Jack Reichenbach knows he can be a state champion.

While he wasn’t able to make it a reality last weekend in his first trip to the PIAA Track and Field Championships, held annually at Shippensburg University, he saw first hand that his best is just as good or better than anyone else in the state.

The Salisbury High School junior took sixth place in both of his events, earning two state medals. He cleared 6 feet, 2 inches in high jump and leaped 21-4 1/4 in long jump at states.

“Being my first time here I didn’t know what to expect,” Reichenbach said. “I definitely learned a lot for next year. It was a good experience. I could have done a little better.”

He competed in long jump first thing Friday morning. He was the top seed coming off his District 11 record jump of 23-5 1/2. While he wasn’t able to duplicate that jump, he saw Schuylkill Valley’s Brendan Sparr take gold with a jump of 22-6 Friday.

“I’m just happy to be able to place,” said Reichenbach. “That’s awesome. I think I could have done better but I can’t complain about sixth.”

In high jump, Reichenbach has cleared 6-6 several times and has even gotten over the bar at 6-7 once. But competing in his second state championship event in less than eight hours, he suffered some cramps at and had to settle for 6-2.

“That was my lowest height of the season,” he said. “I didn’t prepare as well as I should have. I should have been hydrating more and stretching more. I definitely learned a lesson for next year.”

Before even leaving the infield of the track, Reichenbach was already thinking about his goals for the 2018 season.

“This summer I have to practice my technique and I have to start lifting weights” he said.

And he already has his goals set for his senior year.

“Next year I want to win both events and place in the triple jump,” he said.