LaBarre becomes state champion
A novice in the sport a year ago, Pen Argyl junior wins triple jump
SHIPPENSBURG — Taylor LaBarre was a novice track and field competitor a year ago.
The Pen Argyl junior now is a state champion and school record holder in the Class 2A boys triple jump.
LaBarre leaped 45 feet, 7 ½ inches on the last of his six jumps to claim gold Saturday at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.
“I felt a nerve on that jump,” he said. “I don’t know what it was. I just kept the knee up, like last week.
“I tried to focus on every jump. I don’t practice a lot in the triple. It’s kind of like just in the moment.”
The Green Knight needed a personal-best effort of 43-5 on his last preliminary jump just to qualify for the final. He increased his PR in all three finals jumps.
His 44-6 on the next-to-last jump had him sitting in fourth place behind leader Enoch Aboussou of Johnsonburg (45-5 ½). He then popped off a career-best effort when he needed it most.
A couple hours later LaBarre finished third in the 2A boys pole vault by clearing a personal-best 14 feet.
“It’s unbelievable, really,” the junior said. “I was little nervous, but nothing to hinder me.
“I’m super excited [for next season]. I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Wilson’s Class 3A boys relay team and Nazareth’s Kelly Leszcynski (3A girls javelin) made history Saturday by also winning PIAA gold.
The Warriors’ foursome of Zack Gillen, Damian Simpson, Zakai Hendricks and Damon Simpson set a school record for a third consecutive race by posting a time of 41.49 seconds to win the 3A boys 400 relay.
Leszcynski became Nazareth’s first female to win state gold by throwing 141-3 to take first in the 3A javelin.
There were plenty of others from District 11 leaving with hardware:
Medal winners
Wilson’s Damon Simpson got out-leaned at the finish line in the 3A boys 100 by Pennridge’s Joey Gant. Both finished in 10.74.
“I was upset I didn’t win, but as long as we ran the same time,” Simpson said. “I could have run better, but it is what it is.
“The last 10 meters I saw [Gant] and his head come through. I was like, ‘Dang, he got it.’ ”
Simpson’s brother Damian ran a 10.91 to finish fourth in the 100.
Southern Lehigh standout Madison Trout finished her stellar career with a fourth-place finish in the 3A girls 100.
Liberty’s Brylee Tereska was third in the 3A girls javelin. Blue Mountain’s Rosalind Gergely was fifth.
Palisades junior Thomas Smigo was fourth in the 2A boys 3,200. Wilson’s Max Mueller was fifth and Stroudsburg’s Aiden Raub seventh in the 3A javelin.
Northwestern’s Hailey Yost was tied for sixth in the 3A girls high jump. Northampton’s Logan Henry was sixth in the 3A long jump.
East Stroudsburg South’s Bobby McClosky was sixth in the 3A boys javelin. Freedom’s Alex Heidemann was sixth in the 3A boys 800. Northampton’s Ben Henry was sixth in the 3A boys 200.
Easton freshman Maggie Scalzo was seventh in the 3A 300 hurdles. Pen Argyl’s Gian Greggo was seventh in the 2A boys shot put.
Blue Mountain’s Olivia Haas was third in 3A girls 800 with a personal- and District 11-best 2 minutes, 13.33 seconds.
Another golden javelin moment for Nazareth
Leszcynski has been the top seed/favorite at every event she attended this season. But the senior handled the expectations and pressure like a champion.
“I was excited more than anything,” she said. “The first throw, I think I was a little nervous, a little impatient with my arm. But after that I got one out there and told myself, ‘OK, relax and focus on your form.’
“Definitely after the first throw, I was a lot better with my nerves.”
Leszcynski threw 138-8 on her second throw to take the lead — one she never relinquished. She had three throws that were better than everyone else.
The senior was the second Nazareth javelin competitor in a row to win state gold. Collin Burkhart won the 2021 PIAA 3A boys title.
Tereska’s nerves were numbed by the feeling she had leaving last season with a 14th-place finish. That motivation offset the enormity of the situation.
She threw a personal-best 133-1 twice — on her third and fifth throws — to secure a bronze medal.
“There is an anxiety,” Tereska said. “You don’t want to get it over. You just want to get out there and throw because you’ve been here waiting since Thursday morning to compete.
“It was a good note to end my senior year.”
Smigo’s 3rd school record
Smigo is not sure if he will focus his senior season on in the 800 and mile, or mile and 2-mile races.
One thing is for sure: Smigo’s junior year was a memorable one in all three.
The Pirate completed his season with a fourth-place finish in the Class 2A 3,200 with a school-record time of 9:20.68. That time beat Todd Pomnitz’s mark of 9:22.6 from 1983.
Smigo, who placed third Friday in the 1,600, has school records in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
“If I did the 800 today — actually I’m happy I’m not,” he said. “I’d be very tired and wouldn’t do well. I’ve run the 800 against competition like that, but not a ton of people at once.
“[Southern Lehigh’s] Chase Hensinger, he’s run a 1:53 now. Whenever I race him, it’s just him and I and then the rest. I think I’m a miler and 2-miler, but that could change in the next year.”
Smigo led Saturday’s 3,200 for the first four laps, then dropped back as far as ninth with fewer than two laps to go. He didn’t panic, conserved energy and ran a 1:01.09 final lap to move up to fourth.
“I went out a little bit too hard,” he said. “That was more from the fact that I’m not used to running the 2-mile. It was the fifth time I’d run it all year. I’m really not used to the pacing of it yet.
“When I dropped back to eighth, ninth, I decided at that point to save myself rather than keep fighting for position. It didn’t really make sense at that point to fight.
“Finally, on the bell lap I just went.”