Medals in the field for Dock, North Penn, Souderton on Day 1 of PIAA Championships

SHIPPENSBURG >> Things weren’t going to his liking, so Austin Kratz hit the pause button.

“My first five jumps, I actually didn’t feel good at all,” the Christopher Dock sophomore said after Friday’s AA Long Jump Championship. “I was getting so mad at myself.

“Before the last one, I stopped, just kind of laid there for a little bit, and thought ‘just go back to the basics. Stay calm and just jump.’”

Kratz reeled off a beauty, launching 22 feet, 9 inches — his best ever in the event — to earn a bronze medal at the PIAA State Championships Friday morning at sunny Shippensburg University.

“I was just so happy that I got that because I went in ranked seventh,” Kratz said, “so getting third — I was really happy with that.”

Kratz’s performance was part of an impressive showing by locals on opening day at Shipp, as Souderton Area’s Shamar Jenkins triple jumped to fifth place in the state in AAA, and North Penn’s Uche Nwogwugwu also made her way to the medal stand in the triple, earning sixth in AAA girls.

Brendan Sparr of Schuylkll Valley was the AA gold medalist in the long jump, with a leap of 23-9.5. Kratz, earning his first state medal in the event, turned it on in the finals, surpassing his seed mark by almost eight inches.

“Last year was a really good beginner for me, just to find out about the meet, find out about the track and competition, and know how this meet works,” said Dock’s versatile standout. “Coming in here this year, I knew what I had to do and I didn’t have to worry as much. I could just be me and do what I had to do.”

Kratz went on to win his heat in the 100 dash and place second in his heat of the 200, qualifying for both events on Saturday for the District One Champs.

Earning his first state medal in the triple jump was Jenkins, whose leap of 47 feet, 1 and a quarter inches pushed him past fellow medalists Treyvon Wheelings of Milton Hershey (46-5.25), Kellin Valentine of State College (46-01.25) and Ache Hall of Springfield Delco (45-10.25).

“Going in, I felt pretty good, but my first jump was pretty lousy,” Jenkins said. “And my coach kept telling me to speed up in my phases and get as much height as I can. It didn’t work out as I planned but towards the end of the finals, it started working out pretty well and luckily I got fifth.

“I gave it my all, gave it my best,” Jenkins said. “I just gotta come out here and work harder.

The junior nailed his last attempt of the finals, getting out 47-1.25. Ravaughn Dillard of Gettysburg, with his leap of 48-7, was on top of the medal stand, somewhere Jenkins wants to be next year as a senior.

Said Jenkins of competing at Shipp: “I love it — my second year here, and nothing but great competition.

“I know I’ll come back next year,” he said. “I wanna win.”

Jenkins will be back at it Saturday, competing in the long jump, while Nwogwugwu will be busy for the Lady Knights, competing in the 400 finals — last year she raced to a silver in the event.

In the triple, Nwogwugwu got out 38-1.75, pushing past Nicole Weenink of Mechanicsburg (38-00.25) and Tatiana Williams of Stroudsburg (37-8.25). Evelyn Berecz of Downingtown East was the top finisher, with a mark of 39-5.5.

“My last jump in finals,” Nwogwugwu said, “I finally put it together.”

On the track, several area runners pushed through to Saturday’s semifinals and finals, including Wissahickon’s Darien Williams, who won his qualifying heat in the 100 dash.

Races start up again Saturday morning at 9 a.m., with the Pennridge boys and North Penn girls 4×8’s — tops in their heats on Friday — aiming for a state gold.

Central Bucks West’s Maddie Villalba goes for a three-peat in the 800 later in the day.