Andrew Heller: Wyomissing boys track and field wins second consecutive District 3 Class 2A championship

May 21—SHIPPENSBURG — Wyomissing senior Amory Thompson won gold in the triple jump and the 200 as well as anchored the winning 400 relay team to help lead the Spartans to their second consecutive Class 2A title at the District 3 Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.

Wyomissing finished with 95 points. Trinity was second with 74.33.

"They have been competing all season long and I am amazed at how competitive they are," Wyomissing coach Jim Delp said. "From last week at the county meet I was hoping we could do it back-to-back weeks and they did. They were exhausted, but they just kept battling and fighting for every point; I'm very proud of them."

Schuylkill Valley senior Luke Seymour set a District 3 Class 2A record by winning the 1600 in 4:16.53. The previous mark of 4:18.68 was set by Barry Lopatic of Middletown in 1980. He also won gold in the 800.

"It feels great," Seymour said on breaking the record. "It was a pretty easy week; not very high mileage. It really helped prepare the legs so I wasn't tired at all."

Thompson, who won three golds and placed fifth in the 110 hurdles, said that winning the team title was the Spartans' main goal heading into the meet.

"Obviously the individual awards everybody's pushing for, but that team award is what we came here for and that's what it's all about," Thompson said. "We're as close as close can be. We've been with each other through football seasons, basketball seasons, so everybody's comfortable with each other.

"I feel like we're all great kids to work with and throughout the year everybody's been working as hard as they could and it's paying off."

Delp agreed that the team chemistry at Wyomissing elevate the athletes' performances as many of the members of the track and field team also play other sports with talents that carry over into the spring.

"I think that's the great thing about track and field is that you blend the fall and winter seasons together," Delp said. "It's such a wide array of difference in athletics and they completely support each other, so it's fun to watch."

In the triple jump, Thompson was in a close contest with Isiah Dyer of Millersburg, but was able to outdo Dyer on his final jump, reaching 44-5.5. Dyer finished at 43-10.5.

"My first couple of jumps weren't the best," Thompson said. "And I just just pulled down the last jump to beat a really good jumper and he might have had me on two jumps, but on the last jump I pulled one out for over 44 feet and it was for the win."

The Spartans' 400 relay team of Thompson, Andrew Delp, William Delp, and Charlie McIntyre won gold in 43.65. In the 200, Thompson won in 22.89. He will be competing in the 200, triple jump and 400 relay at states.

"I'm really excited," Thompson said. "It's going to be great to get out there and compete, and everybody that's at states is there for a reason, so if you don't bring your 'A' game you're going to get less success."

Wyomissing's Jven Williams, who broke a Class 2A district record in discus on Friday, won gold in the shot put for the second straight year, with a 57-4 Saturday. Williams, a junior, shared Thompsons' emphasis on the importance of winning as a team.

"We were favored to win districts and we really wanted to win," Williams said. "We know last year we had a really good chance so for us this year it means a lot. We have some seniors but a lot of our team is really young so they're going to have a lot more opportunities to go to districts.

"And for the seniors, I consider myself in that group because I was training with them for a while and so I know exactly what they've been going through; I just wanted to do it for my teammates."

After setting the record in the 1600, Seymour won his second gold medal Saturday in the 800 with a 1:57.37. He said that taking time to cool off and shower between races helped him in his events despite Saturday's high temperatures.

"After I took some time to chill I felt a lot better for sure," Seymour said. "It was just so hot and it did not feel good."

Hoping for better temperatures and even better times next week, Seymour is looking to bring home state titles in both events.

"I'm going to give it my all I got and hopefully I come away with a state title," Seymour said.

In the Class 2A 100, Adam Petersen from Brandywine Heights won his first district medal with a time of 11.21 after only joining the track team this season.

"I'm really psyched to start running the 100," Petersen said. "I played soccer my whole life and my friends said I should run track, so I said 'Sure.' Midway through the season I was more of a jumper but then I stopped jumping and pursued the 100."

The Bullets' 1600 relay team of Dakota Thomas, Tyler McCullough, Petersen and Joshua Sterner won gold with a time of 3:29.69.

"To make two events for states would be sick," Petersen said. "I wasn't expecting this, but people run way better at districts; or that's what I heard at least. And yeah I didn't expect to make it this far to be honest with you."

Tulpehocken's Camden Gehris won gold in the Class 2A pole vault, clearing 14-2. Gehris, who won gold in the pole vault at the Firing Meet at 13-9, credited his improvement Saturday to his usual preparatory routine

"I didn't really do anything differently; caffeine, Cliff bars and prayers," Gehris said.

Heading into his first appearance at states, Gehris said that he feels less pressure competing against stronger competition because he said he believes there will be less weight on his shoulders.

"I feel confident it's nice not to have to worry about being like the top guy," Gehris said. "So it will help me to improve I think by having higher jumpers around me."

Berks teams took home gold in both 3200 relays. In Class 2A, Oley Valley's team of Aaron Grim, Joshua Wagner, Jakob Bolig and Keith Neal won in 8:19.46. In Class 3A, Twin Valley's team of David Seel, Frankie DiSilvestro, Ben Meister and Anthony Engle won in 7:56.92.

After winning district gold, Seel said that the Raiders' relay team, made up of all juniors, is excited at the potential heading into states, as well as for their senior year.

"It's really cool we're all coming back," Seel said. "It means a lot; we didn't think we were going to get first, but everyone ran the best they could today and I think everyone PR'd. States is going to be a lot of fun and it would be cool to come home with more medals."

The PIAA Track and Field Championships will take place this Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University.