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Jumping for gold: Trojans’ Qualk wins WPIAL title in long jump

By Jim Downey 5 min read
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California’s Lee Qualk flies through the air in the finals of the long jump in Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AA Individual Track & Field Championship at Slippery Rock University. Qualk won the gold medal with a jump of 22-2½.
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Butler’s Drew Griffiths (left) and Ringgold’s Ryan Pajak (right) lead the pack in the opening lap of the 1,600 in Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AAA Individual Track & Field Championship at Slippery Rock University. Griffiths finished first with Pajak taking the silver medal.
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Charleroi’s Braedin Lunger (left) goes over a hurdle in the 110 high hurdles prelim during Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AA Individual Track & Field Championship at Slippery Rock University. Lunger finished fourth in the finals with a time of 15.32 seconds.
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Mount Pleasant’s Garrett Eicher slips over the bar in the pole vault during Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AA Individual Track & Field Championship at Slippery Rock University. Eicher finished third with a vault of 13 feet.
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Connellsville’s Nicholas Rohal (left) and Belle Vernon’s Ryan Kent talk between throws in the finals of the discus in Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AAA Individual Track & Field Championship at Slippery Rock University. Rohal won the bronze medal and Kent placed fourth.
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Laurel Highlands' Matt Schwertfeger (left) and Penn-Trafford's Jake McGhee run stride-for-stride in the third lap of the 1,600 in Wednesday's WPIAL Class AAA Individual Track & Field Championship at Slippery Rock University.

SLIPPERY ROCK – California’s Lee Qualk had an eventful day at the WPIAL Class AA Individual Track & Field Championships at Slippery Rock University on Wednesday, and one of those accomplishments happened before he entered the stadium.

Qualk won the gold medal in the long jump and earned a state berth in the 100 after making the state-qualifying time with his seventh-place finish.

Plus, he and some of his teammates used their muscle to help a stranded motorist who ran out of gas within yards of a Sheetz station entering the borough.

“That was our warmup. We saw the car and got out of the bus, and pushed her up to the Sheetz,” explained Qualk, adding, “The funny thing was the light turned red, so we had to wait until the light changed.”

Qualk and Charleroi’s Braedin Lunger parried back and forth with Lunger taking the lead and Qualk answering in the final round.

Qualk had the final answer with his winning jump of 22-2½.

“I hit it on the very last jump. I was second (to Lunger) going into the last jump,” said Qualk.

Qualk accomplished more than he expected.

“I expected to jump at least 21-8. That was my goal, and I got over that,” said Qualk. “When I hit my 21-10 and my 22-2½, I knew it was pretty far out there.”

Qualk secured a second berth into next week’s PIAA Championship by the slimmest of margins after finishing seventh in the 100 with a time of 11.24 seconds. He was edged at the finish line by Mount Pleasant’s Jarett Garn by .02 seconds.

“I was really hoping to go in the 100, but it wasn’t my goal. Everyone wants to go to states. My goal was the long jump. That was it,” said Qualk.

Qualk’s district meet is over just yet because of thunderstorms that interrupted the meet throughout the afternoon and evening, leading to the eventual postponement. The remaining events on the track, including the 1,600 relay, plus a couple of field events, will resume Thursday at 4 p.m.

“Our 1,600 relay, it’s all very, very close. I feel great. I’m ready to go,” said Qualk before the postponement.

Charleroi freshman Braedin Lunger also finished fourth in the 110 high hurdles in 15.32 seconds and is situated for a medal and state meet berth with the completion of the high jump.

“I just wanted to get medals and I came here to compete,” said Lunger. “The (weather) delay helped because I got to rest.”

As for qualifying for his first state meet, Lunger added, “It’s another big meet. I’m just happy to be there.”

Connellsville senior Nicholas Rohal had a disappointing performance in the javelin, but erased that shortcoming with a bronze medal in the Class AAA discus with a top throw of 158-3.

He hit the throw with his second attempt in the final round.

Rohal said he was nervous competing in his first WPIAL final round, but left with the feeling he wanted to do more.

“I just wanted to get higher up. I wanted to get in 170s,” said Rohal. “I was very upset after the javelin. I’ve never been able to throw here.”

Rohal will now compete in his first state meet.

“I’m happy I’m going. I don’t see myself placing, honestly. But, it’s an honor to be there,” said Rohal.

Rohal also helped Belle Vernon sophomore Ryan Kent celebrate after Kent broke the school record with his fourth-place throw of 155 feet.

“I was not nervous. I’ve been through two state championships in football. This is my zone,” said Kent. “I came in as the 10th seed and was eighth heading into finals.

“I went up five feet every throw. It was the environment and the guys around me. They just really pump you up.

“These guys are always there for me. The support around that throw was the most support I’ve ever received.”

Mount Pleasant’s Garrett Eicher won the Class AA bronze medal in the pole vault after he cleared 13 feet on his last attempt. He earned his second PIAA berth.

“Make this or else,” Eicher told himself as he prepared for his final attempt at 13 feet. “I wanted to get that PR at 13-6. I was close.”

Teammate Gage Sowers finished sixth after he cleared 12-6.

“I was a little nervous,” said the freshman, adding, “I was close at 13 feet.”

Ringgold’s Ryan Pajak won the silver medal in the Class AAA 1,600 after finishing second to Butler’s Drew Griffiths. Griffiths finished first in 4:03.22 with Pajak second in 4:07.06.

Elizabeth Forward’s Patrick Burgos placed seventh in the race with a time of 4:19.29.

Brownsville’s 400 relay was seventh in the Class AA 400 relay with a time of 44.31 seconds.

Southmoreland’s Adam Halinka qualified for the Class AA state meet after he placed fifth in the 300 intermediate hurdles in 40.8 seconds.

Elizabeth Forward’s Chris Climes was seventh in the Class AAA shot put with a throw of 51-9½.

Waynesburg Central’s Dalton Taylor was sixth (141-3) and Beth-Center’s Ryan Minerd placed seventh (139-11) in the Class AA javelin.

Connellsville senior Bryson Edwards finished sixth in the triple jump with a top effort of 43-½ feet. He fell 5½ inches short of a top-four finish and an automatic berth into the state meet.

“I won my flight,” said Edwards. “I got a PR. That’s the most important thing.

“It was the last jump of my life. That’s a good one to end the season on.”

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