Medalists and rivals, Ziska, Ahner finish in lock step
SHIPPENSBURG » Moments after Schuylkill Valley senior Madison Ziska and Tulpehocken senior Ella Ahner finished shoulderto-shoulder in the Class 2A 200 at the PIAA Track and Field Championships, the finality of their high school track and field careers set in.
“I was crying right away afterwards, (and) I looked over at Ella and she was also tearing up,” Ziska said. “That actually made me the saddest out of the whole thing, knowing that it’s our last time running together.”
Bonded by four years of friendly competition, Ahner finished in fourth in 25.74 and Ziska was right behind her in fifth in 25.77 on Saturday at Shippensburg University.
“I love her so much,”
Ahner said. “She constantly pushes me to do my best.”
The state medal was Ahner’s first in the 200. She won a state medal in the 100 in 2021.
“It feels really good to end my career on such a high note,” Ahner said. “I put everything (in it) that I had left.”
The fifth-place medal was the second of Ziska’s weekend, as she placed third in the Class 2A long jump on Friday. She finished her career as a sixtime state medalist.
“It feels amazing,” said Ziska, who will continue her academic and track and field careers at Mansfield. “I put a lot into this.”
Ziska and Ahner were two of four Berks female seniors who finished their high school careers with medals on the second day of the state championships. Wilson’s Caryn Rippey and Katie Dallas each wrapped up their time as Bulldogs with podium finishes.
Rippey finished seventh in the Class 3A 3200 in 10:46.75. Despite earning a medal, the result was bittersweet for the senior.
“All the races that I’ve done this year really caught up to me on the last three laps,” Rippey said. “It was really hard to watch people pass me that I knew I could’ve been ahead of — and that I should’ve been ahead of.”
Rippey finished seventh in the Class 3A 1600 on Friday. She also ran leadoff on the Bulldogs’ 3200 relay team, which did not earn a medal.
“It’s still good that I was able to medal (in my individual events),” said Rippey, who will be continuing her academic and track and field careers at Bucknell. “I’m happy with it.”
Dallas finished seventh in the Class 3A 800 at 2:14.88. She was also a member of the 3200 relay team.
“Right before the race I was just thinking, ‘This is my last race, (I) just got to leave it all out there,’ “Dallas said. “‘Even when it gets hard, this is going to be the last thing I do.’”
With the medal, Dallas finishes her career as a three-time state medalist, along with a plethora of District 3 and county medals.
“I never imagined (after) starting freshman year and running the 400, I wouldn’t have thought that I’d be coming here (years later),” said Dallas, who will be continuing her academic and track and field career at Penn State. “I’m just really proud. I’m just really happy with my whole high school track career.”
Aside from stout performances from the seniors, the Wyomissing girls track and field team followed their District 3 Class 2A team championship with a strong showing at states.
The Spartans took home four medals to finish 12th in Class 2A with 16 team points, the most of any Berks team.
“We have a lot of grit and we were prepared for this,” said junior Cadi Hoke said. “We worked so hard (throughout) the entire season to be here.”
Hoke finished seventh in the Class 2A 400 in a careerbest 59.39. The state medal was the first of her career.
“This is exactly what I’ve worked for the entire season and now that it’s here, it feels great,” Hoke said. “I really worked hard for this, so I’m really proud of myself.”
The Spartans were led by freshman Alexis Hardy, who took silver in the Class 2A 100 at 12.82. In her first season of high school track, Hardy finished as the secondfastest sprinter in Class 2A.