PIAA TRACK AND FIELD: Elk Lake's Jones, Blue Ridge's Davis lead Class 2A boys medal haul
SHIPPENSBURG - Kendel Jones had all year to think about not making the medal stand as a junior in the Class 2A 1,600-meter run.
It motivated him.
In his pursuit to get back on the steps, he had a close friend and teammate to push him.
On a dreary Friday morning, with spring temperatures perfect for distance running, Elk Lake's standouts got the weekend at the PIAA Track and Field Championships off to a good start. Jones, a senior, achieved his goal by finishing fourth to earn a medal, and Adams followed in eighth place to also reach the stand at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Quaker Valley junior Jonah Montagnese defended his championship in 4 minutes, 11.35 seconds.
"I feel very good," said Jones, who collected his fourth career state medal in 4:14.76. "Last year, I missed the medal stand in the 1,600, so I was really glad to get back up there. I am happy with how the race went and grateful for this opportunity."
Not long after the Elk Lake boys reached the award's stand, Dunmore's Josh Dudick and Blue Ridge's Chance Davis also earned medals in the Class 2A long jump.
Davis hit his best distance of 21 feet, 10 inches on his fifth of six attempts to place fourth. Dudick marked at 21-8.75 to earn an eighth-place medal.
Richland's Arison McCulty won the gold with a leap of 22-5.5.
"I feel very happy," said Davis, the silver-medal winner at the District 2 Championships. "Even though I had a little doubt in myself, I know I put the work in. I put a lot of time and effort into getting here, and I was able to do that. I stayed consistent and did the best I could. I have new goals now for next year."
1600-meter run
After the starting signal sounded, Jones got off to a good start in the 1,600 and put himself among the lead pack. Adams also got out strong, and the teammates battled for position.
At the midway point of the race, Jones emerged as a front-runner. He led for the third lap and through the first turn of the final one.
In the final 200 meters, Montagnese sprinted down the straightaway to a rousing ovation. Regina Luminis Academy junior Gabe Sinkiss came in second in 4:12.99 and Fort LeBoeuf senior Blake Glass was third in 4:14.54, with Jones coming in fourth.
"I wanted to get out fast and get a good position," Jones said. "I tried to hold the pace that I knew I could hold. I knew that I was on a good pace, and it worked out."
Giving it his all to hold onto a medal, Adams lunged at the finish and fell to the turf field and clocked in at 4:17.81.
"I am very emotional right now, I am not going to lie," Adams said. "It means so much to me. I worked so hard, and every lap I was counting the position that I was in. I was fighting for that eighth spot. I came through on the final lap in seventh, and I just hung on until the end."
The two distance standouts added to Elk Lake's distance-running reputation.
They join Robert Squire (3,200, fifth, 2003; seventh, 2004); Mike Bedell (800, seventh, 2011); and Luke Jones, Kendel's brother, (3,200, eighth, 2011 and 2012) as Class 2A medal winners.
The Warriors' camaraderie and competition at practice and meets certainly helped both runners in their careers.
"Kendel is like a brother to me," said Adams, who bettered his previous personal-best time of 4:21.10 that he ran at the District 2 Championships. "He pushes me and has held me accountable. We push each other in workouts every single day. It is amazing."
Both will be in action Saturday.
The 3,200 race is set for 9 a.m. Jones will also compete in the 800 later in the afternoon.
Long jump
Davis, a junior, started his series with a jump of 20-7.75, which put him in contention. He followed with a mark of 20-8, then hit a 21-6.5 to get into a medal spot.
In the final round, Davis marked at 20-10.75, then launched into the pit for his best distance of 21-10.
Dudick, the District 2 champion, started with his eventual top distance of 21-8.75. He added distances of 20-7.5 and 21-6.75 to reach the final round. He had a 20-10.5 and a 21-5.5, and a misstep caused him to mark at 15-9.25 on his sixth jump.
"It wasn't what I wanted," Dudick said. "I really wanted to hit 22 and beat my personal-best, but I just wasn't able to do it. The weather was definitely a factor. I am pretty happy, and I have to let it sink in that I am at the meet and finished top 10 in the state."
Riverside junior Brayden Rose made the final, but placed ninth, just short of the medal stand with his best mark of 21-8.
Qualifiers
Dunmore junior Weston Yannone had the second-best qualifying time for the Class 2A 110 hurdles.
He won his heat in 14.42. Corry Area senior Blake Cook qualified first at 14.21.
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