SHIPPENSBURG — Senior Camryn Kiser and sophomore J.J. Kelly of Chambersburg are off to excellent starts at the District 3 Track & Field Championships.

At Shippensburg University on Friday afternoon, Kiser pulled away late to win the girls Class 3A 3200 race, while Kelly hit his longest-ever triple jump to win that event by a large margin.

Camryn Kiser

They will go at it again Saturday — Kiser in the 1600, in which she has the best previous time, and Kelly in the high jump (seeded No. 1), long jump (seeded No. 2) and 4 x 100 relay (the Trojans are seeded No. 1).

“That was an impressive race,” Chambersburg girls coach Chris Monheim said of Kiser’s win. “Some of the coaches and I were talking about it not being a good day because of all the wind, but the times were really good.”

Kiser won in a time of 10:44.50 and the runner-up was Greencastle-Antrim’s Claire Paci in 10:48.82.

Monheim said, “Camy took the lead with several laps to go and I told her to just relax a little. Then she pulled away at the beginning of the last lap. I was not surprised with her finish. She hadn’t really been tested in the 32 this year and I thought she’d respond well.”

Even better for the Trojans — junior Lexi Boyd produced her best time by 15 seconds (11:09.32), finished seventh in the race and qualified for states by less than a second.

Jai’tavius Kelly

Trojan boys coach Bob Walker had an inkling that Kelly was going to do well.

“He looked pretty good right off the bat in the warmups; he looked like his legs were lively,” Walker said.

Kelly proved it by leaping 48-1.25 on his first jump, which was a quarter inch better than his PIAA-winning jump last spring. On his second, he few even further (49-2), which bettered the District 3 meet record of 48-8.75.

Unfortunately, there was a wind at Kelly’s back and it was enough to disallow the record. He’ll settle for breaking his own school record.

Walker said, “The first time they measured it, it was 49-2.5, but when it’s a possible record they measure again and make sure the tape isn’t twisted or something. It was 49-2, but because the wind exceeded the legal limit, it won’t count as a record.

“Before we started, J.J. walked down to see where he needed to be to get 48 and said, ‘I think I can get out there today.””

Chambersburg’s boys are second in the team standings, one point behind Berks Catholic, which went 1-2 in the shot put. The Trojans also got six points from Sedrick Vessah (3rd in the shot put at 52-6.75) and a point from Ari Snyder (8th in the 3200 in 9:20.74).

Monheim said, “Snyder had a really good field to go against, but with 10 meters to go he made a surge and that got him into states.”

“We have places to get some more points tomorrow,” said Walker.

Jermere Jones qualified for the final in the 110 hurdles with the third-best time (15.08) and Kason Besecker reached the final in the 100 with the third-best effort (11.18). For the girls, Natalia Holmes got into the 100 final with the second-best time (12.56).

Chambersburg’s girls also sit in second place after one day, one point behind Milton Hershey.

For Greencastle, besides Paci’s runner-up effort, Hayden Parks finished seventh in the 3200 in 9:30.69 and Seth Stouffer reached the final of the 200 with a time of 22.48.

Waynesboro’s Jaylon Bean was the triple jump runner-up to Kelly with a 47-7.75 effort, and Shippensburg’s Trae Kater (44-4.25) and Spencer Edey (43-8) finished fourth and fifth in that event.

Competition begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.

District 3 Championships
BOYS
Finals
3200 — 1.Matthew O’Brien (Susquehannock) 8:59.82; 7.Hayden Parks (G-A) 9:30.69; 8.Ari Snyder (Chbg) 9:20.74
Triple jump — 1.J.J. Kelly (Chbg) 49-2; 2.Jaylon Bean (Way) 47-7.75; 4.Trae Kater (Ship) 44-4.25; 5.Spencer Edey (Ship) 43-8
Shot put — 1.Brady Mider (Berks Cath.) 59-2.25; 3.Sedrick Vessah (Chbg) 52-6.75
Pole vault — 1.Breckin Swope (East Pennsboro) 15-9

GIRLS
Finals
3200 — 1.Camryn Kiser (Chbg) 10:44.50; 2.Claire Paci (G-A) 10:48.82; 7.Lexi Boyd (Chbg) 11:09.32
Pole vault — 1.Kate Urbine (Solanco) 13-8 (meet record); 10.(tie) Erica Buchheister (Ship) 10-0
Shot put — 1.Erika Jackson (Harrisburg) 40-4.5
Triple jump — 1.Shaniyah Weidler (Susq. Twp.) 39-2