Foster Gets Edge in 3200

When Ephrata’s Andrew Foster and Conestoga Valley’s Nathan Grucelski had 200 meters to go in their race, it looked nothing like a distance run.

In fact, the casual observer at Friday’s first day of the Lancaster-Lebanon League boys track championships may have thought they were watching a 400 dash instead of the 3,200 run.

The two juniors, close all race, were in a fullbore sprint in their final turns at Hempfield.

Grucelski, the top seed entering the race, edged in front. However, Foster, who had been training for this spot all year, managed to move past his opponent for the win. Foster, ranked ninth coming in, extended his arms high after running a 9:28.80 for gold.

“A lot of our training, the coaches help push us hard,” he said afterward. “We’ve got a bunch of guys that run together and with the 800 and 4x800, I have been working on a lot of speed. I already had the endurance, I just knew I had to use all I had.”

It was a three-man race, with Foster and Grucelski battling Ian Miller of Manheim Township. Miller even grabbed the lead for two laps late, until Foster surged to the front at the bell.

“I knew the guys were all good. I knew it would be a strong race and a fight to the finish,” said

Foster, who dropped 15 seconds from his previous best time at last year’s L-L meet. “I was just kind of dialed in. Last year I got fourth and the three guys in front of me all graduated, so I knew I had to go this year.”

Of course, the amazing result was one of two victories for the Mountaineers out of only four events completed on Day 1.

Ephrata teammate Elie Basenga watched Foster while waiting to take the medal stand for his high jump championship.

“I was shocked,” Basenga said. “I was screaming and was so proud of him. It’s a good time to be a kid from Ephrata.”

Although not thrilled with his day — which finished with a top jump of 6-foot-4 inches — Basenga is certainly happy with gold.

“I was expecting more. The hurdles kind of messed up my ankle, but I got first place and I am proud of myself,” he said. “Everyone was expecting a lot from me today. A lot of people came to watch, therefore I knew I had to do good. I didn’t want to let them down. Having people tell you that you can do it really helps a lot.”

Conestoga Valley’s Joe Cardina was second and Tanner Haines of Warwick placed third.

Another top seed, Ezra Mellinger of Lampeter-Strasburg, nearly exacted his entry distance to win the long jump competition. Mellinger jumped 23 feet, 1.5 inches, only one inch off his seed.

Mellinger overcame a rocky start for a five-inch winning margin on Conestoga Valley’s Jose Barbon. Manheim Township’s Titan Cox was third.

“My second and third jumps in the prelims were a little rough. I fouled both of them, but they were good jumps,” Mellinger said. “Then I got it together in the finals and put a 23 out there. That is what my goal is and to stay consistent with it, I was pretty pleased with it.”

The junior admitted to keeping a casual eye on what the others were doing.

“If it starts to get in your head and you can’t focus, then it’s good to ignore it,” he said. “But it’s great to see what they are jumping because that builds competition, and competition is the best thing.”

The first athlete to climb atop the podium Friday was Penn Manor’s

Alex Scheivert, who dominated the javelin competition with a toss of 209-9.

“The first throw felt great. The whole series went pretty well, better than expected,” Scheivert said. “Obviously there is always something you can fix when it comes to javelin. Next week (at the District Three Class 3A championships) we are going to come out guns ablazing.”

Scheivert didn’t think about entering as the top seed, and his throw not only bested his entry by three feet, but was exactly 17 feet farther than that of Josh Eidenmiller’s second-place finish.

“I just don’t let it affect me,” he said. “I come in and do what I do and warm up the same way every time before every meet.”

Cedar Crest’s Tanner Miller came in third.

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