PIAA's...
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 9:46 am
Did Eric Sparks win it all?
http://www.therecordherald.com/articles ... news01.txt
Rain forces state meet pole vault, high jump inside
It's crowded at the front of the Class AAA 800 around the final curve of the first lap. James Buchanan's Jeremiah Kimberley finds himself at the front, next to Connellsville's Ken King who won the event. Kimberley finished third.
SHIPPENSBURG - A day that began with so much promise deteriorated to dreary downpours around midday during the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University Saturday.
Two events were especially impacted by the rain - the Class AAA pole vault and Class AA high jump.
Both events were minutes away from starting, with competitors already warmed up, when the decision was made to move both events inside Heiges Fieldhouse. The result was a long, long delay while the mats were hauled inside.
While all jumpers and vaulters had to be affected by the last-minute change, Waynesboro junior Bryan Curley came up with his toughest outing of the season.
The District 3 gold medalist at 14-3 and third seed for the state meet, had trouble getting comfortable from the start.
In the previous week's District 3 meet, the pole vault started at 12-6 and Curley had no problems en route to winning the gold.
This time, the event started at 11-6 and Curley was unable to get over the bar at 12-6.
Kimberley races to third
While the pole vault drama was playing out indoors, James Buchanan senior Jeremiah Kimberley found running in the rain to his liking on the Seth Grove Stadium track, placing third in the Class AAA 800 meters with a time of 1:55.78.
Kimberley ran strong from the starting gun and tucked himself among the leaders, positioning himself for the stretch run.
It appeared he was nearly boxed in during the backstretch run, but by the final turn he had plenty of room to maneuver.
While Kimberley was solidly locked into the third position, Connellsville's Ken King and Cedar Crest's Andy Miller finished in a near dead heat at 1:55.09. King was awarded the win.
James Buchanan had one other entrant in the meet - senior Arin Zimmerman.
Competing during the worst of the rain, Zimmerman was unable to match his effort of a week earlier when he placed fourth in the District 3 meet.
Zimmerman leaped 20-5 and did not advance to the finals. A week earlier, Zimmerman soared 21-11 1/4.
Zimmerman wasn't the only jumper to have problems. District 3 champion Nafee Harris of J.P. McCaskey did not get a jump to measure, having huge problems with his steps. He won the district meet with just over 23 feet and was the top seed for the state meet.
Ron Walter of Baldwin came into the pole vault as the top seed with a 16-3 to his credit. He made good on that seeding with a gold medal vault of 15-5.
Scott Sherwood of Pennridge settled for the silver medal on misses, as he also went over the bar at 15-6.
Central Dauphin's Matt Gallup, who settled for second place behind Curley at the District 3 meet, tied for fourth with 14-6.
The move indoors
"We sort of had a curve ball thrown at us today - everyone did - with the move indoors" Waynesboro coach Doug Crist offered. "Bryan just never looked comfortable, even in warmups. It was an hour and a half delay.
"His steps, his timing were off, and I think that ended up shaking his confidence a little. Bryan is a tough competitor and I'd like to thank him for being dedicated to track and field. I look forward to watching him at states next year."
Crist has stepped down as head coach of the Indian track team and the Indian and Maiden cross country squads.
"What's there to say," Curley said with a hint of a smile. "I had a bad day."
Curley refused to blame the move inside for his troubles.
"My steps were wrong; I couldn't do anything," he said simply