Somerset County athletes collecting more medals at PIAA Track and Field Championships
SHIPPENSBURG — Somerset County athletes continued to rack up medals at the PIAA Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium.
Meyersdale senior Tristin Ohler nearly won gold in the boys' 2A 200-meter dash. His 22.10 was edged by Penn Cambria senior Josh Stolarski's 21.98. Ohler opened his day with a 10.86 in the 100-meter dash to match his PR and school record, earning bronze in the process.
"It was good. It wasn't what I was hoping for," Ohler said. "I was expected to go fourth and I got better in both of my events, so I'm not complaining at all."
Finishing with two more PIAA medals is a special way to cap his high school career before heading to West Liberty University.
"I'm going to go to college, run the best I've ever ran, hopefully improve and try to compete pro one day," he said.
Day 2 action PIAA state track meet 2024: Live updates from Saturday's action
Conemaugh Township junior Izzy Slezak turned in a time of 25.48 to claim silver in the girls' 2A 200-meter dash, bettering her bronze medal finish from last year. She started her day with a fifth-place finish in the 100-meter dash, running a 12.32. That was also an improvement from last season where she took eighth at Shippensburg.
"This feels really good," Slezak said. "I had a lot of pressure on myself because anytime I come here, I just want to do better than I did the year before. I knew if I wanted to do better than I did last year, I was going to have to give it my absolute all. Knowing that this was the last meet of the year, I really left it all out on the track. I'm proud of myself.
"States is so much fun. I love the competition. I love watching the competition. It always feels good. I love racing against people, here."
Somerset's Emily Fisher has dazzled in her freshman season. She earned a PIAA cross country bronze in the fall. Fisher won two District 5 titles (800 and 1600) and qualified for states in the 3200. On Saturday, Fisher finished eighth in the 3200 run in 11:16.89, backing up her eighth in the 1600 with a time of 5:11.54 on Friday. Fisher broke her own school record for the third time this season in both events. She finished the day with a 14th place finish in the 800 with a time of 2:24.01.
"I was really excited. I didn't think I would be here at the beginning of the season," Fisher said. "It's a really great opportunity and I am happy that I got to be here. The competition is great. I didn't think I would get this opportunity. It's a different kind of race, preparation and pressure on yourself. It's great.
"I looked at those school records last year and said, 'I really want to get those someday.' I want to thank everyone for helping me along the way."
Somerset sophomore Tucker Mostoller finished 18th in the shot put with a throw of 45-0½. Conemaugh Township senior Dominik Hanik ran 2:03.13 in the 800 run to finish 26th.
Somerset County pair win silver medals
It was a banner day for a pair of Somerset County athletes on Day 1 of the PIAA Track and Field Championships on Friday.
Meyersdale junior Jordan Synowietz peaked at the right time, earning silver in the 2A discus with a throw of 159-7.
"I was constantly recording every single throw at practice. It was a lot of work," Synowietz said. "It means the whole world to me to get silver. I put in hours and hours. Now, I can finally sit down and just be calm.
"I felt really good on that first throw. I had a lot of nerves after that, and I got dehydrated."
Day 1 action 2024 PIAA state track and field championships: Live results from Class 2A
Meanwhile, Conemaugh Township sophomore Baylee Sleek collected silver in the high jump with a leap of 5-6. Sara McConnell, who Sleek bested at the Heritage Conference championships, won with a jump of 5-7.
"It definitely took a lot of training, hard work and determination to get over that 5-6," Sleek said. "I was definitely stressed out and intimidated going into it.
"I tracked (McConnell's) season and I was stressed coming in because I knew how good she was. That's great competition to go back and forth with each other. God played a big role in this. I couldn't have done this without him. My coaches have helped me a lot as well."
Conemaugh Township's Jackson Sotosky grabbed his second straight PIAA podium, taking fifth in the high jump with a leap of 6-4. The junior also leaped 21-5 to finish 12th in the long jump. Sotosky was 23rd in Saturday's triple jump with a mark of 40-4.
"I was very excited this year to come out and compete in more events than I did last year at states," Sotosky said. "I wish I would have placed higher in my other two events, but I am very happy and pleased with what I did in the high jump. I just wanted to get on the podium again and get a medal. I knew if I cleared 6-4, I would get there.
"The competition was even harder than last year. I am going to train harder, put the work in and hopefully get back here, get on the podium in all three events or win one."
Windber senior Lukas Betcher launched the javelin 143-8 to finish 16th in the boys' competition while Conemaugh Township sophomore Katrina McCann turned in a throw of 101-3 to take 21st in the girls' event.
Fellow Windber senior Joseph McKelvey grabbed 22nd in the 1600 with a time of 4:29.74. He took 27th in Saturday's 3200 with a 9:56.44.
Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on X @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County athletes shine at PIAA Track and Field Championships
