25-05-2025
PIAA track and field: Broken records, hungry officials, YAIAA finishers and medalists
YAIAA athletes broke one of the oldest PIAA track and field records at this year's meet, and one of the newest.
Both came with a lot of encouragement from the stands.
Bermudian Springs senior Lily Carlson had the Class 3A pole vault gold medal in hand, but missed her first two attempts at 14-0.25 to break the year-old record. Needing some extra adrenaline, she encouraged the fans to clap.
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They did and she soared. She broke the record set last year by Mount St. Joseph's Veronica Vacca, who earned a no height finish when she failed to clear 12-0.
Dallastown senior Jalen Cook didn't ask for any help to break the Class 3A high jump record. But he got it anyway.
A few fans took notice when he won the gold medal at 6-9. He drew in more when he broke the 40-year-old mark of 7-0.25 when he cleared 7-1. He had them on their feet when he broke an equally old state record of 7-2.5 and became the first high school athlete to clear 7-3 in Pennsylvania.
Only four PIAA records are older than the high jump mark set by Plymouth-Whitemarsh graduate Tyrone Smith in 1985. The oldest is the boys Class 2A long jump record set in 1976.
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South Western graduate Mike Spangler also owns an old one. He set the boys Class 2A 400 meter record in 1984.
They captured two of the five gold medals won by four York-Adams athletes this year at Shippensburg University. Spring Grove junior Ella Bahn won gold in girls Class 3A 100 and 300 hurdles and New Oxford junior Brayden Billman won gold in the boys Class 3A triple jump.
during the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
Pack for anything
It makes sense that a spring season that started with cold and damp would end with cold and damp.
Instead of a typical Memorial Day weekend where athletes would try to find shade, this year they were looking for protection against wind and rain. And trying to figure out how to handle either.
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Double gold medalist Bahn said she prefers running in cooler temperatures compared to the broiling sun we had last year. Clearly the distance runners preferred it as two 3200 records were broken and the other two were seriously flirted with.
Carlson told her coaches she felt the wind at her side during one of her record-breaking attempts on Friday, when the Class 3A pole vaulters combined for 17 no-height finishes. There were seven fewer among the Class 2A vaulters on Saturday, when they had reversed their runway direction and wind came in gusts instead of steady.
The rain that forced delays on Friday stayed away on Saturday, but the dark clouds hung around.
Athletes race in the 3A 3200m run during the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
'Hey, I'm hungry!'
PIAA officials had some rumbling bellies when their boxed lunches were late on Friday. But they weren't as angry at the Jersey Mike's officials who were left scratching their heads, wondering where their food had gone.
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The 140 boxed lunches were picked up by the driver contracted through a delivery app. The food never made it to Seth Grove Stadium. PIAA officials were told that the driver took off with the sandwiches and store officials had no way of tracking down the food or the driver.
Jersey Mike's scrambled to put together a fresh order, and by mid-afternoon the officials were fed. The store is out roughly $1,600 and if found, the driver will be in a heap of trouble.
South Western's Elijah Holly, center, runs in the 3A 400m dash during the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
YAIAA medalists
Class 3A
Ella Bahn, Spring Grove, jr.: Won the girls 100 hurdles in 13.64 and 300 hurdles in 41.98. | Finished seventh in the girls high jump at 5-5. The winning jump was 5-7. |
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Brayden Billman, New Oxford, jr.: Won the boys triple jump in 47-5. | Finished fifth in the boys long jump with a jump of 23-4.25. The winning jump was 24-4.
Jalen Cook, Dallastown, sr.: Broke the PIAA and state record to win boys high jump gold at 7-3.
Lily Carlson, Bermudian Springs, sr.: Won the girls pole vault in a PIAA record 14-0.25.
Dallastown: The team of Neila Granger, Addison Emenheiser, Leah Navarro and Natalie Good finished sixth in the girls 4x800 in 9:19.46. The winning time was 9:03.23.
Elijah Holly, South Western, sr.: Finished eighth in the boys 800 meters in 49.15. The winning time was 46.52.
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Robert Salazar Rosell, York High, sr.: Finished fifth in the boys 300 hurdles in 38.32. The winning time was 36.99.
York Tech's Jaydyn Brown competes in the 3A girls discus at the PIAA track and field championships at Shippensburg University on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
YAIAA state finishers
Class 2A
Jaedyn Brown, York Tech, so.: Finished 16th in the girls discus with a throw of 117-0. The winning throw was 143-3.
