What wasn’t there to smile about?

“It means a lot. I do think that was the exact same time as last year, I think by hundredths of a second, thousandths or something?” Temple said.

Be it a hundredth of a second or a thousandth, a record’s still a record and Temple is still the best 300 hurdler in the district. The Spartan absolutely dominated the event, running a 43.67 and winning the event by more than three seconds as no one was closer to her once she got around the bend and was on the stretch toward the finish line.

“Not having anyone to run against kind of sucked, but that’s how it’s been all year, so it helps me push through at the end of my race not being able to chase someone,” Temple said. “Just being able to come out here and hit that time. My 43s have been a little less consistent this year than I would have liked, but to come out and do that at districts is really encouraging as I go to states.”

Kylie Temple runs after getting the hand off from Grace Fortin of Hughesville during the 4x800m during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kylie Temple ended the District 4 Class AA track and field competition with not only a gold in the 300 hurdles, but was part of all three of Hughesville’s relay teams who won district gold and qualified for the state tournament. Her sister Katelyn followed suit, as Katelyn won gold in the 400 and was part of those three relay teams as well.

Hughesville had an outstanding performance overall, scoring 93 points and took second in the team race behind only Lewisburg. The Green Dragons helped solidify the team title race thanks to a number of podium trips in field events while Hughesville seemingly dominated the track portion with multiple top-8 medalists.

The two schools went back and forth throughout the day in the team race.

In the 400 relay, Kylie Temple ran with Sierra DeWire, Casey Schultz and Katelyn Temple to win in 48.47, edging out Mifflinburg by almost a second. In the 1,600 relay to close out the day, Kylie Temple got the final handoff and does what she does best: use her speed to gain distance and never look back. Kylie Temple got the baton from Grace Fortin and was gone en route to running a 3:59.27, the only Class AA girls team on Saturday to break four minutes as they beat Lewisburg’s Katherine Batkowski, Annika Shields, Baylee Espinosa and Madison Moyers who ran a 4:04.96 for second. That 1,600 Spartan team consisted of DeWire, Katelyn Temple and Fortin.

“Our 4 by 8, we have not run our full team at all. It’s my fifth time running the 800 and my sister ran it for a second time at states, to do it together and get a district record and PR’ing by so much was so encouraging to see especially after 400 meters. We didn’t have anyone to run against,” Temple said. “In the 4 by 1, we PR’d by over a second and it was finally a race where we had all good handoffs and everyone at full speed. We’ve been struggling with that a little bit this year.”

Piper Hoprich of Wellsboro wins the girls 200m during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The relay teams and Temple’s success were just part of Hughesville’s solid performance. Grace Fortin claimed a win in the 800 in 2:16.44 as she beat Lewisburg’s Annika Shields who ran a 2:18.53 and Williamson’s Madalynn Bailey (2:19.19) as all three qualified for the state meet.

Katelyn Temple ran a 57.23 to win district gold in the 400, beating out Natalie Hall of Warrior Run who ran a 58.07 to take silver in a good race.

In the 100 and 200, Hughesville’s Casey Schultz qualified for states thanks to taking silver in both. She trailed only Wellsboro standout Piper Hoprich. In the 100, Schultz ran a 12.66 as Hoprich won in 12.17 and in the 200, Schultz finished the race in 26.70 as Hoprich ran a 25.22 to win.

Espinosa, who had Lewisburg in good position on the final baton handoff in the 1,600 relay, would claim another district title in the Class AA 1,600 on Saturday, breaking the district record which she held from a year prior. Espinosa ran a 4:55.30 to win the title and reclaim the record, winning by five seconds over Wellsboro’s Lauren Kosek.

“Getting these records, it means so much when it’s done. I can’t believe it, but records come and go,” Espinosa said with her gold medal around her neck. “Some stay, some go, but it’s something that’s really cool when it lines up and to be able to do some things that six weeks ago, I wouldn’t believe you (if you said I’d be in this position).”

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

Like Hughesville, Lewisburg had a number of athletes reach the podium throughout Saturday’s competition.

Lydia Delsite claimed a gold medal in the triple jump two days after winning the long jump. Delsite jumped 38 feet, 5 3/4 inches to win gold Saturday.

“It means a lot, I’m so excited about it,” Delsite said. “This is season best for me as well. I’m just hoping for a big step next week as well.”

Delsite won the event thanks to her fourth jump, the first of the finals.

“I could have performed a little bit better (in the high jump), but it made me all that more excited to try the triple jump today. I’m pretty happy (to have won both triple and long jumps).”

JON GERARDI/Sun-Gazette Lewisburg's Lydia Delsite won district gold in the girls Class AA triple jump on Saturday.

Delsite tied for fourth in the high jump with a height of 5-0. Lewisburg’s Gwynn Rowe qualified for states in the shot put by placing third and she hit a state-qualifying mark of 37-6.

Ella Vance of Lewisburg won silver in the javelin with a throw of 122-6 as Towanda’s Bryn Woodruff finished first (124-4). Lewisburg’s Teagun Osunde threw 120-11, just one inch shy of qualifying for the state meet as she finished with bronze.

Katherine Batkowski was a bronze medalist in the 300 hurdles in 47.44. Montgomery’s Selah Persing took fifth in the event in 48.21 and Hughesville’s Sadie Turnbow was seventh in 48.85. Brooke Knoebel of Montgomery took eighth (48.87). Milton’s Evalynn Keister (47.45) took fourth and Isla Twoey of Wellsboro was sixth (48.27). The only non-local athlete in the 300 hurdles to reach the podium was Brenyn Wasielewski of Bloomsburg, who took silver.

Lewisburg’s Annika Shields took silver in the 800 behind Fortin as she ran a 2:15.53. Emelia Wolfe of Hughesville took fifth (2:23.98) and Lewisburg’s Claire Driver was sixth in 2:24.84. Milton’s Adelyn Bush was seventh (2:24.99) and Katie Zaktansky of Warrior Run took eighth in 2:26.53.

Lewisburg’s 400 relay team finished in 50.87 to claim sixth.

JON GERARDI/Sun-Gazette Lewisburg's Baylee Espinosa won repeat gold in the Class AA 1,600 on Saturday. She broke the district record, which she previously held.

Lewisburg’s Maya Sak took fifth in the 1,600 and Kaelyn Bozella was seventh. Madison Moyers was a seventh-place finisher in the 400 and Payton Spigelmyer took eighth. Lewisburg’s Liana Davis finished eighth in the 200.

The podium for the 4x100m relay during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Allie Eberhart of Montoursville makes an attempt during the pole vault during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Katelyn Temple hands off to Grace Fortin of Hughesville during the 4x800m during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Piper Hoprich of Wellsboro wins the girls 200m during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Grace Fortin of Hughesville receives the gold medal after winning the 800m during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Grace Fortin of Hughesville receives the gold medal after winning the 800m during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Grace Fortin wins the 800m race during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kylie Temple of Hughesville wins the 300m hurdles during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Allie Eberhart of Montoursville celebrates her win during the pole vault during the District IV track & field championships at Milton High School Saturday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette