Four locals headed to states
WHITEHALL — The Rockets were well-represented at Baldwin in the WPIAL Individual Track & Field Championships held Thursday at Baldwin High School.
Nick Santoya placed fifth and also qualified for the state meet (May 25-26 at Shippensburg University) in the long jump for Jefferson-Morgan with a jump of 20-11.
“I’m very excited,” Santoya said, “I didn’t even know I placed until they called my name, so it was a big surprise, I didn’t think I was going to make it.”
Rockets’ teammate Milton Sibanda also placed at Baldwin in the triple jump. Sibanda came in eighth place with a jump of 40-11.
“I tried to do my best, it’s hard trying to go between the triple jump and the 4×100, you get kinda rushed in between,” Sibanda said.
hris Shaw and Micah Stanko along with Sibanda and Santoya ran the 400 relay twice after a starting problem.
“The starter just couldn’t see our first guy in lane one,” Sibanda said, “so now we have to run it again later by ourselves.”
The team placed sixth with a time of 44.84 after running the second time.
Waynesburg Central junior Cameron Jacobs will be headed to Shippensburg, qualifying for the state meet in the 1,600. Jacobs finished the race in fifth place with a time of 4:36.53.
“I’m definitely excited (for states),” Jacobs said after the race, “My goal for Shippensburg is to get closer to 4:30. I don’t know if I’ll place, but it will be a good experience for next year.”
Raiders teammate Ryan Cole placed eighth at Baldwin in the pole vault. Cole vaulted 12-0.
Frazier senior Sawyer Palonder finished the 3,200 in fifth place with a time of 9:50.
“My goal for today was to make it to states,” Palonder said after receiving his medal. “I missed last year because of a torn quad, so this has been a long time coming. At states I plan to just stay with the pack and go where they carry me.”
Southmoreland’s Tyler Ramsey placed eighth in the 200 with a time of 23.61. Ramsey fell less than a second short of the state qualifying time.
Mount Pleasant’s Tyler Kolar will be traveling to Shippensburg for the state meet to compete in the pole vault. Kolar placed second at championships with a vault of 14-0.
Vikings teammate Mike Forsythe also placed at Baldwin in the high jump. Forsythe jumped 5-10.