The loud bang of the starter’s pistol has become a familiar sound for juniors Lily DiCola and Molly Donladson, the two representatives at the PIAA Track and Field Championship. The journey to qualify for such a selective event is no easy feat.
Before even reaching the state championship, one must surpass league meets and qualify for district championships. Lily placed first in the 3200-meter run at districts, and Molly—a shot-putter—placed fifth.
The state championship, hosted at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium, began on Friday, May 25, and concluded on Saturday after two days of events.
When the pair arrived at the dorms, they were prepared for a fun experience while still prioritizing the competition. “Lily and I made a lot of fun memories because competing was only a part of the time we spent at Shippensburg,” Molly said. “We were able to go out to dinner both nights that we were there. We went on a walk on one of the trails on campus. We both competed early in the morning, so we made sure to get a good 8-10 hours of sleep to help our bodies be ready to compete.”
Having gone on a five-mile run two days prior to her race, Lily’s physical preparation was over, and it was all about resting and being mentally prepared. When participating in such a strenuous event, conserving energy was the key to her success. On Friday, Lily went to the stadium to watch Molly compete but spent the rest of the day resting. By Saturday, her big day, she was charged up and ready to go.
Molly ended up throwing 34’ 2” and placed 19th in the state. “I felt like I could’ve done better but it was also a big accomplishment being able to qualify for the state meet as a junior. It gave me me a sense of what is to come next year,” Molly said. “I was about 2’6” off of the Nationals mark, so I hope to meet that standard next year and make it one step further.”
In the 3200, Lily finished in seventh place with a time of 10:48.62. Reflecting on her performance, Lily was critical but motivated: “[This time] was okay for me. My [personal record] is 10:39, and I think that—if it were a better day— I could run a lot faster, It was very hot, and I wasn’t really focused on time too much.”
With this ranking, Lily will head to the High School National Championship on June 13, where she will have the opportunity to compete against some of the best athletes in the country. Here, Lily plans to switch it up a bit. Instead of sticking with the 3200, she plans to run the 5K, a longer run done at night. “The 5K is the longest you can run in high school… it’s more of what I like to do,” Lily said.
At the Hatters Track and Field banquet, Lily and Molly were deemed co-MVPs for their impressive accolades collected throughout the season.
