Shady Side Academy’s Javon Johnston leaps to PIAA gold in triple jump

Javon Johnston competed in two events at the PIAA track and field championships.

The first one went pretty well, but Johnston decided to save his best for last.

Johnston, a sophomore at Shady Side Academy, captured the gold medal in the Class 2A triple jump Saturday, this after placing third in the long jump Friday.

“It means the world, honestly,” said Johnston, who lives in Monroeville. “I love being here. The rain’s not the best, but I still got the gold. Everything’s great.”

Johnston’s first jump of 45 feet, 7 inches would have won the event, but Johnston ripped off a final jump of 45-9 just for good measure. Eisenhower’s Ethan Beers (45-1) was the runner-up, and Riverside’s Silas Reichart (44-10 ¼) finished fourth.

“I realized I won, so I just put everything into the last one and tried to get a great jump,” said Johnston, who was the No. 1 seed.

A week earlier, Johnston won the WPIAL triple jump after registering a leap of 46-6 ¾.