Bonner & Prendie’s Bierling repeats as district shot put champion

Hannah Bierling is headed to Shippensburg for the third time in her career.

The senior from Bonner & Prendergast won the District 12 Class 3A shot put for the second year in a row Wednesday, automatically qualifying for the PIAA Championships.

Bierling’s winning put of 35 feet, 4 inches came on her first attempt and was more than two feet better than the runnerup, Eliz McNamee of St. Hubert. Bierling also finished third in the javelin (94-11), but did not meet the state qualifying standard of 122 feet. Only the top two finishers from District 12 automatically qualify for the state meet.

Teammate Jasmine Powell took sixth in the shot put (30-1). Erin O’Brien of Bonner & Prendie placed eighth in the long jump (14-5¼).

Rachel Bonfini of Cardinal O’Hara was the only other county athlete to qualify for the PIAA championships. She won the high jump (4-10) in a jump off. Bonfini also took fourth in the long jump (15-9¾). Teammate Bridget Bennetta was eighth in the high jump (4-4), while Katie Till placed sixth in the 3,200-meter run (12:54.42) for the Lions.

For Archbishop Carroll, Julia DiRita was sixth in the high jump (4-4), Jada Nembard placed sixth in the long jump (15-8) and Emma Sponholts earned a seventh-place medal in the javelin (75-6).

On the boys side, Malachi Hansen of Archbishop Carroll turned in a personal best for the second week in a row to take fifth in the triple jump (42-1½). Teammate Robert Newgent of Archbishop Carroll placed eighth in the Class 3A discus with a personal best throw of 101-8½. Brian McGarrity of Bonner & Prendie placed fifth in the 3,200 (10:15.65).