Published: May 23, 2009 12:18 am      

Harris second in long jump

SHIPPENSBURG — Brandy Harris is the youngest sibling of the talented athletic family from Bedford High School.

Harris had the family’s best finish at the PIAA Track and Field Class AA Championships Friday at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.

The senior, whose older brothers Troy and Derrick also participated in the state meet, was second in the long jump with a leap of 18-0.5. Cameron Lewis of Union Area won the event with a jump of 18-5.25, which came on her first jump of the day.

“I’m really excited that I got second,” said Harris, who failed to qualify for the high jump, the event that she had won bronze in last year. “I knew that I had to come down here and do well since I didn’t make it in the high jump and that being my best event, I think. I just had to focus and needed to get my steps on because I’ve been off all year. I was really excited that this is the way I ended my career in high school.”

Harris, who will attend California University of Pennsylvania, had her best jump of the year in the long jump during the District 5 finals, a leap of

18-0.75, which was good enough for a second-place finish and a trip to the state meet.

Janae Dunchack of Northern Cambria was seventh in the long jump (17-4.5).

“It was kind of disappointing, I could have done better,” Dunchack said.

Richland freshman Paige Lumley, in the first of her four events, was 20th in the long jump.

It was a crowded podium step at third place in the pole vault competition and Conemaugh Township junior Kelly Vann proudly took her place among the four, with a jump of 10-6.

“I was really excited to come out here and place, but I knew I could clear 11-0 so I was a little bit disappointed” Vann said. “There really wasn’t any pressure on me. My dad is my coach and he told me to just come out and have fun and that’s what we did. The experience from last year helped me a lot this year and now this year’s experience should help me next year. I’m hoping to come back stronger.”

The rising temperature throughout the competition took its toll on the field.

“It gets exhausting, it’s really hot out here,” Vann said. “At the lower height you’re fresher and then you get higher and you just get exhausted. I really got to jump with some really good jumpers (Friday).”

Northern Cambria senior Hayley Paronish was ninth, just out of medal contention for the second straight year.

Bermudian Springs junior Georgia Williams won the event, the first to clear 11-0.

Windber senior Sarah Snyder earned a spot among the top eight competitors who will run the 300 hurdles final today. Snyder finished in a time of 46.27.

Northern Cambria’s Breanna Kochinsky finished first in her heat of the 100 hurdles to advance to today’s semifinals.

“I was really nervous,” said Kochinsky who finished in 15.31, well ahead of Mifflinburg’s Katy Fogel (15.86). “I don’t really feel that I ran that well, but I still won and that’s all that counts.”

Richland senior Ashton Walton was second in her heat in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.34, and also moved into the semis.

“I was out the whole season because of a pulled quad so this was really good,” said Walton, who is participating in her third PIAA meet. “This is what I really wanted. I had a really good time and so I’m happy.”

Central Cambria junior Kelsey Seymour and Ligonier Valley junior Hannah Miller each finished second in their respective heats of the 1600 preliminary, advancing to today’s final. Forest Hills sophomore Leah Anne Wirfel also advanced to the final in the 1600.

Central Cambria senior Victoria Brumbaugh and Dunchack advanced to the semifinals in both the 100 and the 200.

Red Devils sophomore Ashley Stump earned a spot in today’s 800 finals with a time of 2:19.55.

Junior Jessica Rocco was the highest area finisher in the discus competition, placing 13th.

Colts’ teammate Grace Thomas was 16th and Bedford’s Crystal Dibert was 17th.

Northern Cambria’s Ariel Rocco did not qualify for the semifinals in the 100 hurdles while Richland’s Lumley, the Colts Kochinsky and Forest Hills freshman Jessica DiFlauro failed to qualify for the finals in the 300 hurdles.

Bishop Carroll junior Emily Waksmunski and Richland junior Samantha Mitchell were eliminated in the 400 preliminaries.

Northern Cambria senior Deanna Mazurak, Bishop McCort sophomore Jill Spisak and Windber junior Sara Bibby did not make the field in the 800 final.

The 3200 relays from Richland and Bedford were eliminated from competition on Friday along with the 400 relays from Shade and Central Cambria and the 1600 relays from Richland, Central Cambria and Shade.

Note: The paid attendance in the grandstands Friday at Shippensburg was 4,405.