District Champs

What a day! It comes down to the 4 X 400! For you old guys out there, just like 1986 League meet - McCaskey & Hempfield tied - and we win it!

Here are the comments from Coach Bradley:

Coach’s Comments:
"It came down to the 4 x 400 Relay. The team score was tied: Wilson 54, Hempfield 54; 41 other teams trailed. Forrest Moul was running the event for the first time in big meet competition. Anticipation in Seth Grove Stadium was high. Kori Meshaw started strongly and gave the Knights a lead with a solid 49.8 split. Forrest fell behind on the backstretch and around the final turn. But, coming onto the final straight, he surged and almost pulled even with first place Wilson. Kevin Hull, who already had a gold medal 1600 and 800 meters in his legs, held his position and put anchor runner Hansel Akers three meters behind the first place Wilson team with 400 meters remaining. The 400-meter School Record Holder ran even with the Wilson team until the 200 meter mark and then exploded around the turn to open up a 10 meter lead which he held until the end. Hempfield won the 4 x 400 Relay and its first ever District 3 team title in school history. Score Hempfield 64, Wilson 62. And the celebration began!!
There were many story lines behind the victory. The Javelin throwers started it off on Friday by scoring 11 big points with a 3-4 finish. Alec Bleacher set the school record on his first throw of the competition. Sophomore Steve Feister improved on every toss. David Patzer looked like his sprained his ankle on his first attempt, but was able to come back strong and make 13’ 9” on his first attempt. We thank Oliver Harbuck of McCaskey who beat Wilson’s top-seeded vaulter. Kori Meshaw was not a top 8 seed in the 110 HH, but was able to come up big and place 7th in the event. He then chased the defending state champ in the 300 IH to place 2nd and set the Hempfield school record. Hansel Akers soared from the moment the gun went off and chased the top seed all the way to the finish and placed 2nd, and he too set a new school record. And, of course, Kevin Hull had his way with the field in the 800 and 1600 as he controlled these races from the beginning. Kevin becomes Hempfield’s first time three-time District gold medal winner."

Another one of those great days in the history of Hempfield Track & Field! 50 years & the stories keep coming!!!!