DISTRICT 4 TRTACK & FIELD: ATHENS' BABCOCK PUNCHES TICKET TO STATES; WINS HIGH JUMP GOLD AT CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIPS (24 PHOTOS) (2025-05-15)

Valley Sport Report
WILLIAMSPORT — Senior Jase Babcock cleared a personal-best height in the high jump and punched his ticket to the PIAA Championships with a gold-medal performance here Thursday at Day 1 of the District 4, Class 3A Track & Field Championships.

"It feel great," said Babcock. "It's just my second year of doing high jump, I wasn't expecting this. I've been preparing very hard for this at practice, this is just awesome.

"It's hard, these kids have been jumping for years, and have high PRs than me," noted Babcock. "I just came in and worked, and got it done.

Babcock won the high jump, clearing the bar at 6-feet, 5-inches. He said the 80-degree temperatures was a big factor.

"The weather was definitely a bonus," he said. "At the NTLs, it was like 40 degrees, and I jumped 5-10, the next meet here I'm at 6-5 ... it definitely helps, I'm a hot jumper."

Another factor was the competition he faced all season in the NTL.

"The competition in the NTL definitely helped," said Babcock. "I'm friends with all the high jumpers in the NTL, we give each other tips all the time. The completion this year was very good, and definitely helped me today."

Babcock said he'll be working on technique to get ready for the PIAA Championships at Shippensburg University on May 23-24.

"I'll definitely be working on my form," said Babcock. "I have the jumps, but the form is definitely what I'll be working on the most."

Babcock also placed seventh in the triple jump with a mark of 40-feet, 7-inches, and senior Peter Jones was 14th at 35-feet, 9-inches.


Sophomore Graham Wanck finished second in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 9:40.1, while sophomore Lucas Persun was ninth in 10:31.69, and sophomore Alex Acres was 12th in 10:47.42.

The foursome of senior Ethan Hicks, junior Alex Thompson, and sophomores Matt Rossettie and Jacob Shores finished sixth in the 3,200-meter relay in a time of 8:29.05.

Senior Caleb Nason placed eighth in the discus with a toss of 117-feet, 7-inches

Senior Ronel Ankam advanced to the finals of the 110-meter hurdles, running the 8th-fastest time in the preliminaries, clocking in at 16.59 seconds.

Junior Ryan Cook finished 16th in the 100-meter dash in a time of 11.88 seconds.

GIRLS
Senior Sara Bronson and junior Elizabeth Denlinger turned in the best performances of the day for the Lady Wildcats.

Bronson placed third in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 11:20.5, and junior Ava Hughes placed seventh in 12:26.92.

Junior Elizabeth Denlinger placed third in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 8-feet, and senior Emma Renninger was sixth at 7-feet, 6-inches.

Freshman Annika Lezak placed seventh in the javelin at 97-feet, 10-inches.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Leonard placed eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 31-feet. 9 1/2-inches.

Juniors Evelyn Panek and Denlinger finished tied for ninth in the high jump at 5-feet.

Junior Abby Burgess posted the fastest time in the 100-meter dash preliminaries with a time of 12.27 seconds. Senior Gretchen Schmieg was 11th in 13.55 seconds, and senior Annalise Geisinger was 13th in 13.95 seconds.

Junior Lizzie Gorsline ran the fifth-fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 16.8 seconds to advance to the finals. Senior Addy Wheeler finished 12th in 18.95 seconds, and sophomore Hannah Parrish was 15th in 19.6 seconds.

Day 2 of the District 4 Championships begins Saturday at 10 a.m.

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IN PHOTO 1 and TOP PHOTO: Athens senior Jase Babcock. ... PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM and CHRIS MANNING.

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