Ringgold’s Pajak 2nd in 1,600 behind record-setting Griffith

SHIPPENSBURG — Sometimes, you have to tip your cap to the opposition.

Ringgold’s Ryan Pajak ran the race of his life in the Class 3A boys 1,600-meters Friday morning at the PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium, but future teammate Drew Griffith of Butler set a national record with a winning time of 3:57.08.

Pajak, a senior who will continue his running career at Notre Dame with Griffith, came across the finish line in 4:04.72, but Griffith took the lead on the first lap and never looked back.

“I feel like I finished pretty strong,” Pajak said. “I feel like I still have a little bit more room in the tank. I was kind of running by myself the last two laps, and if I would have had someone there pushing me, I may have had a faster time, but it was still a good time.”

Griffith broke the record of 3:59.51 that was set by Alan Webb of Reston, Va., in 2001.

Pajak and Griffith will race again this morning in the 3,200. Pajak knows he has his work cut out for him, but he favors longer distances and knows he still has his collegiate career to look forward to.

“We’ll see what happens tomorrow,” Pajak said. “I really like 5K and 10Ks, which I can run in college track, so I am excited for that. It was exciting running in this environment, and I hope I can hit my PR (personal record).”

Canon-McMillan’s Rose Kuchera still has the long jump today to win a state championship. She came up short in the Class 3A girls triple jump with a second-place finish. Kuchera’s best jump was 39-4.5, which was short of her personal record of 40-9. Souderton’s Destini Smith won the event with a leap of 40-4.25.

Kuchera’s track and field career will not be over after today’s action, as she will continue in track and field at Duquesne University, where she plans to study law.

“It would have been nice to PR, and if I could have PR’d, don’t know what could have happened there, but I don’t want to worry about what ifs,” Kuchera said. “I know that I still have another four years, and I know that not everyone gets another four years, so I just want to be happy that I have more chances. I am going to do jumps in college.”

The Big Macs’ Maggie Clair finished her high school career with a third-place finish in the Class 3A girls shot put. Clair saved her best throw for last with a toss of 39-4.25.

“I started track my freshman year, and ever since I loved throwing shot,” Clair said. “I would have liked to PR, but my throws just weren’t there today. This is my third time at states, but I never made finals the first two times, so I am happy about that, and I look forward to competing in college.”

Clair will continue to throw at Waynesburg University, where she will study forensic science.

Burgettstown’s Zack Schrockman finished in a tie for sixth place in the boys Class 2A high jump. The senior Blue Devil tied with two others after jumping 6-2.

“The first couple of run-throughs at 6-4 I slipped a little, and that got in my head a little bit,” Schrockman said. “I qualified for states last year at high jump and was 11th, so it was nice to finish my career on the medal stand. I was hoping to break my PR of 6-5 but I am happy with my track & field career.”

Fort Cherry’s boys 400-meter relay team of Dylan Wudkwych, Tegan Henke, Shane Cornali and Matt Sieg won their heat and will be the top seed for tomorrow’s final in Class 2A. The quartet didn’t hit their personal record of 42.59 but Sieg carried the baton across the finish line in 42.64.

Henke won his heat in the 100-meter dash to qualify for today’s final and a spot on the podium. Henke’s time of 11.00 puts him as the fourth seed in the finals.

South Fayette’s Olivia Renk qualified for the finals in the Class 3A girls 100-meter dash. The senior will be the seventh seed in the 100 after recording a time of 12.10 in her preliminary heat.

Burgettstown’s Peyton Mermon will race in today’s final in the girls Class 2A 400 after finishing with a time of 58.44, which was the eighth best in the preliminary round.

Fort Cherry’s Ava Menzies was second in her preliminary heat in the girls Class 2A 200-meter dash in 25.62, but finished seventh overall to qualify for today’s final.

Menzies teamed with Raney Staub, Jazlyn Martino and Bella Bianchini to finish second in their heat in the girls 1,600 relay with a time of 4:03.99. The Rangers’ quartet will be the sixth seed in the final.

California’s Ella Neil finished in a five-way tie for fifth place to earn a spot on the medal stand in the Class 2A girls high jump. The junior’s best jump was 5-2.

Charleroi freshman Braedin Lunger was seventh in the boys Class 2A long jump at 21-9.25.