Hoag, Strausbaugh place at States

Manheim Central freshman Heidi Strausbaugh took seventh place in the Triple-A girls javelin with her throw of 126-11 at the State Track and Field Championships last Friday. (Photo by Preston Whitcraft)

Manheim Central’s Tyler Hoag knew he had more left in the tank in the discus.

His practice throws during the week leading up to the PIAA State Triple-A Track and Field Championships proved it.

Nevertheless, the Baron junior had no complaints after capturing a PIAA sixth-place medal in that event with his throw of 158-8 at Shippensburg University.

The fact that Dominic Marshall, of Hempfield in District Seven, finished fifth by just one inch (158-9) was not a big deal to Hoag.

“Not really,” he said. “I was just hoping to place, so I’m happy with anything … It was a good day. Everything was coming together pretty nicely.”

Things also came together pretty nicely for Manheim Central’s Heidi Strausbaugh, as she took home a PIAA seventh-place medal in the Triple-A girls javelin with her throw of 126-11 on Friday afternoon.

Strausbaugh was one of just three freshmen competing in that event, and the only one to earn State hardware. Corry Area’s Ryann Brundage was 11th (120-6) and Baldwin’s Laurel Bristow finished 20th (114-1).

“From where (Heidi) started to where she ended is a big accomplishment,” Manheim Central head coach Shane Adams said, “so it will be exciting to see the direction that she moves in the future.”

Hoag had been hoping to add to his medal collection on Saturday while competing in the shot put and javelin, but it wasn’t in the cards. He placed 10th in the boys shot put (50-5 1/4) and 13th in the boys javelin (168-2).

“I think we were expecting Tyler to medal in the shot put,” Adams said. “It just wasn’t his day.”

Hoag started off his day in the discus with a solid effort, unleashing a throw of 154-10 on his first attempt in the trials. It was an improvement from his seeding of 153-7.

“I was satisfied,” Hoag remarked. “I knew I could have thrown a little further, so every throw after that, I was just trying to go a little further.”

He did exactly that on his final attempt of the trials, reaching 157-2 to give him the No. 5 seed heading into the finals. There, Hoag finished his series by throwing 158-4 and 158-8 on his final two heaves.

Overall, Hoag hit in the 150’s on four of his six throws.

“I’m happy that I’m pretty consistent,” he said. “That’s pretty big when you come to big meets like this, consistency.”

“It was a good series,” MC throwers coach Mike Wise said. “I thought (Tyler) threw strong and threw well. He knows he has more in him – I think so too. He wasn’t quite finishing like he can. We had a great week of practice. He was really putting some bombs out, so we knew it was in him. He’s thrown over 160 a couple of times this season. I said, ‘If you throw over 160, I know you’ll get a medal. We’re going for a medal. What color, we’ll see when we get there.’”

A year ago, Hoag qualified for States only in the shot put, where he placed 15th at 48-5.

“We’re pleased to come away (with a medal),” Wise said. “He did throw well. Last year, he didn’t even make it here in this event. So to be here in all three (throws) and to medal in the first one of the three, it’s a great start. We’re just pleased.”

Competing for the second straight year in the State shot put, Hoag fouled on his first two attempts in the trials. His third one landed at 50-5 1/4, but Glen Mills’ senior Milton Jones, who ended up fifth 53-8 1/2) bumped Hoag out of the finals. Mills was seeded No. 2 entering the event.

“The third (throw) appeared he was just a little cautious just to get one marked,” Adams recalled. “I think we figured that he would at least be in the top six in the State in the shot put. But sometimes your days just don’t go as well as you would have liked them to. By all means, it doesn’t define his season. He had an outstanding season.”

Hoag was seeded sixth in the shot put (53- 1/4) and 19th in the javelin (177-2), so his 13th-place finish in the latter represented an improvement.

In the girls javelin, Strausbaugh’s throw of 126-11 was just slightly less than eight feet behind her District heave of 133-4. If she had equaled her attempt from one week earlier, it would have bumped her up to fourth at States.

“There was a pretty big headwind on Friday,” Adams said.

There was also a bit of history, as Connellsville sophomore Madison Wiltrout shattered the National Federation High School while winning gold with a throw of 182-8. Haley Crouser, of Gresham High School (Ore.), previously held the NFHS mark at 181-2.

“That would have been amazing to see,” Adams said.