NTL TRACK & FIELD: NEB'S LAUDERMILCH REACHES THE PODIUM IN THE 1600 AT STATES (2024-05-24)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
SHIPPENSBURG — NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch was on a mission to get that 1600 meter medal after coming up just short last year at the PIAA Track and Field Championships. She did that with a personal best time of 5:07.11 to take sixth.

“It’s really good, I’m really happy,” said Laudermilch. “Last year I panicked the entire race, and this year the panic didn’t really start until the last 200, and it killed me a little bit, but I’m really thankful. All the Glory to God, I just want to come out here and run my race and focus on the process. I think I did that until the last 300.”

Laudermilch was seventh after the first lap but then moved up to third at the halfway point. She was still third after the work lap before falling back a handful of spots down the stretch.

“I thought Kate (Moncavage) and I could work together,” remarked Laudermilch. “I didn’t want to let Chelsea (Hartman) to get too far away. I just wanted to stay in contact and I put myself in the race. I got a medal so I’m happy with that - a little higher would have been nice, but I PRed so I ran the best race that I could on the day, and I’m proud of that.”

Laudermilch will return for two more races on Saturday, running the 3200 first thing in the morning, then finishing things off in the 800.

“My mentor told me I have 15 minutes to cry or smile, and I guess I’ll be smiling today, so I’m going to think about it for 15 minutes,” explained Laudermilch. “So I’m going to go back to my hotel, eat some ice cream with my family, and not think about track.”

NEB’s Creed Dewing took 25th in the boys’ 1600 in 4:30.96 in a very competitive field. He started off in the back of the pack, and picked a few runners off during his race.

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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