Trending
SHIPPENSBURG -- Kylee Cubbison may have been surrounded by all sorts of traffic as her opening race began to enter its critical final stages, but that didn't deter the Mifflin County senior as she continued to grind and try to find space.
Even as Cubbison and her fellow competitors hustled down the home stretch at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium, keepsake medals up for grabs, the Huskies' determined distance specialist was looking for her opening.
Eventually, Cubbison slipped around several runners just a few steps from the finish line and that late surge was just enough to put her on the medal stand.
In her final PIAA competition -- when cross country is factored in Cubbison reached state meets seven times -- Cubbison pocketed a sixth-place finish in the 1,600-meter run Friday morning after clocking a career-best 4:57.05.
Cubbison will run in today's 3,200 before trucking off to northwest Ohio to continue her running career at Bowling Green State University.
"It was crazy," Cubbison admitted. "It was the most congested race I've ever been in. It took until the end and I had to kick all the way."
Entered in the faster of Class 3A's two heats, Cubbison was sitting near the back of the pack at the midway point of a race that eventual champion Mia Cochran took control of fairly early. Cochran would go on to win handily in 4:46.53.
Even as the third lap concluded and everyone began attacking the final circuit began to unfold, Cubbison found herself in 10th place and amidst a cluster of runners. Yet as much of the pack approached the finish, Cubbison ducked outside.
That tactical move bumped her several spots higher.
"I'm real happy about that," Cubbison said.
Especially since the future Falcon was able to medal in her final PIAA competition and shave more than a full second off of her personal best.
"This has been my goal for a long time," a remarkably satisfied Cubbison cracked in matter-of-fact fashion. "I'm so happy (to win a medal)."
Plus, the soft-spoken Cubbison ran her fastest 1,600 ever.
"Even better," Cubbison added.
Yet even though Cubbison enjoyed her first trip to the Shippensburg University medal stand, another could take place today when she competes in the 3,200.
Cubbison, in fact, is prepared for the additional traffic that is likely to materialize -- as well as the additional stamina needed to endure a two-mile exercise.
"I think I'm going to be more ready for that tomorrow after going through it today," Cubbison suggested. "In the 32 you have more time, so you just have to be more patient. ... Gotta be aggressive, but be more patient."
Only one of the local competitors who ran preliminaries Friday advanced to today's finals -- East Juniata hurdler Rowan Smith, who will run in the Class 2A boys 300-meter hurdles for a medal. The top eight advanced and are guaranteed a spot on the podium.
Smith, who was edged out by teammate Josef Book in the District 4 meet in the 110-meter event, was the second seed coming in with a 40.23-second run last week in Williamsport. Friday, he finished fourth in the prelims -- right behind District 4 champ Jake Rose of Southern Columbia -- with a 40.80 time.
Book, a sophomore who qualified in the same race as well as the 110s, did not advance in either, finishing 10th in the longer run, his best of the day.
Juniata's Ashlyn Pannebaker, who won the 100-meter dash in District 6 Class 2A and got the final spot in the 200 when another sprinter scratched, finished her high school career Friday, as she did not advance in either event.
Another hurdler, Midd-West's Camryn Pyle, ended her season with a run in the 300s. She had been third in her district but made it to Shipensburg on a scratch. Like Book, she is a sophomore and has two more years to come back.
Today's competition begins at 9 a.m. when Cubbison will make the final run of her scholastic career in the 3,200. Mifflin County junior Josiah Sechler is in the morning session as well, looking to medal in javelin.
They are the only local Class 3A athletes in action in the meet.
In the afternoon, Mount Union senior Alex Kyle tries for hardware in the shot put. And East Juniata junior Logan Strawser will run in both the 3,200 and the 800.
PIAA track and field championships
Local results only
Class 3A
Girls
1600: 6, Kylee Cubbison, Mifflin County, 4:57.05
Class 2A
Boys
110 hurdles: 16, Josef Book, East Juniata, 16.32
300 hurdles: 4, Rowan Smith, East Juniata, 40.80; 10, Josef Book, East Juniata, 41.17
Girls
100: 24, Ashlyn Pannebaker, Juniata, 13.29
300 hurdles: Camryn Pyle, Midd-West, DQ
200: 19, Ashlyn Pannebaker, Juniata, 27:20