PIAA TRACK & FIELD: ATHENS' BURGESS QUALIFIES FOR 100-METER DASH FINALS; GUARANTEED OF STATE MEDAL (6 PHOTOS) (2025-05-23)

By CHRIS MANNING
Valley Sports Report
SHIPPENSBURG — Athens junior Abby Burgess has had her fair share of near-misses in her track and field career, but at the PIAA Track and Field Championships Friday she came out on the bright side of a close shave, earning a spot in the Class AAA 100-meter finals by .01 seconds.

“It feels great,” an excited Burgess said after. “I’m really excited. I didn’t expect it with my time, but when I heard my name ...”

She was so excited she couldn’t finish.

Burgess ran 12.43 to take third in her heat, and eighth in qualifying, guaranteeing her a medal as long as she crosses the finish line on Saturday.

The junior just missed a state berth her freshman year, and just missed the finals a year ago in Class AA. Now up in Class AAA, with the tougher competition, it looked like making the final eight was a long shot.

“This was my goal,” Burgess said. “All I wanted to do coming into the meet was make it to the top eight.”

Having the returning state champion, Cheltenham’s Amirah Nesmith, in the lane next to her probably helped. Nesmith led all runners with an 11.94.

“I was really scared to be next to her because she’s an amazing athlete,” explained Burgess. “But I just knew she’d push me, so I just kept that in my mind.”

The weather was more like early April than late May, with wind-blown showers and temperatures in the 50s, so it wasn’t just the competition, but also the elements that Burgess had to contend with.

“Just keeping my form the entire way, and pushing all the way to the finish line,” Burgess. “I just wanted to keep my block start good. I was a little worried about false starting because of the beeper, it’s not what we’re used to.”

As for tomorrow, she’s hoping to get that PR.

“That’s what I was going for today,” said Burgess. “The weather was just not ideal with that headwind, but tomorrow I’m going for the PR.”

Burgess also ran in the 200-meter dash, and finished 23rd in 26.14 seconds..

It will be a busy day for Athens on Saturday with Burgess running the 100 finals in the morning, while in the afternoon senior Jace Babcock goes in the high jump, and senior Sara Bronson runs in the 800.



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