BY JOBY FAWCETT, Times-Shamrock Writer
Elk Lake’s Mike Bedell took seventh overall in the 800 meters at Shippensburg at 1:57.57. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KING
There have been long runs through the cold, wind and rain for the Elk Lake track and field team.
And the athletes who endured it all, did so just for this day.
A day to treasure and reap the rewards for their dedication.
Mike Bedell and Sean Carney led the boys group with a pair of medal-winning efforts. Luke Jones grabbed one, while Bryan Grosvenor and Will Bennett each got one too as part of the 3200-meter relay.
And Cassie VanEtten joined the medal parade representing the girls team.
Their achievements at the PIAA Class AA Track and Field Championships at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University
Elk Lake’s 3200 relay team of, from left, Bryan Grosvenor, Sean Carney, Mike Bedell and Will Bennett, medaled at states with a time of 7:57.99.
capped a rewarding season for the program.
“It was a great season,” said Bedell, who is headed to Campbell University. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.
“I don’t think that it has sunk in that it’s over. My teammates are a little emotional right now, but we did great.”
A challenging day for Bedell included a medal-winning effort in the 800, where he placed seventh in 1:57.57, and running the anchor leg of the 3200 relay.
Quaker Valley’s L.J. Westwood won the 
800 in 1:55.55.
“I wanted to run a little better,” Bedell said. “But it’s a great thing to get a medal.”
In addition to his 3200 relay medal, Carney, who spent most of the season on the injured reserve list nursing a sore hip, took to the track in his specialty, the 400, and grabbed a seventh-place medal, finishing in 50.56 seconds.
Chidi Okezie of New Media won the gold in 48.12.
Warrior Sean Carney took seventh place at 50.56 in the 400 meters at the PIAA Class AA championship in Shippensburg. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KING
“It’s phenomenal,” Carney said. “I mean this is my what, fourth open 400 of the year. I ran one to qualify for districts. One at districts to qualify for states, another Friday to qualify for the final. I think I did pretty good to get a medal, considering the injury and everything.
“I’m thrilled.”
For Jones, he couldn’t have been more surprised when his name got called over the public address system, not once, but twice for him to report to the awards stand.
Still, the sophomore didn’t make it in time to accept his medal in the 3200 with the other winners. But it didn’t spoil his moment in the sun,
Elk Lake’s Luke Jones runs the 3200 meters for the Warriors at the PIAA Class AA championship to take eighth at 9:43.94. PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS MORAHAN
placing eighth with a time of 9:43.94.
John Trueman of Springfield Township won the race in 9:31.66.
“I am shocked,” Jones said. “I worked really hard this season and today in the race. I thought that I got 10th. Now I got a medal. This is amazing.
“All I can say is wow.”
Elk Lake’s 3200 relay of Carney, Bennett, Grosvenor and Bedell were outstanding, leading the race for 2½ laps and posting their season-best time of 7:57.99.
Lewisburg brought home the gold in 7:50.66.
“This feels really good,” Bennett said. “I mean it’s just great.”
It only seemed fitting that the four shared an embrace for one final time after the medal ceremony.
“This is amazing,” Grosvenor said. “It’s really hard to comprehend at times to see what we have accomplished. Being able to grow up with these guys, running around and working to be the fourth-best 3200 relay team in the state.
“It’s just great. We are all best friends.”
And after a personal-best time in the preliminaries Friday, VanEtten followed up with a sixth-place finish in the 400 with a time of 58.22.
“I cannot believe this,” VanEtten said. “I never throught I would make it out of the trials. We have the best coaches. It is great to be a part of this team.
“They have inspired me to do great things as an athlete.”
Blue Ridge’s Allison Hall brought home a fourth place medal in the 800 with a time of 2:16.56.
Also medaling at states was Allison Hall, who coming in with the top time after the preliminaries ran a tough first lap in the 800.
She then came down with another strong sprint to finish fourth in 2:16.56 – the best time of her career.
“I feel really great,” Hall said. “After I had an injury in cross country, I focused on track. I am really happy with my race. I had really bad dead legs at the finish, which means I worked hard.
“That is a good thing.”
Montrose’s Jeremy Dibble took 15th of 23 in the pole vault with a height of 12-6. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KING
OTHER PERFORMANCES
Discus: Eric Onyon (BR), 10 of 23, 143-8.
300 Hurdles: Zach Kruger (BR), 10 of 25, 40.78.
Pole Vault: Katie Drake (BR), 12 of 24 10-0.
1600 Relay: Elk Lake girls, 13 of 30, 4:09.6.
Pole Vault: Jeremy Dibble (MON), 15 of 23, 12-6
Pole Vault: Nick Vales (SUS), 18 of 23, 12-0.
Susquehanna’s Nick Vales also competed in Shippensburg, taking 18th of 23 competitors in the pole vault at 12-0. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KING
400 Relay: Blue Ridge boys, 19 of 25, 44.28.
3200: Maria Trowbridge (EL), 21 of 26, 12:10.57
1600 Relay: Elk Lake boys, 22 of 26, 3:35.29.
Long Jump: Jason Vermeulen (EL), 26 of 27, 19-4.5;
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