Five Berks female athletes win gold medals at District 3 track and field

In March, sophomore Lauren Akers made her debut with the Kutztown track and field team.

Two months later, in her first season of high school track and field, Akers won gold in the girls Class 2A javelin on the first day of the District 3 Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg.

“I would’ve never thought I would be here, first place,” Akers said. “It’s crazy.”

The No. 1 seed entering the event, Akers won the javelin with a throw of 115-0. She also clinched a berth in the state championships next weekend.

“It feels pretty good,” Akers said. “I just want to go to experience (the state championships) and have fun, and then put in the work for next year.”

Akers was one five Berks female athletes to win gold medals on Friday. Schuylkill Valley junior Emma Deyarmin won the Class 2A discus, Panthers senior Madison Ziska won the Class 2A long jump, Gov. Mifflin senior Annika Ermold won the Class 3A shot put and Wyomissing sophomore Addie Cohen won the Class 2A 3200.

Another first-time District 3 gold medalist, Deyarmin won the discus with a career-best throw of 118-1.

“All my hard work really paid off,” said Deyarmin, the No. 2 seed. “It just feels really good.”

Deyarmin will look to add another medal on Saturday in the girls Class 2A shot put, where she is the No. 1 seed.

“I love the sport,” Deyarmin said. “I want to succeed and try to do my best.”

Deyarmin’s teammate Madison Ziska continued her successful season in the long jump, winning District 3 gold with a jump of 17-6.5. Ziska’s district title comes one week after she won the long jump at the county championships.

“It feels incredible,” Ziska said. “I’m excited for states.”

Berks athletes went 1-2-3 in the long jump. Schuylkill Valley’s Annie Gao finished second at 17-4.75 and Oley Valley’s Alice Bogia was third at 16-7. Also for Schuylkill Valley, Nia Wagner finished seventh at 15-10.

Aside from the long jump, Ziska had a busy day, running in preliminaries for the 100 and 200. She finished third in the 100 and first in the 200, clinching her spot in the final of both events on Saturday.

“I had a lot of sprints to do today,” Ziska said. “I was really tired.”

Ermold repeated as champion in the shot put with a throw of 39-3.75.

“It’s great to defend my title,” Ermold said. “To be able to go to states next weekend is such a blessing.”

Ermold fought through a nagging ankle injury to win the event. She will try to do the same in the Class 3A discus finals on Saturday.

“I was able to gut out my performance,” Ermold said. “I’m very blessed.”

Another first-time District 3 winner, Cohen won the 3200 in a career-best 11:24.87. Cohen entered the event as the No. 2 seed.

“It feels pretty amazing,” Cohen said. “I’m very excited.”

Cohen will be going to the states for the second time, after qualifying as an alternate in the 1600 last year.

“I’ve come a long way since then,” Cohen said. “It’s been a lot of hard work and I’m just really excited to finally be here.”

Wilson’s Caryn Rippey won bronze in the Class 3A 3200 in 10:44.02 and Gov. Mifflin’s Kaitlyn Highduch was eighth in 10:51.01. In the Class 2A 3200, Oley Valley’s Ava Lottig took bronze in 11:38.81 and Wyomissing’s Lauren Riddle was fifth in 12:13.82.

In the Class 2A discus, Wyomissing’s Vicky Heliodoro finished fifth at 97-10 and teammate Helenis Vasquez was sixth at 96-3.

Brandywine Heights’ Meaghan Miller finished fifth in Class 2A javelin at 100-1.

Wyomissing’s Emily Cassler tied for eighth in the Class 2A high jump at 4-6.

Source: Berkshire mont