PHOTO GALLERY | Bedford six-peat, three area double-winners highlight District 5 boys track

LOYSBURG, Pa. – Conditions weren’t ideal, but the Bedford High School boys track and field program didn’t flinch Wednesday in the PIAA District 5 Class 2A championship meet.

Coach Brian Creps’ Bisons overcame high winds, occasional rains and lightning that resulted in a 90-minute delay midway through the meet. Bedford claimed its sixth consecutive team title at Northern Bedford County High School.

The Bisons produced five individual champions and won the 400-meter relay to clinch the title with 136.5 points.

The boys pole vault and high jump competition will be held Friday afternoon due to the weather, but Bedford can’t be caught in the team race, as Conemaugh Township (72), Everett (49), Southern Fulton (45) and Meyersdale (38) round out the current top five.

PHOTO GALLERY | Bedford boys, girls shine at District 5 Track & Field Championships

“We had a lot of good things happen,” Creps said. “The senior boys really worked hard this season to anchor the team down. We’ve got young kids also that they’ve kind of mentored.

“We’re very happy they were able to go out on top.”

Meyersdale senior hurdler Branson Hersch swept both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles races.

He won the 110 hurdles in 16.39, almost a second ahead of Conemaugh Township’s Christopher Yoder (17:36).

“I didn’t get my PR. The head winds were bad, but everybody is facing the same head winds,” Hersch said.

During the photograph taken on the six-athlete medal stand, Hersch playfully coaxed the five other placewinners to join him in what he called the Arnold Schwarzenegger pose, extending their arms upward in a bodybuilder’s position.

His golden performance continued as Hersch placed first in the 300 hurdles in 40.18.

“Four years of track. Senior year, I’m finally going somewhere,” Hersch said. “It’s my first time at Shippensburg. I’m looking forward to it and I’m super-excited.”

Individual and relay winners, as well as those who met state qualifying times or distances, will compete in the PIAA championships May 22-23 at Shippensburg University.

Chestnut Ridge sprinter Carter Wharton rebounded from an injury that cost him more than a week during his senior season. Wharton placed first in the 100-meter dash, running an 11.42 to edge Tussey Mountain’s Westyn Harding (11.74) and Berlin Brothersvalley’s Marquinn Suber (11.78). He took the 200 in 23.32.

“That (100) race went pretty good,” Wharton said. “I didn’t have the best start but I got the job done. The wind’s not good, obviously, but you’ve just got to keep pushing.”

Wharton overcame a nagging hamstring he injured during a recent invitational event.

“I ran my 100 and felt good. My 200 was up. I felt a little tweak in the hamstring and thought I could push through it,” Wharton said of the injury that briefly sidelined him.

“At the invitational (earlier in the season), I went to do my first run off and I felt like I was going to pull it,” he said. “I wanted to hold out because I knew I had an opportunity to do something good in districts and states.”

In the 1600 run, Conemaugh Township sophomore Hudson Lease ran a 4:44.60 to place first, and he later placed first in the 3200 (10:00.06).

“The wind really took it out of me, just running through the head wind every time,” Lease said of the 1600. “But I figured if I could just get through it, I could kick and be all right.”

Bedford junior John Ingraham threw the discus 131-9 to earn a spot on top of the podium.

“The competition was wonderful,” Ingraham said. “I thought everyone did a great job. I feel like I could have thrown better but as a group we all pushed ourselves and did as best we could.”

Ingraham appreciated the moment, but looked ahead.

“What it means to win district is you’ve got to keep on working and this is the reward,” Ingraham said. “Even though I did get that reward, I’m not done working yet.

“I’ve got to keep on going. I’ve got to get that shot at Shippensburg.”

Bedford senior Andrew Evans won the javelin after the rain delay, with a throw of 145-4.

The Bisons’ 400-meter relay squad of Ethan Yokum, Bennett Steele, Grey Livengood and Tristan Barnes won in 44.65.

Bedford’s Sam Koontz placed first in the 400-meter dash in 50.60.

Bedford freshman Jack Tew threw the shot put 49-1 to claim gold after the delay.

“That was my second throw,” Tew said.

“My first throw, I was going for something safe, I was just going 30%, trying to get a mark. The second one, I was hyped up.”

The stoppage, resulting from heavy rains and lightning, actually might have helped Tew, he said.

“The girls shot was going, and then it started raining,” Tew said. “In the bus (during the delay), it was really fun, listening to music and stuff. When we came out, they did finals for girls shot. By the time boys shot started it was sunny and good conditions.”