Following his 22-9 ¾ outing in the long jump last weekend, Starks set his next goal at surpassing 23. He’d fall short of that against Selinsgrove but with another shot at it at the Lock Haven High School Classic, he managed to surpass 23 and more.

On Friday afternoon, he’d score a 23-8, breaking the 13-year-old meet record in the event and surpassing senior Yazhir Slaughter’s program record of 23-4.5. According to MileSplit, he also owns a share of the Class 3A District 4 record, tied with Athens alum Jarred Gambrell.

“They said 23-8 and I was shocked,” said Starks. “My only goal was to get a 23. I wish [Yazhir] was here. I called him and let him know and he was hyped for me. He wanted me to break the record.”

His first place showing in the long jump, coupled with sixth place showings in the 100 and 200-meter dash, played a role in Williamsport scoring 88 team points and taking second amidst a stacked meet. Like Starks, the Millionaires continued displaying improvements across the board, posting plenty of success in the process.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore runners competes in the boy's 4x100 meter relay during the Lock Haven Invitational track meet at Hubert H Jack Stadium in Lock Haven on Friday, April 26, 2024.

With star hurdler Calder Diakite out, senior Niquis Coleman helped fill the void, dominating his strong suit in the 300-meter hurdles (40.19) while also claiming gold in the 110-meter (15.80). Though he didn’t ultimately land a PR, he feels that will come down the road.

“I felt proud of myself today,” said Coleman, who came .05 second away from a season best in the 110-meter hurdles. “I really do want to get good at [the 110-meter hurdles] so I can compete with Calder and get him some comp. I know it’s a breeze for him.”

Aiden Everett added to the list of first placing showings, claiming gold in the triple jump (42-8 ¼), as the Millionaires found themselves in the top-ten of 14 of the 16 individual events. Nariq Burks took third and fourth in the shot put (47-3 ½) and javelin (165-7) respectively, posting a PR in the former. And its 4×800 relay team took second, which was Williamsport boys head coach Jeremy Steppe’s biggest, pleasant surprise of the outing.

“We honestly backed off a lot of kids because at this point in the season, we have to focus on championships. I was shocked with the second place showing because I think there are some quality programs here for sure,” said Steppe. “The kids that did run did very well.”

“4×8, I was very impressed with those guys. We haven’t had a quality workout session with them. It’s been a lot of preparing and recovering, so for them to PR there was big,” he added.

Outside of Williamsport, the meet featured plenty of local success.

Milton saw multiple top-two showings on the way to a fifth-place finish, with Ryan Bickhart posting a 9:47.70 to take first in the 3200, Connor Snyder winning in javelin (178-5) and Charles Wright claiming silver in the high jump (6-0).

Hughesville’s Shea McCusker placed second in the 800-meter dash, falling .21 seconds short of posting his third sub-2:00 of the season. Central Mountain’s Jordan Donahay took third amidst a stacked 100-meter dash class (11.18). Williamson’s Kristian Mizdail took second in the 3200-meter dash (9:53.44).

South Williamsport’s Dylan Scheller placed top-four in two events, taking bronze in the long jump (21-3 ½) and fourth in the triple jump (41-6). And Jersey Shore’s Zach Kendall came .03 seconds short of taking first in the 400-meter dash (51.74) before following it up with a third place showing in the 300-meter hurdles (41.19).

“I kind of wished I went out stronger, but I really picked it up towards the end and almost caught the guy in first,” said Kendall following his 200. “Last year, my mindset going into this was that I couldn’t compete with them. Now that I know I physically can, it makes it ten times easier.”

On a day where the weather was perfect, surrounded by the serene setting of Lock Haven’s Glen Allison Track and Field Complex, the area’s track and field teams put on an excellent showing. With postseason looming around the corner, we’re seeing more of what these teams and athletes could be capable of down the stretch.

