Hoprich Breaks D4 200m Record On Her Way To Pair Of Gold Medals

By: Ed Weaver  /  May 18, 2025  /  Photo: Chris Manning

Sophomore Piper Hoprich backed up her record-setting performance at Thursday's District IV Track & Field Championships with another record a two gold medals on Saturday.

Hoprich ran .01 seconds slower in Saturday's 100m finals (11.99) than her blistering time on Thursday afternoon to cruise to her first gold medal. Later in the afternoon she set the District's 200m record with a run of 24.55 for her second gold on the day.

She also anchored the 4x100m relay team, joined by junior Sophia Yoder and freshmen Luna Moyer and Kate Bryant, to a 6th place finish (50.36) to qualify for states.

"It was a big goal of mine this season to break the district records, with the added bonus of going sub-12 and sub-25," said Hoprich. "I have worked so, so hard and it feels like all the hard work had paid off!"

Joining Hoprich at next week's PIAA Championships at Shippensburg is fellow sophomore Lauren Kosek. Kosek finished 4th in Saturday's 1600m (5:09.04), improving her current school record.

"I'm super happy with how my race went," added Kosek. "I knew I was due for a PR and just needed to execute today, and I ran way faster than I expected to! I have been thinking about wanting to qualify for states since districts last year, so to make it happen is so exciting! It was a strong race and my first time sub-5:10! I am looking forward to states and hopefully putting myself in contention for medaling in both of my events! I am also so happy to be able to experience states with all the 4x1 girls!"

Other Saturday performances included freshman Isla Twoey finishing 7th in the 300m hurdles (48.50) and 5th in the triple jump (34-ft, 4), Kosek finishing 11th in the 800m (2:29.35), senior Annie Gehman placing 9th in the high jump (4-ft, 10) and 11th in the triple jump (33-ft, 2).

"I am so proud of all these girls," exclaimed head coach Elizabeth Hoover. "They have worked so hard, and it has paid off! Piper broke two District records in one day. She anchored a 4 x 1 team who was more than a second off of the state time, but got that time today, and with an alternate! And she anchored a 4 x 4 team that took six seconds off of their personal record. I am still shaking my head. Lauren took six seconds off of her personal record in the 1600, after qualifying on Thursday in the 3200 mile! And she offered to be part of the 4 x 4 team after one of my athletes couldn't make it today."

"Isla Twoey jumped a personal record of over 34 feet in the triple jump, and then ran to the track and was .6 seconds off of a state time in the 300 hurdles."

"But I must give credit where credit is due. Volunteer Coach John DeLeonardis has been working with Piper and the four by one team all season. Volunteer Coach Eric Kosek, not only coaches our boys and girls distance crew, but runs with them also. You will find him down at the track yelling out splits as the kids run by. And volunteer Coach Casey Hoover (who is also the assistant junior high coach) has been working with our hurdle crew all year. He encouraged Isla to switch from the 400 to the 300 hurdles mid-season. Today was the first nice day that that girl has had to run these hurdles. She came in ranked 21st, but finished on the podium in seventh place. It was a crazy day, but I couldn't be more proud of all of these athletes that participated today."

For the boys senior Alex Citrino placed 17th in the 200m (24.07), senior Micah Vickery finished 16th in the 300m hurdles (43.29), senior Gabe Carpenter was 15th in the pole vault (11-ft, 6), senior Micaiah Fitch (40-ft, 1) took 14th in the triple jump, junior Jude Cuneo (2:04.53) was 12th in the 800m, junior Max Macias (4:36.87) was 11th in the 1600m, and junior Jonathan Carl was 10th in the 400m (51.90).

The Hornets' 4x100m relay team finished 11th in 45.95 and the 4x400m team took 10th in 3:38.64.