Peters Township runner finishes runner-up in PIAA
Sweat dripped down Peters Township senior Nick Wolk’s face as Matt Kravitz sped past him on the eighth and final lap of the 3,200-meter run.
His fate would be determined by the final 400 meters, but Wolk quickly thought of a new plan. He’d use his stamina to hang close and would try to sprint past Kravitz in the final 150 meters.
The crowd stood on its feet and the humidity weighed heavy on the two runners churning their legs with full force in hope of capturing a state championship. Wolk moved within five feet, running at a pace he hadn’t needed all season, but Kravitz, a senior from North Pocono, held on for the gold medal.
Kravitz defeated Wolk, who won the WPIAL title in the event last week, by less than one second Saturday at the PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
“I was right where I wanted to be going into the last lap,” Wolk, who finished in 9:10.25, said. “I wanted it to be a 400 race, but Matt Kravitz went past me really fast. I told myself I’d wait until about 150 out and try to go out and get him, but he was going too fast. My legs couldn’t hear my brain commanding him to move. I really tried.”
Wolk, who won the WPIAL cross country championships last fall, entered the meet as the top seed with a qualifying time almost six seconds faster than Kravitz’s.
The heat and a surprising finish cost him a gold medal. Wolk was pleased to leave Shippensburg with a medal.
“It’s a good end to the season,” Wolk said. ‘I definitely wanted to end the season undefeated, but second place is the closest thing I could get, I guess. I’ll take it.”
Laura Ehrenberger will take her strong showing at states and build upon it. The Peters Township junior took seconds off her best 800 time and qualified for the finals. She finished 10th overall with a 2:14.47 time.
Additionally, Hannah Falcione placed ninth in the triple jump. It was her best jump, plus her leap set a new school record.