PIAA track & field: Greencastle-Antrim's Bailey Hurley earns state medal
SHIPPENSBURG -- Bailey Hurley made the most of her first trip to the PIAA track and field championships, earning a coveted spot on the podium.
The Greencastle-Antrim sophomore placed fifth in the Class 3A girls discus Saturday with a throw of 122 feet, 1 inch to capture Franklin County's only medal of the meet at Shippensburg University.
"I'm really happy. I worked really hard to get to where I'm at, and my coaches have been very helpful," she said. "My goal was just to medal and throw the best that I can. I threw how I wanted to today."
Hurley placed third at last week's District 3 championships at 121-0, which seeded her fifth at states. Her personal record of 135-11 came in a dual meet at Waynesboro this spring.
"Today, I was obviously hoping to get a PR, but I'm happy with where I am," she said.
With two years of high school left, she has her sights on a state title.
"This is something that I'm hoping to do in college," Hurley said. "One of the schools I'm looking at is BYU. I definitely hope to be (on the top of the state podium) so they can notice me."
Claire Paci falls short of goals
The weekend didn't go as planned for Greencastle-Antrim senior Claire Paci, who finished her high school career with another disappointing showing at the state track meet.
On Saturday, she placed 21st in the 3,200 in 11:13.64 after finishing 22nd in the 1,600 in 5:07.89 on Friday.
A week earlier, Paci, a UConn recruit, won both events at the District 3 championships with times of 10:30.70 and 4:55.98.
"I know I put in a lot of work for this," she said. "It's tough that this is the second year in a row that this has happened, where I know I'm at a place where I can compete and I can hang with these girls, and I just haven't, and that's really tough."
After winning state silver medals in both events as a sophomore, Paci placed 18th in the 3,200 and 23rd in the 1,600 last year.
Is the recent state slump all in her head?
"I'm not exactly sure," she said. "I spent a lot of time last night reflecting on the 1,600 and reflecting on what happened last year. I don't think I peaked too early. I've been feeling super goood all season. I think it's more of a mentality thing going into this and having all these really good girls. It's tough on your head, for sure.
"But I had a good season. Definitely not the way I wanted it to end, but there are better things to come. I'm excited for UConn."
Also for Greencastle-Antrim, Hayden Parks finished 34th in the boys 1,600 in 4:31.95 on Friday.
Other Franklin County competitors in Class 3A
The Chambersburg boys, who won their first state team title in program history last spring, were held scoreless this year, although they were without some key contributors, such as superstar jumper JJ Kelly.
For the Trojans, Jermere Jones finished one place shy of the finals in the 110 hurdles, taking ninth in Friday's prelims in 14.54.
Also for Chambersburg, Antonio Harrison II finished 15th in the 100 (10.82) and 19th in the 200 (22.27), Owen Shrader was 22nd in the 800 (2:00.77) and the relay team of Ari Snyder, Kaden Rife, Liam Kirkpatrick and Shrader placed 27th in the 4x800 (8:22.54). Peter Mertz didn't register a mark in the shot put, fouling on all three of his attempts.
Natalia Holmes finished 18th in the 100 (12.30) for the Chambersburg girls.
For the James Buchanan boys, Austin McCoy finished 14th in the 400 (49.88) and teamed with Colton Yeager, Connor Kenzie and Nate Towns to place 21st in the 4x400 (3:25.82).
For the Waynesboro girls, Jada Creager tied for 18th in the pole vault (10-6) and True Benshoff finished 29th in the 300 hurdles (49.56).
Shippensburg's Derek Lynch finished 11th in the boys discus (150-5).
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: PIAA track & field: Greencastle-Antrim's Bailey Hurley earns medal
