The relays are always an exciting part of the PIAA Track and Field Championships. One change this year is that there will not be prelims for the 4x800m. 2 sections of finals, based on seed time, will be run to determine the state champion. Overall team titles can be won or lost based off of the performances of relays and this could hold true for the ladies from Wyomissing (AA) and Cumberland Valley (AAA).
Let’s take a look at our Central PA teams that have qualified to compete in the relay events at the 2022 PIAA Track and Field Championships this weekend.
4x100m Relay
Schedule (AA Girls-AAA Girls-AA Boys-AAABoys)
Friday 12:00pm – prelims
Saturday 12:35pm – finals
AA Girls
Wyomissing wants to make a run at the overall team title this weekend and to do so will need big points out of their relays. They could battle for 10 points in the 4x100m.
AAA Girls
Cumberland Valley and Altoona are both coming off of season best performances at their respective district meets. If they carry that momentum forward then both should be racing in the finals on Saturday. Anything can happen in the 4x100m and Bishop McDevitt, Hershey, JP McCaskey, and Wilson all have the talent to advance to finals. Like Wyomissing in class AA, Cumberland Valley will be battling it out for the overall team title in class AAA this weekend. Success in the relays is a must for that to happen!
AA Boys
Central Cambria, Wyomissing, and Trinity all enter with state medal aspirations. Central Cambria ran their season best time at LHACs in 43.63. Wyomissing and Trinity just ran their season bests at the District 3 meet.
AAA Boys
Palmyra and Dallastown have been the top 2 Central PA 4x100m relays all season, but disaster struck the Wildcats at District 3 in the form of a botched baton pass. With them out, look for Palmyra and Central Dauphin to lead local efforts. Palmyra has a season best time of 42.11 from Mid-Penns and could compete for the state 4×1 title.
4x400m Relay
Schedule (AA Girls-AAA Girls-AA Boys-AAABoys)
Friday 3:00pm – prelims
Saturday 2:50pm – finals
AA Girls
Trinity and Wyomissing enter as medal contenders. It’s a shame Boiling Springs didn’t hit the time qualifier as they would have been a medal threat as well; they ran 4:11.59 to finish 3rd in D3AA. In fact, only 5 teams did achieve the state standard. Trinity had a great team showing at the District 3 Championships and seem to be on track to peak at states. At the district meet, Wyomissing dropped the baton at the first exchange and battled back from last place to earn the 2nd auto qualifier. Don’t be surprised if the Spartans finish top 3 in this event.
AAA Girls
Who doesn’t want to see another Cumberland Valley/JP McCaskey showdown at states? I know I do! These two have had the best overall relay squads each of the past 2 years and know each other very well. Both squads are incredibly deep at 400m so expect to see them back at states again in 2023. If Wilson, Altoona, or Mechanicsburg can break the 4-min barrier in prelims then they too may compete in the finals.
AA Boys
Brandywine Heights will look to ride the momentum from districts into states this weekend. Their season best time of 3:29.69 earned them the District 3 title and a #6 seed at states this weekend. Penn Cambria has run 3:30.90 on the year and they are a state medal threat as well.
AAA Boys
Cumberland Valley, State College, Palmyra, and Wilson are the teams to watch in the 4x400m. All four have great anchors capable of competing with the best in this field. Cumberland Valley (3:20.17) and State College (3:22.50) have season best times from the Mid-Penn Championships. Palmyra and Wilson just ran season bests at the District 3 Championships.
4x800m Relay
Schedule (AA Girls-AAA Girls-AA Boys-AAABoys)
Saturday 10:45am – finals
AA Girls
All 4 Central PA teams could walk away with medals on Saturday morning. Central Cambria has been the team to beat for most of the year. They ran 9:35 at LHACs for their season best performance. Boiling Springs, Trinity, and Marion Center all ran their season bests at their respective district meets.
AAA Girls
JP McCaskey got a 2:13 split out of anchor Isabella Shertzer (so) to win the District 3 title this past weekend. Teammate Milana Breuninger (jr) is an individual 800m state qualifier and the District 3 runner-up. Something tells me this team has more left in the tank for states. Warwick, Wilson, and Cumberland Valley should also contend for a top 8 finish out of section 2. Looking to medal out of the first section will be State College and Dallastown. While they ran 9:41.01 to win the District 6 title, the Little Lions have a season best time of 9:34.35. Dallastown has continued to shed time as the season has progressed and they enter the weekend with a time of 9:36.75. I expect State College or Dallastown to set the time to beat out of section 1.
AA Boys
Oley Valley and Greenwood had a nice battle for the District 3 title. Both should contend for state medals. District 6 representative Central Cambria also appears ready to compete for a spot on the awards stand.
AAA Boys
State College put down a 7:49 in a solo effort at District 6, winning by 35-seconds. What will they run if pushed?? This should be the first event for the 4-some so expect an outstanding performance! Twin Valley and Cumberland Valley both dropped sub-8 minute performances at the District 3 Championships and both have anchor legs capable of running 1:54 or faster (Anthony Engle, jr Twin Valley & Sam de la Riva, sr Cumberland Valley). Wilson, Hershey, and Carlisle all ran 8:01 this past weekend and with a slight time improvement could win state medals.
