First in the 110 hurdles. Then in the 100. Once again in the 1,600.

It set the tone early on for Hughesville’s success and was a hint at what would come later in the afternoon as Hughesville’s boys track and field team claimed the District 4 team title in Class AA on Saturday.

“We were expecting a victory if we all run what we need to,” Hughesville hurdler Kaviko Faulner noted. “Maybe a few PRs here and there, but we all put in the work over the season.”

It all paid dividends at Milton.

The runners in the last leg of the boys 4x400m race get the handoff from team mates during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Faulkner was one of two Spartans to claim two individual wins alongside Tyce Shaner. Hughesville won the team title with 118 points, beating out Danville (82) and Mount Carmel (71.5), who took second and third, respectively.

In the 110 hurdles to open the day, Faulkner ran a time of 14.98 seconds and had to run fast against teammate Brendan Woflgang, as Faulkner won by just 0.01 seconds over Wolfgang in an outstanding race down the stretch in the final few meters.

“Oh yeah, definitely (felt him nearby). I’d say second hurdle I was a little high, just barely, but felt the effects in race,” Faulkner said. “I was focused on chasing down and who was ahead of me. When we got to finish line, we had no idea who won. It was very exhilarating.”

It gave fans a good race to cheer for as well.

Later, Faulkner ran a 39.17 to win gold in the 300 hurdles event, beating Tanner Regan of Central Columbia by nearly a second. Wolfgang would claim bronze in that event in 40.77.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Athletes stand on the podium after the 200 in Class AA.

“It means I put in the work and I showed the benefits of it. I’m very happy I was able to run the times I did with all the people pushing me,” Faulkner said. “My teammate Brendan, he pushed me a lot, my coaches push me a lot. Those people are always there helping me making sure I’m all right. It really helps me.”

Shaner ran a time of 4:18.90 to win the mile, beating Northwest’s Michael Fritz by just under two seconds and Lewisburg’s Hugh Ikeda Shields, who ran a 4:21.38. That 1,600 event saw the top seven finishers all qualify for states including fourth-place finisher Wyatt Laubacher of Hughesville (4:24.26), fifth-place finisher Lawrence Halbfoerster of Canton (4:24.53), sixth-place finisher Henry Whitney of Wellsboro (4:24.63) and seventh-place finisher Michael Knefley of North Penn-Mansfield (4:24.67).

Shaner would then win the 800 later in the afternoon with a time of 1:57.70. Teammate Tristan Kurzawa finished with silver as he ran a 1:59.20, tying for second with Danville’s Wyatt Brady. Hughesville’s Patrick Stine was a fourth-place finisher in 1:59.32.

Spencer Stine claimed gold in the 100 as he finished in 11.02, beating out Landen Murray of Mifflinburg by 0.04 seconds and Loyalsock’s Danny Dowell in 0.07 seconds as it was a photo finish with the top-3 in the event.

For Dowell, he may not have taken gold, but he still ran a state-qualifying standard to head to the state meet, something the Lancer is happy with.

Tyce Shaner of Hughesville competes in the 1600m event during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It means a lot. The whole season long that’s our goal and that’s what we want to do,” Dowell noted. “It’s our training, our coach has us in a great program to make us peak leading up to states. It’s what we work for all year, so it’s good.”

Dowell didn’t PR, but the competition helped him reach the time he did.

“I had some faster times (earlier this year), but I also have not been doing good the past couple of weeks, so it feels good to get back to where I was at,” Dowell said. “Hopefully I can improve that time for next week.”

Hughesville would claim silver in the 400 relay with a time of 43.32 with the team of Sam Haddon, Spencer Stine, James Smith and Carter Gormont. They were just 0.28 seconds behind Danville’s gold-medal winning team. The Spartans also saw success in the 1,600 relay team as Faulkner, Haddon, Sherwood and Stine ran a 3:25.26 to take silver, roughly a second behind Warrior Run’s gold-medal winning team of Braego Cieslukowski, Max Fogleman, Gidoen Kennl and Ori Kennel. Both Spartan relay teams are state bound by taking second in Class AA competition.

Stine would take silver in the 200 as he ran a solid time of 23.10, just roughly 0.30 seconds behind Danville’s Zavia Pryce, who ran a 28.83 to win gold. 

Runners take their first strides in the second heat of the boys 1600m race during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

In the field events, Milton’s Cole Rhodes took bronze in the triple jump by leaping 43 feet and Lewisburg’s Rebira Jemama took fourth 42-8 1/2). Wellsboro’s David Seeling was fifth by jumping 41-10 3/4.

In the high jump, North Penn-Mansfield’s Colton Pellett won by clearing 6-3. Wellsboro’s David Seeling cleared 6-3 to take third, Luke Kreger of Mansfield cleared 6-3 for fourth and Montgomery’s Jace Hanford was a sixth-place finisher with a height of 6-1. Jemama took eighth (6-1).

Warrior Run’s Ryan Kemock took silver in the pole vault with a height of 13-0, six inches behind winner Jonathan Earle of Wyalusing. Lucas Shearer of Milton tied for fourth with a height of 11-0, tying Mount Carmel’s Jonathan Rishel and Williamson’s Troy Madison

Tyce Shaner of Hughesville wins the boys 800m race during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kaviko Faulkner of Hughesville clears the final hurdle in the 300m hurdle race during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette