Shining moment: Trojans鈥� Qualk wins three golds in section championship
COAL CENTER 鈥� California蘑菇视频 Lee Qualk had himself quite a day Wednesday afternoon on his home track by winning three individual gold medals in the Section 6-AA Track & Field Championship.
Qualk won the 100 (11.30), 400 (53.36), and long jump (20-8录), and added a silver as a member of the Trojans鈥� 400 relay.
鈥淚 was first in the 100 and ran 11.30 seconds. It was a really competitive field,鈥� said Qualk. 鈥淲e were second in the 400 relay. It was not as clean as we wanted, but that蘑菇视频 to be expected. We just subbed in a new first leg.鈥�
Qualk蘑菇视频 first-place finish in the 400 was a bit of a surprise considering he ran competitively for the first time on Monday.
鈥淭his was my second time running it. I just felt I could run it good and I asked my coach to put me in it. He threw me in it and I got first against Brownsville, Beth-Center and Monessen (in Monday蘑菇视频 section meet), so why not try it at the section championship. And, I got first again,鈥� said Qualk.
Qualk believes his best chance to qualify for the WPIAL championship is in the long jump, but he might give his newest event a try.
鈥淚鈥檓 hinging on the long jump to take me the farthest because I have my best marks.
I think I鈥檓 top 10 in the WPIAL right now,鈥� said Qualk. 鈥淢y hope was to jump in the 21s today and I only jumped 20-8. It was disappointing, but I can鈥檛 complain too much.
鈥淚 want to be able to jump 22 before the season is over. The 21 to 22 gap is pretty big for me right now.鈥�
As for his event list for the upcoming meets, Qualk added, 鈥淎fter today, I鈥檒l focus on the long, the 100 and the 400 now that I鈥檓 running that good.鈥�
Charleroi蘑菇视频 Braedin Lunger also had a solid performance with gold medals in the 110 high hurdles (15.92) and 300 intermediate hurdles (42.43). He added a third section title on the Cougars鈥� 400 relay.
鈥淚 had decent times. I wanted to break my PRs,鈥� said Lunger.
Lunger hopes to double in the WPIAL meet.
鈥淚 run the 110s better. It蘑菇视频 more of a sprint. I鈥檇 like to run 15.6 (in the 110 hurdles). I鈥檓 at 15.9.
I鈥檓 trying to qualify in both,鈥� said Lunger.
Waynesburg Central sophomore Duncan Barto had a freak accident in a recent section meet when throwing the discus. The discus caught either one of the support poles or net, and bounced back and caught him in the head, leading to five stitches.
The incident didn鈥檛 seem to bother him much because he shattered his previous best to win the gold medal in the shot put with a throw of 44-9.
鈥淚 had a five feet PR,鈥� Barto proudly said. 鈥淎s soon as it released from my hand, it felt like a good throw.
鈥淚 was hoping for 41 or 42 feet today.鈥�
Beth-Center freshman Ryder Roule spent his meet trying to track down California蘑菇视频 Niamh McClaflin and Carter Kent, and Waynesburg Central蘑菇视频 Nate Fox. Roule placed third in both the 800 and 1,600.
Kent and McClaflin went 1-2 in the 1,600 and McClaflin and Fox were first and second in the 800.
鈥淚 knew what to expect (with Carter Kent and Niamh McClaflin). I try to maintain my place because I know I can鈥檛 keep up with them,鈥� said Roule.
Roule has a couple more opportunities to lower his time in the 1,600.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to get it lower in the mile. I just want to try to qualify in the top 16 for the WPIALs. I think I need at least a 4:53,鈥� said Roule.
Brownville sophomore Camden Wellington won bronze medals in the 100 (11.62) and 200 (24.15).
鈥淚 wanted to set PRs, but I didn鈥檛. I was just really trying to PR,鈥� said Wellington.
Brownsville is looking forward to Saturday蘑菇视频 county meet at Albert Gallatin
鈥淚 definitely want to beat all the times I had today (in the county meet). Faster people push me. It makes me want to run faster,鈥� said Wellington.
Charleroi蘑菇视频 Arlo McIntyre (200) and Xavier Thomas (discus), California蘑菇视频 Christian Ross (long jump) and Kent (3,200), and Waynesburg Central蘑菇视频 Mason Schroyer (pole vault) and Dalton Taylor (javelin) all won section titles.