NTL TRACK & FIELD: NEB'S LAUDERMILCH WINS 3200 TITLE, QUALIFIES FOR STATES IN THE 1600, TOO (2023-05-21)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — Northeast Bradford’s Gracelyn Laudermilch ran a personal best as she won the 3200 title at the District IV Track and Field Championships on Saturday. The sophomore also made states in the 1600, doubling the number of races that she qualified in from last year.

“I just feel really blessed,” said Laudermilch. “It’s been a long ride coming here, it was a long journey. I just feel so blessed by God - he gave me ability to have a good race, he gave me so much strength today.”

Laudermilch ran 11:06.66 to win gold in the 2-mile, then came back to take third with a state qualifying time of 5:15.63 in the mile.

Coming in Laudermilch felt she could put a good time down as it was cool and overcast for the distance race.

“I’m so thankful for the weather,” she said. “We didn’t really know what’s going to happen. I was just like, I’ve got to do my best, and give God the glory.”

For the first six laps Laudermilch was content to sit in third just behind the leaders.

“I had the mile later today so that was my mindset,” explained Laudermilch. “Conserve as much as I can. I tried to run with God, which means listening to his voice as I run. I really just felt like him giving me the strength, and I just felt the guidance as I make my move, or don’t make my move. I just listen to my coaches, get a feel for how it’s playing out, and do my best.”

During the final two laps her and Athens Sara Bronson dueled it out for the win, with Laudermilch pull away the final 200 meters.

“I didn’t really know if I had it in me,” said Laudermilch. “I didn’t know where my legs were at so I took it.”

Running a school record time in the 4x800 on Thursday gave Laudermilch a boost on Saturday.

“That was an amazing race by all the girls,” she said. “I’m really thankful for how it went. I didn’t know how much it was going to kill my legs, but I’m glad I did it. I rolled out a lot and I feel pretty good today.”

Laudermilch was still feeling that 2-mile when she ran the mile a few hours later.

“It was a really, really tough race because I’m not fresh at all,” she said. 

She used the same strategy as before, hanging back at the start, but couldn’t quite catch up to the second place runner.

“I was still going to try to get her, but I was definitely, like, ‘I’m not my freshest,” she said. “I’ve got to do my best and put myself out there.”

Southern Columbia’s Kate Moncavage came in as the top seed and Laudermilch wanted to pace off her.

“We knew that Kate was coming out really hard,” she said. “We’re hoping that we’ll get a little closer but I did not get out very well. Our plan was to go out a few seconds, but I got a little too far back.”

Laudermilch also medaled in the 800 in 2:25.71.

Anaiah Kolesar took fourth in the 3200 with a personal best o 12:16.36, with Emma Neuber getting seventh in the shot put at 32-feet, 1 1/2-inches. Neuber was also 14th in the javelin at 92-feet, 2-inches, with teammate Abigail O’Connor 19th at 86-feet, 6-inches.

Lilah Hughes just missed the podium in the 800 at 2:27.36, while Lizzie Gorsline was 12th in the 400 in 1:04.45.

Their 4x400 was 13th in 4:26.62, while the 4x100 was 14th in 54.06.

For the boys, Creed Dewing medaled in the 1600 in 4:36.68, while taking ninth in the 3200 at 10:07.11.

Aydin Finch was 14th in the mile at 4:51.43, Brayden Miller was 14th in the 800 in 2:05.51, and Aiden Kapr took 17th in the 300 hurdles at 44.45.

Their 4x400 was 15th in 3:44.15.

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PHOTO CAPTION: NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch runs to a win in the 3200…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING