HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD: NORTH PENN-MANSFIELD'S ZACK WILCOX HEADED TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS (2023-05-20)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportWILLIAMSPORT — Last year North Penn-Mansfield’s Zack Wilcox could only dream about going to states in the 800. On Saturday, at the District IV Track and Field Championships, he turned that dream into a reality, running 1:58.84 to hit state time in the half to punch his ticket to Shippensburg.
“It feels good knowing all the hard work has paid off,” said Wilcox. “This is a 10- second PR from last year.”
It was a fast race in the 800, with the top seven runners finishing under the state qualifying mark as Wilcox took sixth overall.
“I knew I could make it as long as I could get to that last 100 in good position,” said Wilcox.
Wilcox ran in the middle of the pack most of the race, and it looked like the lead group might get away. Wilcox had other ideas, though, pulling to the outside for his final kick to get under.
“I got out to lane two so I didn’t have anyone in front of me,” he remarked. “When I got to the last stretch I got out to lane three or four so nobody could cut me off, and I just got a straight shot for that.”
Late last month Wilcox dropped down to the 2-minute mark and has hovered there ever since, so he was glad to drop time once again.
“It just felt good to keep seeing my times go down,” he said. “As I got here everything paid off.”
Wilcox also took ninth in the triple jump at 39-feet, 3 1/2-inches.
Luke Kreger (5-feet, 7-inches) was 11th in the high jump with Brady Stetter 22nd in the triple jump at 35-feet, 9 1/2-inches. Cedric Miller (54.37) was 22nd in the 400.
Their 4x400 relay took ninth in 3:35.79, while their 4x100 relay was 12th in 46.73.
On the girls’ side Madelynne Johns (12:52.33) was 12th in the 3200 as Addison Farrer (13:15.14) came in 19th. Johns was also 20th in the mile at 6:01.89.
Anna Kennedy was 22nd in the 200 in 28.36.
Their 4x100 relay was 17th in 54.78, while their 4x400 was also 17th in 4:37.24.
PHOTOS: Chris Manning
