SHIPPENSBURG — An athlete doesn’t always have to win to be happy with his or her performance at the PIAA track and field championships.
Doing their best and getting on the podium is usually satisfying for most.
Hempfield senior Jonathan Stetchock, Southmoreland senior Megan Mehall and Norwin senior Annie Czajkowski were pleased with their results during Day 1 of the championships Friday at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.
All three set personal bests while competing in the 1,600. Stetchock placed second in the 3A boys, Mehall finished fourth in Class 2A girls and Czajkowski placed fifth in Class 3A girls.
“I pretty much knew coming in that (Mifflin County’s Carter Smith) was the top dog,” Stetchock said. “Second was pretty much my hopes. I want to see what I can do Saturday in the 3,200.
“I am pleased. A three-and-a-half personal best, I am very happy with it. I have really not PR’d much this season.”
Stetchock said he expected Smith to hang with the pack longer than he did. Smith won in 4 minutes, 2.63 seconds, and Stetchock finished in 4:09.15.
“He went out really quick, but that ended up working well for me,” Stetchock said. “We were alone after the first 400. It was hold on and kick.”
Stetchock pulled away from the pack with 400 meters left and used his kick to stave off the competition.
Mehall said her goal after winning a WPIAL gold medal was just to do her best. She smashed her personal best.
“It was a very big personal record,” said Mehall, who started running to keep in shape for soccer. “It was definitely the fastest race I have ever ran.”
She ran 4:57.70, which broke her record by eight seconds.
“This field was overwhelming,” Mehall said. “I had to adjust to the field. With 200 meters left I was in last place, and I definitely had to work to get back in the lead pack.”
Czajkowski was in a tight race with Peters Township freshman Kathryn Froelich and South Fayette sophomore Angela Zeng, who finished one-two.
Czajkowski, a Pitt commit, ran a 4:50.57 to finish fifth. Froelich’s time was 4:48.08.
“My time was a shocker. I cried,” Czajkowski said. “My goal was to hang with them, and I knew I would be in a good position.
“I am very happy with my performance. I knew I had more left in the 100, and I am happy I left it on the track and I cannot be disappointed with that.”
All three have another race Saturday. Stetchock and Czajkowski in the 3,200, and Mehall will run the 800.
Kiski Area sophomore Alaycia Bell saved her best jump for last. She went from ninth place to second place with a jump of 38 feet, 7 inches.
Mt. Pleasant sophomore Bryson Bankosh finished seventh in the Class 2A long jump with a personal-best leap of 20-8 3/4.
His best jump came on the third leap of the preliminaries.
“Honestly, I was hoping to finish in the top 12,” Bankosh said. “It is a good feeling because I did not compete well here last year. This performance will push me to become better next year.”
All Belle Vernon senior Ryan Kent was hoping for at the PIAA championships in the Class 3A shot put was a medal.
The WPIAL champion succeeded by placing fifth with a throw of 56-10 1/4 inches. He will compete in his best event, the discus, on Saturday.
“I am happy,” Kent said. “I just missed on a 60-footer. I just want to medal, that’s all. That is the goal.”
Also earning medals and advancing to Saturday’s finals were Hempfield junior Madison Altman (100- and 300-meter hurdles) and Greensburg Central Catholic senior Jerry Davis, the returning Class 2A 400-meter champion.
Franklin Regional junior Sean Cartwright and Kiski Area’s Braden Miller are seeded seventh and eighth for the 110-meter hurdles finals.