Hornet 4x100m Relay Takes 2nd; Earns Trip to States

By: Ed Weaver  /  May 23, 2021  /  Photo: Brian Fees

The Wellsboro Boys 4x100m relay team finished 2nd overall to qualify for the PIAA State Championships at the Class AA championships at Williamsport High School on Saturday, May 22.

The team consists of sophomore Sam Rudy, sophomore Jack Poirier, freshman Dillion Boyce, and senior Joseph Grab.

The group ran a 44.69 to automatically qualify for next week's meet at Shippensburg University as they finished behind Southern Columbia (42.51), who ended up breaking the Hornets meet record set in 2010. Last week at the NTL Coaches Invite they had a problem with one of the exchanges, but still managed a 2nd place finish to Wyalusing. This week, however, there were no issues.

"All handoffs had to come together today and they did," head coach Jill Gastrock said after the race. "Coach (John) Dee (DeLeonardis) worked with the boys all season but especially this week on hand offs. They were ready and they are all peaking in post season, so I'm proud of them all for their hard work in getting to states."

Grab also finished 6th in the 100m finals (11.39) and was 5th in the 200m finals (23.16). Poirier was 7th overall in the 200m (23.51) and 9th in the long jump (19-ft, 5.25), Rudy was 7th in the 300m hurdles (43.81), sophomore Wyatt Gastrock (111-ft, 3) was 12 in the discus, and junior Justice Harlan (38-ft, 11) was 17th in the shot put.

For the girls senior Kiyah Boyce (80-ft, 9) was 13th in the discus and 21st in the shot put (27-ft, 7.25), junior Emma Coolidge (104-ft) was 8th in the javelin with teammate Alina Pietrzyk (88-ft, 7) in 16th, and freshman Grace Harlan (25-ft, 1.5) was 24th in the shot put. The Lady Hornets were 16th in the 4x100m relay (56.36), 18th in the 4x400m (4:47.80), and 16th in the 4x800m (11:59.14).