JON GERARDI/Sun-Gazette Lewisburg’s Lydia Delsite poses with her gold medal after winning the District 4 title in the triple jump. Delsite is heading to states in two events: the long and triple jumps. Both events will be competed on Saturday.

MILTON — A trip to Shippensburg to compete in the PIAA track and field championships had eluded Lewisburg’s Lydia Delsite in year’s past. She was a talented jumper, having competed the past few seasons in the high jump, triple jump and long jump, but wasn’t able to win district gold or secure a spot to Shippensburg.

This past week at the District 4 championships, that all changed for the Green Dragon.

Not only is she going to states, she’s going in two events.

“It means a lot, I’m so excited about it,” Delsite said about winning triple jump gold to go to states. “This is season-best for me as well. I’m just hoping for a big step next week as well.”

Delsite won gold this year in Class AA at districts in the triple jump and long jumps. In the long jump, Delsite had a jump of 17 feet, 9 3/4 inches to win gold over Madalynn Bailey of Williamson, who was a silver medalist with a leap of 16-10 3/4. In the triple jump, Delsite cleared 38-5 3/4 to win gold, beating out Mifflinburg’s Parice Shuck who jumped 36-11 3/4.

“I’m very happy about (my long jump Thursday). It wasn’t a season best for long jump, but I know that it was a big jump and I think I won by a good bit, pretty happy about that,” Delsite said. “To be able to win both is amazing. Next week is going to be great because I’m in the fifth flight and hopefully perform the same way and do well.”

The district competition helped Delsite do well and hit her marks.

“It really helps a lot. The girl who took second she’s very good and that jump, that pushed me because I really needed to pull out a big jump to win,” Delsite said of Bailey. “So the competition makes it way better and will make it so much better for next week as well.”

The Green Dragon is seeded 11th in the Class AA long jump with her leap of 17-9 3/4. The top three seeded athletes all cleared 19 in Mid-Valley’s Olivia Thomas (19-5), West Catholic’s Amarah Crabbe (19-4 1/2) and Kutztown’s Clara Engel (19-2 3/4). If Delsite can break 18 feet, she would have a solid chance of the podium.

In the triple jump, Delsite has the fourth-best jump in the state with her district-winning leap of 38-5 3/4. The only athletes who jumped further at districts this year was Mid Valley’s Thomas (40-10 3/4), Grove City’s Milena Sciullo (40-2) and Winchester Thurston’s Alexis Bansah (38-9 1/2).

Delsite will compete in the long jump on Thursday and the triple jump on Saturday.

Delsite has proven she competes well when she’s surrounded by talented athletes, so the state’s best will no doubt push the Green Dragon to be at her best.

“I think it definitely helps (at states). The competition just makes me boost my spirits and helps me get my adrenaline up,” Delsite said. “It will help me jump even further than I did today.”

And if that happens, expect to see Delsite on the podium.