A quartet of Northwestern boys stood in astonishment.

It was the type of reaction that is never in short supply at the District 11 Track and Field Championships.

The Tigers’ team of Samuel Bower, Matthew Santana, Cole Chukoskie and Nathan Vincent won the Class 3A 3200-meter relay by just half a second ahead of second-place Emmaus on the first day of the district meet.

Another Tiger celebrated her achievements a day later as Faith Yost picked up gold medals in two events last Wednesday, the second day of the two-day event.

Yost, a junior, won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.5. She came back and won the high jump, clearing 5-5 to win a jump off for first place.

“It was crazy. It was a little bit nerve-racking, but we both knew that we were going to states so we were both really happy with that,” Yost said of the high jump competition with Parkland’s Madeleine Battista. “It’s a little bit of a stress relieved.”

After clearing 5-5 to win the jump off, Yost tried to go for 5-6, but couldn’t quite clear the bar.

“I’m usually a lot more tired by the end so it’s kind of difficult,” she said. “There’s going to have to be one meet maybe next year where I’m just like, ‘OK, let’s start out at 4-11 or something and see where I can get.’ You just have to keep at it, and keep trying. Some attempts I’m closer than others. I know some of my first few attempts I’m pretty close. At leagues, it skimmed my calf on the first attempt. And on the second attempt I was nowhere near that.”

After running a 15.74 in the prelims, Yost turned in a stellar time to win the finals in the 100 hurdles.

“I worked on my block starts at practice, and coach put out the cups again, the one cup in front and one cup behind where you have to hit it when you go,” she said. “That got me a bit lower, so I got a really good run-through during practice. And then coach just had me do it again. My block start was a lot better. I think I only hit one hurdle. I still keep a little bit of distance over the hurdles because I’m a little bit scared. But I’m really happy with my time.”

It was a banner day for Yost, who won four league titles a week ago.

“I’m still processing the fact that I’m going to states,” she said. “I have to focus on my events, so after 100 hurdles, I had to go over to high jump. I didn’t really have time to think that I’m going to states. Sitting on the high jump mat after 5-5, it was kind of like, ‘I’m going to states! This is crazy.’ I see it as an opportunity to have fun and try my best. It’s great competition and a chance to get PRs, and I’m just looking to have fun.”

Bower, Santana, Chukoskie and Vincent won the 3200 relay with a time of 8:19.52, just ahead of Emmaus (8:20.05).

“Coming into it, we knew we had a chance,” said Bower. “We knew it was going to be tough, and we were going to have to give everything we have. We’re just so excited that we were able to get it done. Obviously, it was a close race and we were nervous at some points, but we were able to pull through.”

“Going into this race, we talked about how we were so nervous,” said Chukoskie, “but we got the job done today, and that’s what matters.”

The group didn’t flinch with the race coming down to the wire.

“Our chemistry is great,” said Vincent. “We’ve bonded as best friends through running - a sport we love and something we do almost every day. We’ve kind of had this pact together, just trying to succeed, just us as Northwestern.”

Competing in a loaded 3A field, the group put New Tripoli on the map. It’s a chance they’ll relish once again next week in Shippensburg.

“We’re going to go out there and hopefully get a PR and just have fun and have a good last race,” said Santana.

While the Tigers will move into Class 2A for next season, they proved this season that their best athletes can compete on any level.