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Hughesville’s Draper wins 2,000 steeplechase as area boys have success at Lock Haven H.S. Classic

Kenneth Draper of Hughesville leads the way during the steeple chase at the Lock Haven University High School Classic invitational tournament Saturday April 30, 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

LOCK HAVEN — As he was running away from the water pit in the 2,000-meter steeplechase, Kenneth Draper was intently listening to what was going on behind him. He was waiting to hear that splash from the water to gauge how how close the next fastest competitor was on his tail.

“I was listening for whenever I heard that water splash behind me. So it’d be like ‘OK, where’s he at now?'”

There were a few not far behind Draper in the steeplechase, but the Hughesville runner finished with a time of 6 minutes, 55.90 seconds to claim the win at Lock Haven’s High School Classic on Saturday afternoon. He beat out Milton’s Chase Bilodeau, who took second in 6:59.58, and Lewisburg’s Connor Murray, who finished third in 7:08.89.

“It feels pretty good. I was really hoping to break a sub-7 overall, so I’ll take a 6:55 for that,” Draper said. “I was racing against Chase. Me and Chase have been friends for awhile, since elementary school, so it was really nice to race against him.”

The steeplechase is a challenge for most runners, as it’s not an event run at dual meets or many other invitationals. For Draper, the success in running it comes with being able to balance hurdles and distance.

Thomas Hess of Lewisburg leads the field during his heat in the 400m race during the Lock Haven University High School Classic invitational tournament Saturday April 30, 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It’s definitely the combination of the hurdles mixed with distance. Usually hurdlers don’t do distance kids don’t do hurdles, so it’s sort of finding that balance of what works for you.”

Draper kept a solid pace throughout the event, and only edged Bilodeau by four seconds to take first. In addition to the area having all three top finishers, Williamsport’s William Pence-Kieser took fourth in 7:27.22 and South Williamsport’s Landyn Gephart took seventh in 8:09.27.

“I feel like I know how to keep my stride going. Once you hit that hurdle, it’s a challenge of are you going to keep going or are you going to stop, jump over and then continue?” Draper sad. “It’s keeping that momentum that’s really important throughout the race.”

Lewisburg’s Thomas Hess and Central Mountain’s Logan Dawes, Anton Stratts and Brett Gerlach were the only other area individual winners on Saturday.

Dawes won the shot put with a throw of 48 feet, 7 1/2 inches, edging Lewisburg’s Zachary Gose, who threw 47-10 3/4. Stratts picked up a win in the discus with a throw of 150-4, besting Williamsport’s Garret Laver (143-2).

Cam Sims of Williamsport wins his heat race during the 4x100 during the Lock Haven University High School Classic invitational tournament Saturday April 30, 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Montoursville’s Brayden McKibben took second in the pole vault after clearing 12-6. Altoona’s Nathan Lutz won by clearing 14-1. Gerlach was also a second-place finisher, jumping 42-1 1/2 in the triple jump. Gerlach came away with a victory in the high jump as well, clearing 6 feet to win.

Thomas won the 400 with a time of 51.08, narrowly beating South Williamsport’s Hayden Swinehart, who took second in 51.88. Loyalsock’s Andres Quintana was third (51.94), Williamsport’s Angelo Casas was fourth (52.08) and Warrior Run’s Alex Brown took fifth (53.02).

Hess doesn’t typically run the 400, and got out a little slower from the start than he would have liked to. It resulted in him having to play catchup later in the race to beat out Swinehart.

“The finish has to do with my start. I went out slower than I should have and I had some extra left. The finish, I knew he was there, but I was feeling relatively OK by the end of the race just because I started slower than I should have,” Hess said.

Having a fast runner like Swinehart on his heels helped Hess as well in the race.

“To have someone to see in your rearview, or in front of you in my case, it makes you push a little harder when you’re hurting,” Hess said. “With the sprints, he’s not that far ahead of me, not that far behind me, so having someone there always helps.”

Hess admits he’s more of a distance guy, not a sprinter, so the 400 falls in between the two types of runs.

“One thing I say is ‘get out and get in’ right? Because I’m not a sprinter, I’m a distance guy. Running the 400 is not my normal. But the get out, get in is just get a good start and get in before the turn because you’re running next to others,” Hess said. “I didn’t follow my own rule too well, and I think it hurt me a little bit.”

Williamsport’s 400 relay team won with a time of 43.63, edging Bellefonte by roughly two seconds.

Milton’s Connor Snyder took second in the javelin with a throw of 159 feet, 3 inches, just ahead of Montoursville’s Zach Barnes, who threw 158-10 for a third-place finish.

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