PIAA Track Roundup: Miners’ LaPoint calls shot, races to gold in AA 200
Minersville's Paiten LaPoint stands atop the podium after winning the boys' Class AA 200 meters Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University (Photo by Brook Koch-Guers).
SHIPPENSBURG — Paiten LaPoint called his shot.
Then he blasted it out of the park.
As he talked with the media following his silver-medal-winning performance in the Class AA boys’ 100 meters Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships, the Minersville junior made a profound statement: “Well, I’m going to win the 200.”
LaPoint backed up that statement later in the day, winning the gold medal in the 200 in 22.16 seconds.
It was part of a banner day by Schuylkill League track and field athletes, who combined to win 11 top-eight medals, including four golds, on the second day of the two-day state championships at Shippensburg University.
“After getting second in the 100, it lit a fire under me,” LaPoint said after winning the 200. “In the 200 I came out and I was mad. I came around the curve, was fast out the blocks, coasted down the back stretch and finished strong.
“It all came together. I got the gold.”
LaPoint’s blazing effort bested Brandywine Heights’ David Bates (22.29), Mercyhurst Prep’s Vincent Feliciano (22.37) and Brookville’s Hayden Freeman (22.37) to the tape and capped his high school career in perfect style.
Earlier in the day, LaPoint led the 100 meters halfway down the straightaway before Feliciano overtook him on the final 50 meters to win in 10.85.
LaPoint was second in 10.96, with Bates third in 11.10.
“The start is the best part of my race,” LaPoint said after the 100. “I usually get everybody out of the start, then my second part of the race is usually my downfall. I knew that.
“It was an OK race, but I wanted to get first. It was a good race, it didn’t come out like I planned, but I’m still proud.”
LaPoint was fifth in the 100 as a sophomore in 11.05 and third in the 200 in 22.49. He said his climb up the podium in both events was the culmination of a year of hard work.
“It’s just following what my coaches preached and putting in 100 percent in practice,” said the speedster, who plans to run track in college but hasn’t decided on a school yet. “In the end, it all paid off.”
LaPoint was one of three Schuylkill League athletes to garner gold Saturday.
Pine Grove’s Viktorya Luckenbach won both the girls’ 100- and 200-meter dashes, then teamed with Bella Kassab, Aubrey Aungst and Molly Drumheller to take fifth in the Class AA 400 relay. (See related story)
Nativity’s Noah Dolbin captured the boys’ Class AA 110 hurdles, part of a big day that included a bronze in the 300 hurdles and a silver medal in the 1600 relay with Nolan Daynorowicz, Liam Messina and Michael Stank. Dolbin also took third in the long jump Friday.
Saturday, Daynorowicz was ninth in the Class 800, while the Green Wave’s 3200 relay was 13th. For more on Nativity’s day, visit https://www.t102sportsnow.com/2025/05/25/piaa-boys-track-dolbins-big-day-helps-nativity-take-2nd-in-aa-team-race/
In addition to those medals listed above, the Schuylkill League brought home even more hardware:
*** Minersville junior Maggie Hoffman-Long captured fourth in the girls’ AA triple jump with a top jump of 37 feet, 3 inches.
Hoffman-Long’s best jump came on her sixth and final attempt. She posted jumps of 35-2, 36-0.75 and 35-0.5 in the preliminaries to reach the finals, then leaped 35-1.5 and 36-10.75 on her next two jumps.
Quaker Valley’s Jay Olawaiye was first in 38-9.75, followed by Winchester Thurston’s Alexis Bansah (38-7.5) and Carlynton’s Jordynn Carter (38-1.5).
*** Blue Mountain sophomore Chase Guers was seventh in the boys’ Class 3A 200 in 21.87. State College’s Jesse Myers was first in 21.05, with Central Dauphin’s Gabriel Scott second in 21.14.
*** Pottsville junior Alexa Giuffre was seventh in the girls’ Class 3A long jump with a top jump of 18 feet, 2 inches. Souderton’s Destini Smith won the event at 19-11.5.
