Lyons, Gehr close out fine seasons

Ephrata's Brynn Lyons and Gabby Gehr made their respective State Track Meet debuts this past Friday at Shippensburg University.

For the junior Lyons, it was an opportunity to show off her ever-improving talent in the javelin after garnering an L-L gold medal and a silver at the District Three Meet one week earlier.

As for Gehr, a freshman, it was her chance to measure up against some of the finest long jumpers in the state, a week after breaking a 28-year old school record on her way to a third-place finish at Districts.

Well, when the dust settled late Friday afternoon, neither local athlete was able to duplicate their performances of the last two weeks. But what they did do is gain valuable experience for next year when they will no doubt be considered favorites to return to the PIAA State Meet.

"That's what I told them both," Ephrata Coach John Keller said Tuesday. "It was a great experience for them, they are both underclassmen, and should the opportunity arise again, they can use this experience to draw from. Take nothing away from them, they both had great seasons."

Unfortunately, Friday wasn't one of their best days. Lyons, who threw a season best 119-11 last week at Districts, couldn't come close to matching that. Her best throw of the day was 100-01 which placed her 26th overall in an event won by Northampton's Laura Rycek, who threw 144-01.

As for Gehr, who was seeded ninth in the long jump heading into the meet, she placed 16th overall with a best leap of 16-09. Ryann Krais of Methacton captured gold with a jump of 18-07.75.

"Well, it was a tough meet for the girls," Keller said of his two athletes. "When you get to the level of the State Meet, even an average day makes it very difficult."

"I don't know that it was any one thing," he continued. "I think just being at the State Meet for the first time, seeing the quality of the athletes that are around you can be intimidating. It's something going in I tried to make them aware of, but it's different when you are actually there."