BY JOBY FAWCETT, Times-Shamrock Writer
Elk Lake’s Mike Bedell leads the pack in the 800 meters at Scranton Memorial Stadium on Monday, trailed by teammate Sean Carney. Bedell took home four gold medals from the District II Class AA championship. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KING
Seven months ago, winning gold medals at the District 2 Class AA Track and Field Championships was the furthest thing from Mike Bedell’s mind.
At that time, the decorated Elk Lake senior distance runner was being put through a battery of physical tests and exams in search of what caused his collapse during the District 2 cross country meet.
Doctors discovered a circulatory condition in his legs, legs that have carried him to great success in his two sports.
Cleared to run in the state cross country meet, he helped lead his team to a title.
And after countless hours and days of training, Monday night also belonged to Bedell.
Montrose’s Jeremy Dibble clears the bar in the pole vault at 12-6 to beat out Susquehanna’s Nick Vales.
Running with the passion of an athlete on a mission, he stood atop the medal stand four times, accepting gold each time.
His effort helped Elk Lake to a second-place finish in the team chase with 94 points.
“I am so happy,” Bedell said. “It was really scary back then. I never wanted a doctor to come in the door and tell me that I could never run again in my life.
“Everything is OK now and I think it made me stronger.”
Holy Redeemer won the team title with 119
Blue Ridge’s Zach Kruger clears a hurdle on his way to a first place finish in the 300 hurdles at 41.04.
points. Blue Ridge finished third with 63 points and Dunmore and GAR tied with 55 points.
But it was Bedell who made a statement from the meet’s first event. Getting off to a fast start, Bedell and teammates Will Bennett, Bryan Grosvenor and Sean Carney won the 3200-meter relay despite bobbling the baton.
Then Bedell got out of the gate quickly and never looked back in winning the 1600.
He added the 800, which is the event he will focus on at the PIAA Championships, winning in 1:58.69.
Montrose’s Jeremy Dibble stands atop the podium for taking gold in the pole vault at 12-6. To his left is Susquehanna’s Nick Vales, who took second with the same height, but more misses. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KING
Finally, with his team trailing in the 1600 relay, Bedell chewed up the deficit and gave the Warriors an insurmountable advantage as Carney, Bennett and Brad Moore took home the gold in 3:28.89.
“I am just living in the moment,” Bedell said. “I don’t think this will set in until the ride home.”
Also contributing to Elk Lake’s effort, Carney added the 400 to his two relay golds.
“I had a great finish and kept my form,” Carney said. “That was only my second open 400 all season, so I am happy.”
Luke Jones gave the Warriors their other champion, winning the 3200 in 9:46.24.
“It was a great experience and it was really fun to run,” Jones said. “I just wanted to get out away from everybody because I am not a really strong sprinter.
“This feels pretty good.”
Blue Ridge’s took first place in the 300 hurdles to lead the Raider boys with a time of 41.04.
Elk Lake’s Sean Carney races his way to helping the Warriors 3200 relay team take first at 8:17.07.
Montrose’s Jeremy Dibble edged out Susquehanna’s Nick Vales in the pole vault with fewer misses and an identical height of 12-6.
Boys Team standings: 1-Holy Redeemer 119, 2-Elk Lake 94, 3-Blue Ridge 63, 4-Dunmore 55, 5-GAR 55, 6-Hanover Area 45, 7-Holy Cross 38, 8-Mid Valley 30, 9-Lakeland 29.5, 10-Western Wayne 28, 11-Montrose 25, 12-Meyers 24.5, 13-Riverside 21, 14-Northwest 18, 15-Lake-Lehman 18, 16-Carbondale 12, 17-Nanticoke 11, 18-Susquehanna 8, 19-Lackawanna Trail 7.
Warrior Luke Jones runs in the 3200 on his way to a first place finish in 9:46.24. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KING
HIGH JUMP: Montrose’s Cole Wheaton took third at 5-10, behind top finisher Jake Padula of Dunmore. Jason Vermeulen of Elk Lake took sixth at 5-6; EL’s Jeremy Scwartztrauber took eighth at 5-4.
DISCUS: Blue Ridge’s Eric Onyon took second at 146-11 behind top finisher Martin Steve of Hanover. EL’s Mark Bush took sixth at 131-7
3200 RELAY: Elk Lake’s team of Will Bennett, Bryan Grosvenor, Sean Carney and Mike Bedell took first at 8:17.07.
JAVELIN: Blue Ridge’s Dan Kempa took third at 162-9 behind top finisher Tom DeBlasio of Mid Valley. Joe Woolcock of Elk Lake took fourth at 156-6; Montrose’s Kurt Kimsey took fifth at 153-2; Montrose’s John Lawson was eighth at 143-6.
110 HURDLES: Blue Ridge’s Zach Kruger took third at 15.39 behind first place Darrell Crawford of GAR at 15.14.
LONG JUMP: Jason Vermeulen of Elk Lake took second at 20-7.75, eight inches behind GAR’s Darrell Crawford. Montrose’s Cole Wheaton took sixth at 19-7.5.
100: Blue Ridge’s Dan Kempa was third at 11.32 behind top finisher Seth Tarselli of Holy Redeemer at 10.99.
1600: Mike Bedell of Elk Lake took first at 4:22.78.
400: Sean Carney of Elk Lake took first at 50.39. EL’s Brad Moore took fourth at 51.91;
POLE VAULT: Jeremy Dibble of Montrose took first place at 12-6 (fewer misses) over Susquehanna’s Nick Vales in second at 12-6. Jeremy Schwartzrauber of Elk Lake took fourth at 11-6; Blue Ridge’s Zachary Edwards was seventh at 11-0.
TRIPLE JUMP: Joe Woolcock of Elk Lake took sixth at 40-5.25, five feet behind GAR’s Darrell Crawford.
400 RELAY: Blue Ridge took second at 44.34 behind Holy Redeemer at 43.48.
300 HURDLES: Zach Kruger took first place overall at 41.04.
SHOT: Blue Ridge’s Eric Onyon finished in second place at 47-3.5 behind Hanover’s Tony Dennis at 51-7.75.
800: Mike Bedell of Elk Lake took first at 1:58.69; EL’s Sean Carney took sixth at 2:06.44.
3200: Luke Jones of Elk lake took first at 9:46.24; Blue Ridge’s Jake Hinkley placed seventh at 10:27.65.
1600 RELAY: Elk Lake’s team of Brad Moore, Will Bennett, Mike Bedell and Sean Carney took first at 3:28.89. Blue Ridge was fifth at 3:35.35.
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