley (G-A) 103-9
Javelin — 1.Sophie Price (Palmyra) 117-1; 3.(tie) Cami Bender (Chbg) and Lillian Kauffman (G-A) 103-6
BOYS
100 — 1.Antonio Harrison II (Chbg) 11.13; 3.Blake Mallast 11.18
200 — 1.Myka Simmons (Mifflin Co.) 22.31
400 — 1.Darian Crim (Carlisle) 50.53; 3.Austin McCoy (JB) 52.35; 4.Bryce Pattillo (Ship) 53.54
800 — 1.Joshua Blanton (Carlisle) 2:02.72; 2.Noah Parks (G-A) 2:07.95; 5.Bryton Hazelton (Chbg) 2:11.05
1600 — 1.Carter Smith (Mifflin Co.) 4:27.32; 4.Joel Amstutz (G-A) 4:44.01
3200 — 1.Hayden Parks (G-A) 9:50.22; 5.Kaden Rife (Chbg) 10:13.74
110 H — 1.Jermere Jones (Chbg) 15.43
300 H — 1.Ryder Johnston (N. Hagerstown) 40.43; 4.Noah Valentine (Chbg) 42.61
4 x 100 relay — 1.Chambersburg (Imari Watson, Harrison, Mallast, Jones) 43.42; 3.Greencastle 45.94
4 x 400 relay — 1.Shamokin 3:35.94; 3.Chambersburg (Harrison, Gabe Putt, Jonathan Dawe, Emilio Frey-Reyes) 3:45.41
4 x 800 relay — 1.Chambersburg (Rife, Liam Kirkpatrick, Hazelton, Ari Snyder) 8:24.87
High jump — 1.Ty'Shawn Ewings (Harrisburg) 6-4
Pole vault — 1.Logan Steel (Shamokin) 10-0; 2.Nathan Nolan (Way) 9-64; 4.Luke Mertz (Chbg) 9-0
Long jump — 1.Johnston (N.Hagerstown) 21.3
Triple jump — 1.Mark Ridgeford (Milton Hershey) 43-4.5
Shot put — 1.Brady Mider (Berks Catholic) 53-0.5; 2.Peter Mertz (Chbg) 46-0.5
Discus — 1.Derek Lynch (Ship) 159-4; 4.P.Mertz (Chbg) 148-0
Javelin — 1.Conner Wright (G-A) 155-0; 3.Jude Grillo (Chbg) 146-6
