Local Runners Bring Home Hardware from States

Every May, the finest track and field performers that the Keystone State has to offer, converge on the tiny college town of Shippensburg in search of something that is not available in the Wal Mart that welcomes visitors to town as they trickle off the interstate.

What they are all in search of is a PIAA State championship gold medal.

Thousands of track fans and hundreds of athletes make there way over the turnpike and cross-roads to have an opportunity to etch their names into the rich history of the championships.

Bensalem High School’s Brad Rivera qualified for the final with a preliminary time in the 800 meter run on Friday afternoon with a time of 1:55.82. In the championship run, Rivera used his kick to pass two runners in the final 200 meters to claim a seventh place medal, posting a time of 1:55.28 and securing his place on the podium.

“It’s awesome to be here,” said Rivera. “Just getting out of districts is so tough with the guys like Cho, Manley and Megaha in it. It just shows what a good group of runners there are, to look a crossed the starting line with the final eight, it’s a little intimidating, but also exciting.”

Bensalem wasn’t the only local team to bring home hardware as Holy Ghost Prep senior Christian Lupica used a semi final time of 14.65 in the 110 meter hurdles to secure his spot in the finale on Saturday.

After a fast start, Lupica battled an elite field and a 3.4 wind, shaving .15 off his qualifying time, crossing the line at 14.50 to snare a fourth place medal and end his high school career on the podium.

“This was such a great field,” said gold medal winner Strath Haven’s Chris Williams. “Scott, Lupica and day gave me all I wanted today, the wind was tough for all of us, but I am thrilled to be the state champ.”

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Boys 110 Meter Hurdles AAA   8 Advance:  Top 3 Each Heat plus Next 2 Best Times NFHS Record: ! 13.30  1990        Chris Nelloms, DaytonDunbarHS, OH            PIAA Record: R 13.79  1991        C James ('83), C Black ('91), Truman 1, HendNFHS Hnr Rol: # 14.10                                                           

   Heat  1 Semi-Finals   Wind: -2.3 

1. Zaza, Wellington          10 Upper Darby 01         14.24      14.48Q   
2. Day, Kevin                10 Glen Mills 01          14.31      14.49Q  
3. Lupica, Christian         12 Holy Ghost 01          14.35      14.65Q   
4. Willett, Aaron            -- Coatesville 01         14.35      14.91q   
5. Samoura, Laye             12 Coatesville 01         14.87      15.16    
6. Devine, Jamal             12 Williamsport 04        14.83      15.27    
7. Carty, Alexis             12 Stroudsburg 11         14.92      15.31    
8. Elam, Jeff                11 Grtr Latrobe 07        15.02      15.75 

Heat  2 Semi-Finals   Wind: -1.6 

1. Scott, Kowan              12 Wilson Area 11         13.96    # 14.09Q  
2. Williams, Chris           11 Strath Haven 01        14.29      14.49Q   
3. Guiden, Khalid            12 Exeter 03              14.46      14.65Q   
4. Black, Deandre            12 Schenley 08            14.34      14.68q   
5. Collins, Marcus           12 Msgr Bonner 12         14.88      15.12    
6. Krystek, Jeff             12 CR North 01            14.80      15.36   
7. Kuiawa, Grant             12 Thomas Jffrsn 07       15.10      15.38    
8. Deysher, Matt             12 Cedar Crest 03         15.03      15.57 

   Boys 110 Meter Hurdles AAA  FINALSNFHS Record: ! 13.30  1990        Chris Nelloms, DaytonDunbarHS, OH            PIAA Record: R 13.79  1991        C James ('83), C Black ('91), Truman 1, HendNFHS Hnr Rol: # 14.10                                                            Name                    Year School                 Semis     Finals  Wind Points 

1. Williams, Chris           11 Strath Haven 01        14.49      14.18  -3.4  10     
2. Scott, Kowan              12 Wilson Area 11         14.09      14.29  -3.4   8     
3. Day, Kevin                10 Glen Mills 01          14.49      14.41  -3.4   6     
4. Lupica, Christian         12 Holy Ghost 01          14.65      14.50  -3.4   5     
5. Guiden, Khalid            12 Exeter 03              14.65      14.58  -3.4   4    
6. Willett, Aaron            -- Coatesville 01         14.91      14.71  -3.4   3     
7. Black, Deandre            12 Schenley 08            14.68      14.84  -3.4   2     
8. Zaza, Wellington          10 Upper Darby 01         14.48      15.90  -3.4   1  

 Boys 800 Meter Run AAANFHS Record: ! 1:46.45  1996        Michael Granville, BellGardensHS,CA        PIAA Record: R 1:49.31  2010        Tom Mallon, Central Bucks So HS 1         NFHS Hnr Rol: # 1:52.50                                                            Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals  Points 

1. Cho, Hong                 12 Wissahickon 01       1:54.25    1:52.49#  10     
2. Flynn, Andy               12 Cumberlnd Vly 03     1:55.03    1:53.36    8    
3. Endress, Wade             12 Altoona Area 06      1:54.65    1:53.76    6     
4. Bekelja, Mato             12 Hershey 03           1:55.37    1:54.35    5     
5. Krszal, Brandon           -- W Allegheny 07       1:54.95    1:54.36    4     
6. Lefebure, Luke            12 WC Henderson 01      1:55.24    1:54.38    3     
7. Rivera, Brad              -- Bensalem 01          1:55.82    1:55.28    2     
8. Witmer, Eric              12 McCaskey 03          1:55.92    1:55.48    1     
9. Gonzaga, Craig            12 Archbshp Ryan 12     1:55.66    1:55.88   
10. Tonzo, Vincent            11 No Allegheny 07      1:55.46    1:56.78   
11. Manley, Connor            -- CB West 01           1:55.43    2:00.97   
12. Magaha, Drew              11 Upper Morelnd 01     1:54.48    2:13.52