JEFF FISHBEIN
For The Tribune-Democrat
ALTOONA —
Johnstown’s two best hopes were denied a trip to Shippensburg at the District 6 Class AAA track and field championships Thursday at Mansion Park.
Isaiah Haselrig, who was tied with four other jumpers for the second seed in the boys high jump, ended up in third place with a best height of 5 feet, 11 inches, which was an inch shy of his season best and 6 inches below the state number.
He cleared one at 5-9 that seemed it might have been well more than 6 feet, but couldn’t reproduce the effort later. A foul on his last round on a somewhat sandy approach may have contributed to his premature ending.
“I did slip,” said the sophomore, who is confident he will be back. “I wanted to go to states, but it was all right for now.”
Tyneshia Smith also was a second seed for the Trojans in the shot put, but finished sixth in a pack of hurlers who were stalled near 32 feet. Her best performance may have been in the 400-meter relay, turning in a third-leg sprint that lifted the team from near the back of the pack to bronze status.
“I’ve run the 100 before. Maybe I can run it next year,” the junior said with a smile.
Other placewinners for Johnstown included senior LaQuinn Stephens-Howling, fifth in the boys 100; Daniel Shalom, fourth in boys javelin; Victoria Smothers, sixth in the girls 100; the boys 400 relay squad, which also finished third; a fifth-place result for the girls 400 relay; and Missy Ravida, who was eighth in the javelin.