Delone Catholic: The team of Max Holz, JP Groves, Nolan Kruse and Braden Smith finished 18th in the boys 4x100 in 44.24. The winning time was 42.48.
Fairfield: The team of Brock Herb, Nathan Davis, Michael Fisher and Noah Davis finished 27th in the boys 4x100 in 44.84. The winning time was 42.48. | The team of Chris Brown, Nathan Davis, Noah Davis and Brock Herb finished 15th in the 4x400 relay in 3:31.67. The winning time was 3:21.69.
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Miley Heath, Hanover, sr.: Finished 20th in the girls shot put with a throw of 32-7.25. The winning throw was 41-2.
Benedicte Parker, Littlestown, jr.: Finished 27th in the girls long jump with a jump of 15-4. The winning jump was 18-5.75.
Zander Spillman, Littlestown, jr.: Finished 29th in boys long jump with a jump of 19-5.25. The winning jump was 22-10.50.
Class 3A
Wyatt Carbaugh, South Western, so.: Finished 19th in the boys javelin with a throw of 161-4. The winning throw was 204-4.
Dallastown: The team of Jalen Cook, Gabe Annan, Christian Rodriguez and Christopher Cromartie finished 20th in the boys 4x100 in 43.21. The winning time was 41.38.
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Lyla Eltz, South Western, fr.: Finished 25th in the girls 3200 meters in 11:03.42. The winning time was 10:22.08.
Natalie Good, Dallastown, sr.: Finished 24th in the girls 800 meters in 2:19.47. The winning time was 2:03.84.
Molly Mclaughlin, Dallastown, fr.: Finished 13th in the girls 100 meters at 12.48 and 29th in the 200 in 26.43. The winning time was 11.69.
Magnus Mitchell, York Tech, so.: Finished 28th in the boys 200 meters in 23.20. The winning time was 21.05.
Leah Navarro, Dallastown, fr.: Finished 21st in the girls 3200 meters in 10:58.61. The winning time was 10:22.08.
Robert Salazar Rosell, York High, sr.: Finished 16th in the 110 hurdles at 14.88. The winning time was a PIAA record 13.63.
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David Smith, Kennard-Dale, sr.: Finished 15th in the boys 300 hurdles in 39.78. The winning time was 36.99.
Melanie Thoman, Dover, jr.: Finished 13th in the girls shot put with a throw of 37-1. The winning throw was 43-3.
Sophia Treglia, Northeastern, jr.: Finished 20th in the girls 1600 meters at 5:09.54. The winning time was 4:44.22.
York High: The team of Nikole Rodriguez, Jontai Bailey, Leira Hinojosa and Ennesty Smith finished 11th in the girls 4x100 in 49.08. The winning time was 47.41.
Team scores
Top 10 schools and YAIAA
Class 2A girls: 1. Quaker Valley, 54; 2. Lewisburg, 47; 3. Laurel, 31; 4. North Catholic, 29; 5. Warrior Run, 26; 6. Greenville, 25; 7. Pine Grove, 24; 8. (tie) Winchester Thurston and Conemaugh Township, 23; 10. Wellsboro, 20.
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Class 2A boys: 1. Quaker Valley, 75; 2. Nativity BVM, 30; 3. Lewisburg, 27.33; 4. Corry, 26; 5. (tie) Danville and Hickory, 24; 7. Mercyhurst Prep, 20; 8. (tie) Hughesville and Beaver, 18; 9. Minersville, 18; 10. Mohawk, 18.
Class 3A girls: 1. Souderton, 33; 2. McCaskey, 29; 3. (tie) Kennett and Owen J. Roberts, 22; 5. Spring Grove, 22; 6. (tie) Cheltenham and Ephrata, 20; 8. Haverford Twp., 20; 9. State College, 19; 10. (tie) Central Buck East and Cedar Crest, 18. YAIAA: 24. Bermudian Springs, 10; 65. Dallastown, 3.
Class 3A boys: 1. State College, 53; 2. Palmyra, 28; 3. Grove City, 21; 4. (tie) Gateway and Central Bucks East, 20; 6. Manheim Twp., 20; 7. Mifflin County, 20; 8. Owen J. Roberts, 20; 9. (tie) Dowingtown West and Central Dauphin, 18. YAIAA: 14. New Oxford, 14; 22. Dallastown, 10; 60. York High, 4; 88. South Western, 1.
Shelly Stallsmith covers York-Adams high school sports for GameTimePA and the USAToday Network. Connect with her by email mstallsmith@ or on X, formerly Twitter, @ShelStallsmith.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: PIAA track and field: 7-3 is the new state high jump standard
