May 28, 2006 By Jim Downey 2 min read

SHIPPENSBURG – Waynesburg Central’s Jake Raddish was disappointed he fell short of his goal of jumping 6-6, but the eighth-place medal in the boys’ Class AA high jump the senior shared with two others Saturday afternoon at the PIAA Individual Track & Field Championships tempered his feelings. “This is my first medal. That’s why I’m not too angry. Plus, I got the medal. They’re mailing the medals to the other two guys,” said Raddish. “I’m disappointed I didn’t get 6-4. The only thing I wanted today was 6-6.”

Raddish was flawless from the opening jump of 5-10 through 6-2, the height he made while winning the WPIAL silver medal.

Eleven of the 26 competitors actually cleared 6-2 but the three medallists in eighth had fewer misses.

He faltered at 6-4, missing all three attempts. He had the bar cleared on his final attempt but hit it with his calf.

“I missed at 6-4, as usual. Sometimes I clear it with ease, other times not,” said Raddish. “I did good in practice Thursday and felt really good coming into to today. I started getting nervous (early in the competition), but I relaxed after I cleared 6 feet. I was worried about (clearing 6 feet).”

“(Shady Side Academy’s) Hunter McKain told me if I didn’t throw the bar down (on his second attempt), I would have got it.”

Waynesburg Central’s Jereme Yoders came up short in his second attempt at a state medal after failing to advance to the finals boys Class AA discus. Yoders’ best attempt was 125 feet, 11 inches to finish 22nd overall.

Johnsonburg’s Chad Yurchick won the event with a throw of 161 feet.

Mount Pleasant’s Taylor Funk just missed an opportunity to medal in the Class AA 100 high hurdles after finishing fourth in her semifinal with a time of 15.46 seconds. The top three in each semifinal plus the two best times advanced to the final, but the Lady Viking sophomore’s time was a mere .22 seconds shy of qualifying for the finals.

Center’s Lindsay Dolan finished first in the high hurdles in a time of 14.01 seconds.