TEAM KEY: Alt–Altoona; BEA–Bald Eagle Area; Blf–Bellefonte; CC–Cameron County; CM–Central Mountain; Dan–Danville; HHS–Hughesville; JS–Jersey Shore; LT–Loyalsock; Mdb–Meadowbrook Christian; MC–Mifflin County; Mlt–Milton; Mtv–Montoursville; MCA–Mount Carmel; Pnx–Punxsutawney; SJC–St. Joseph’s Catholic; SM–St. Mary’s; SW–South Williamsport; SC–State College; WR–Warrior Run; Wlm–Williamson; WAHS–Williamsport

BOYS RESULTS

100: 1. Jesse Myers, SC, 10.60*; 2. Myka Simmons, MC, 10.91; 3. Jordan Donahay, CM, 11.18; 4. Nate Alexander, SC, 11.22; 5. Ben Reynolds, SM, 11.26; 6. Umar Starks, WAHS, 11.36; 7. Brodie Herr, JS, 11.49; 8. ANthony Lewis, LT, 11.49.

110 hurdles: 1. Niquis Coleman, WAHS, 15.80; 2. David Brown, SC, 15.91; 3. Andrew Nguyen, MCA, 16.01; 4. Rocco Pacifico, Alt, 16.70; 5. Kye Diakite, WAHS, 17.12; 6. Cooper Weaver, MCA, 17.27; 7. Sawyer Hall, Pnx, 17.35; 8. Gavin Hunter, WR, 17.46.

200: 1. Jesse Myers, SC, 21.51*; 2. Myka Simmons, MC, 22.25; 3. Xaiver DIaz, MCA, 22.35; 4. Ben Reynolds, SM, 22.92; 5. Nate Alexander, SC, 22.99; 6. Umar Starks, WAHS, 23.04; 7. Jordan Donahay, CM, 23.08; 8. Nathaniel Woods, WAHS, 23.18.

