Bethlehem Catholic jumper Cailey Spanitz was awarded the seventh place medal in pole vault, and Liberty distance runner Emily Jobes was awarded the eighth place medal in the 3200 meter run after competing in the PIAA Class 3A Track and Field Championships this past Saturday at Shippensburg University.
“It was exciting to get on the podium and such a moment to be able to stand up there with other pole vaulters in the state,” Spanitz said. “I was definitely happy.”
Spanitz cleared 11-06.00, along with the fifth, sixth, and eighth place finishers, so the jumpers’ places were ranked on misses.
“At 12 feet, I was having a little trouble with my left arm. It’s supposed to be completely straight when I’m planting, but I was having trouble with it,” she said.
Rain and windy conditions forced the event indoors which was fine by Spanitz.
“Yes, it was a huge help,” the Becahi senior said. “It was exciting to be there for the first time and fun to be with vaulters I know from indoor and from the pole vaulting community.”
Spanitz said it was also easier for Becahi track and field coach Fred Rice and club coach Lawrence Johnson to coach her indoors where they were able to talk after every jump from the coaches’ box.
While Spanitz knew she had medaled before the final round of jumps, Jobes had no idea she’d medaled in the 3200 at first, thinking she was in ninth place. (The state awards eight medals.)
“I really didn’t know and the front two girls were out very far. Crossing the finish line, I found out I was eighth, and I was in shock,” said Jobes, who shaved more than 30 seconds off her district time with a 10:55.91. “I knew the field would be very competitive and pull me along, so I settled in for the first two laps and sat in back, moving up lap by lap,” she said. “I could tell the pack in front was in lanes 2 and 3, so I sat inside lane 1.”
This was Jobes’ second trip to states in three years.
“It was so exciting, especially not having a season last year, and so special, knowing how hard the other girls work,” Jobes said. “It’s crazy how fast it went, and I’m so thankful for all the coaches and my teammates, and I’m excited to see what they do in the future.”
Also competing at the state meet, Liberty’s 4x8 relay team of Graham Phillips, Cole Frank, Jacob Orrico, and Emrick Leshko placed 12th, Frank came in 18th in the 3200 meter run, and thrower Brylee Tereska placed 14th in javelin. Freedom distance runner Alex Heidemann placed 22nd in the 1600 meter run.