With the District 3 track and field championships just two weeks away and the PIAA state finals set for Memorial Day weekend, two Lancaster Catholic athletes are at the pinnacle of Lancaster-Lebanon League standings after posting personal bests in their respective events.
Within the past week, defending state discus champion Margaret Bila threw a personal best 152-1 feet at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia on April 25, and pole vaulter Gabe Hollenbacher cleared a personal best 14-04 feet on home turf during Lancaster Catholic’s tri meet with Columbia and Lancaster Mennonite on April 28.
Both are hitting their strides as the district and state finals loom.
Bila’s throw at the Penn Relays wasn’t just her personal best; the distance earned her fifth place overall and solidified her as the top female American thrower at the prestigious event.
“It was a little nerve-wracking, competing against people from all over,” Bila, a University of Pittsburgh commit, told The Witness after Lancaster Catholic’s tri meet earlier this week, where she posted a 133-08.
After securing gold at the PIAA state championships last year with a throw of 140-6, Bila said she’s aiming for 155 feet this year.
“I’ve been focusing a lot on what I put into my body with my diet. This past year, I’ve focused on getting enough protein every day and being consistent with what I eat,” she said.
“I’m feeling comfortable and I trust my skill, so I’m looking forward to the competition,” Bila said of the upcoming district and state finals.
In pole vaulting, Hollenbacher cleared 14-04 to set a personal best and land himself at the top of Lancaster-Lebanon League standings in the field event. The height also places him fifth in the state.
It’s quite a feat for Hollenbacher, a former track athlete who found his way to the pole vault during his sophomore year.
“As a freshman, I was doing sprints in the 100, 200 and 400 meter races. I really disliked the 400 in particular, so honestly I decided to look for another event to get out of sprinting,” he said. “I found pole vaulting and it was fun for me.”
The senior practices year-round, competing in indoor track and field in the winter and training at the Vaultworx indoor facility in Camp Hill.
“It’s been great setting my new personal bests,” Hollenbacher said after reaching 14-04 during the home meet, which the Crusaders girls and boys won with total scores of 105 and 87, respectively. “I’d like to get to 15 feet for the end of the season. I’m excited about districts and states and looking forward to seeing what I can do there.”
(Photos by Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness.)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