300 hurdles: 1. Niquis Coleman, WAHS, 40.19; 2. David Brown, SC, 40.75; 3. Zack Kendall, JS, 41.19; 4. Beau Taylor, BEA, 41.68; 5. Skylar Simpson, Dan, 42.64; 6. Kye Diakite, WAHS, 42.75; 7. Andrew Nguyen, MCA< 42.78; 8. Jonathan Moeny, SC, 43.18. 400: 1. Garrett Bartlebaugh, Pnx, 51.72; 2. Zack Kendall, JS, 51.74; 3. Billy Rishel, MCA, 52.29; 4. Ryan Lingg, LT, 52.99; 5. Sam Wible, CM, 53.09; 6. Henry Adams, SC, 53.56; 7. Sean Frey, Mtv, 53.67; 8. Nathaniel Woods, WAHS, 53.70. 800: 1. Owen Coughlin, SC, 2:00.18; 2. Shea McCusker, HHS, 2:00.20; 3. Tylor Druckemiller, MC, 2:02.73; 4. Ryan Caldwell, SC, 2:03.15; 5. Jacob Nedimyer, SM, 2:03.75; 6. Pence Kieser, WAHS, 2:05.73; 7. Justin Bossler, Alt, 2:05.98; 8. Gavin Grieco, LT, 2:06.15. 1,600: 1. Carter Smith, MC, 4:17.86*; 2. Owen Coughlin, SC, 4:19.89*; 3. Alexander Crist, Blf, 4:20.58*; 4. Dan Spahr, Dan, 4:24.64; 5. Kristian Mizdail, Wlm, 4:24.99; 6. Jacob Nedimyer, SM, 4:26.72; 7. Stephen Fowler, SC, 4:26.73; 8. Theo Oppermann, SC, 4:29.09. 3,200: 1. Ryan Bickhart, Mlt, 9:47.70; 2. Kristian Mizdail, Wlm, 9:53.44; 3. Adam Gallo, Dan, 9:53.95; 4. Brandon Henry, SM, 9:58.87; 5. Tyce Shaner, HHS, 10:03.29; 6. Griffin Selber, SC, 10:12.58; 7. Wyatt Laubacher, HHS, 10:15.04; 8. Caden Bell, MC, 10:16.67. 2,000 steeplechase: 1. David Kunselman, Pnx, 6:37.94; 2. Colin Simander, SJC, 6:39.59; 3. Avery Selber, SC, 6:46.31; 4. Miles Ballard, SC, 6:58.73; 5. Cashlin Rogers, WAHS, 7:00.39; 6. Jonathan Jewett (unattached), 7:03.41; 7. Steven Lingg, LT, 7:04.38; 8. Chris Setree, Pnx, 7:18.50. 400 relay: 1. Mount Carmel, 43.59; 2. Mifflin County, 44.32; 3. Jersey Shore, 44.52; 4. State College, 44.53; 5. St. Mary's, 44.81; 6. Hughesville, 45.33; 7. Milton, 45.96; 8. Danville, 46.03. 1,600 relay: 1. Mifflin County, 3:28.79; 2. Mount Carmel, 3:29.60; 3. Milton, 3:32.58; 4. State College, 3:33.27; 5. St. Mary's, 3:33.52; 6. Montoursville, 3:34.38; 7. Jersey Shore, 3:43.19; 8. Central Mountain, 3:43.53. 3,200 relay: 1. Mifflin County, 8:08.04; 2. Williamsport, 8:12.30; 3. State College, 8:18.85; 4. Altoona, 8:26.27; 5. Hughesville, 8:36.17; 6. Mount Carmel, 8:47.78; 7. Milton, 8:54.77; 8. Central Mountain, 9:06.95. High jump: 1. Josie Younkin, SC, 5-2; 2. Kenzie Wilt, Alt, 5-2; 3. Isabelle Morrow, WAHS, 4-0; t-4. Maddy Hall, LT, 4-10; t-4. Najiyah Smith, WAHS, 4-10; t-6. Hannah Fourspring, MCA, 4-10; t-6. Liz Schrock, Mlt, 4-10; t-8. Jenine Ghayyada, LT, 4-10; t-8. Alyson Huhges, LT, 4-10. Long jump: 1. Umar Starks, WAHS, 23-8*; 2. Charles Wright, Mlt, 23-6*; 3. Dylan Scheller, SW, 21-3 1/2; 4. Ben Reynolds, SM, 21-2 1/2; 5. Billy Newman, CM, 20-11 3/4; 6. Cole Rhodes, Mlt, 20-8; 7. Andrew Field, SM, 20-1 3/4; 8. Ethan Hamilton, Mlt, 20-1 1/2. Triple jump: 1. Aiden Everett, WAHS, 42-8 1/4; 2. Adam Manners, Pnx, 42-4 3/4; 3. Hobi Forti, MCA, 42-4 1/4; 4. Dylan Scheller, SW, 41-6; 5. Ethan Plank, MC, 41-1; 6. Jude Lazicki, MCA, 41-0 1/4; 7. Shaw Simpson, Mtv, 40-8 1/4; 8. Isaiah Brinker, CM, 40-0 1/2. Pole vault: 1. Adam Bell, SC, 14-0; 2. Isaac Butler, WR, 12-6; 3. Kade Ficks, Mlt, 12-0; 4. Indigo Koch, WAHS, 12-0; 5. Ben Miller, MCA, 11-6; 6. Keagan Smith, HHS, 11-6; t-7. Maksim Kronin, BEA, 11-0; t-7. Conor Knight, HHS, 11-0; t-7. Jason McAnany, SM, 11-0. Javelin: 1. Conner Snyder, Mlt, 178-5; 2. Nathan Haas, SC, 173-4; 3. Collin Geise, Dan, 165-7; 4. Nariq Burks, WAHS, 165-7; 5. Jack Fortin, SW, 161-8; 6. Henry Smith, SC, 153-3; 7. Noah Kemmerer, Mtv, 140-7; 8. Jonathan Hughes, CM, 138-8. Shot put: 1. Bron Mosley, Alt, 55-11; 2. Logan Dawes, CM, 50-2; 3. Nariq Burks, WAHS, 47-3 1/2; 4. Jeremiah Johnson, LT, 45-9 1/4; 5. Nathan Haas, SC, 45-7 3/4; 6. Calvin Troutman, Alt, 44-11 3/4; 7. Cordoza Minor, WAHS, 44-10 3/4; 8. Matthew Grusky, Pnx, 44-0 1/2. Discus: 1. Nathan Haas, SC, 165-11; 2. Andrew Pak-Blyzniuk, SC, 149-5; 3. Nate Fisher, Mtv, 139-3; 4. Troy Raup, Dan, 135-2; 5. Matthew Grusky, Pnx, 132-11; 6. Cooper Bottorf, CM, 130-7; 7. Greg Poole, Pnx, 129-8; 8. Logan Dawes, CM, 128-0. * -- meet record