NTL TRACK & FIELD: WYALUSING'S ELY, PALFREYMAN BOTH JUST MISS STATE BERTHS (2023-05-19)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — Wyalusing had a few close calls at the District IV Track and Field Championships on Thursday, but came up just short of a state berth.

Hannah Ely (16-feet, 5 1/4-inches) was third in the long jump, and just half a foot short of the state standard, while Jacob Palfreyman (48-feet, 2 1/2-inches) was fourth in the shot put, less than three inches from second place, and a state berth.

“She had a really good series with the jumps,” Wyalusing coach Jim Schools said about Ely. “She was consistent. That was probably the best consistency that she’s had all year with hitting the jump, so I’m pleased with that.”

Ely jumped 16-feet, 1 1/2-inches during the flight to get to the finals, then moved up to third with her next to last jump of 16-feet, 5 1/4-inches.

“Third place, you can’t be too upset with that,” Schools said. “I know that was a shot we thought we had at getting.”

Palfreyman’s 48-foot throw was a personal best that he unleashed during his second throw of the flight. He wasn’t quite able to replicate it in the finals, with his best at 47-feet, 3 1/2-inches.

“Jake in the shot put, that was kind of a long shot to begin with,” said Schools. “But he’s been at the spot about where he’s been ready to break through. He was right there, we knew he was going to have a break through. He’s pretty happy, he liked going in the finals. So that’s pretty impressive.”

Olivia Haley also made the finals in the 100, taking fourth in the preliminaries at 12.84, and then moving up to third in the semifinals at 12.71.

The finals for the 100 will be Saturday morning.

Their 4x800 team of Kayla Beebe, Megan King, Riley Porter, and Kassandra Kerin just missed the medals, taking ninth in 10:29.98.

Anna Kipp was 22nd in the 100 hurdles preliminaries at 18.67, and was also 22nd in the long jump at 13-feet, 7 1/2-inches. Adeline Sutton (79-feet) took 19th in the discus.

For the boys their 4x800 relay of Jake Caplan, Brody Fuhrey, Landen Kafmann, and John Heeman was 12th in 9:05.38.

James Rogan (18.08) was 18th during the 110 hurdles preliminaries, Josh Stoddard (124-feet, 11-inches) took 21st in the javelin, and Ayden Hunsinger (17-feet, 4 1/4-inches) was 21st in the long jump.

Wyalusing will have plenty more chances on Saturday with Haley in the 100 and the 400, Ely in the high jump, and Dylan Johns as the top seed in the boys’ high jump.

And Schools also won’t count out any surprises, either.

“Jake’s been coming along in the discus, too,” he said. “I mean, he’s going to have to get one out there, but that’s a good possibility. And, you never know with the 4x100, that’s a crap shoot. We’re in the fast heat with the girls, and if it’s bad weather we’re used to running a 4x1 in bad weather, that’ll be right up our alley.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: Wyalusing’s Jacob Palfreyman with his 48-foot throw…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING & LANCE LARCOM