A total of eight gold medals was awarded to competitors from Bethlehem Catholic, Freedom, and Liberty High Schools at the District XI Class AAA Track and Field Championships last week at Whitehall High School.

Liberty sprinter Jaylyn Aminu repeated her EPC Track and Field Championships performances, clinching first place in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, and the 4x1 relay.

Aminu's 11.77 time in the 100 is already the best time in the state, so a gold medal at the PIAA State Track and Field Championships this weekend is not out of the question for the Hurricane sophomore.

Aminu's time in the 200 was 25.00, and Liberty's 4x1 relay time was 49.17 also won by Rachel Finn, Kaylin West, and Grace Mittl.

Finn took gold in the pole vault with a height of 11-6 on her second attempt.

"I'm very happy," Finn said. "It got colder and windier by the time we did the pole vault, and I was nervous just because of the weather. I can deal with the cold, but the wind definitely affects it."

West took gold in the triple jump with a distance of 36-11.00, also on her second attempt.

"I feel good, really good," said West. "In prelims, I didn't feel too good, but then my legs warmed up. The girl who got second jumped last, but my coach said just go out and win."

Louie Czaszar won the shot put with a distance of 48-10.50, also for the Hurricanes.

For Freedom, Gia Erie clinched first place in the shot put with a distance of 37-05.50, and for Bethlehem Catholic, Freddie Simmons won the 300 hurdles in 40.21.

Becahi's 4x4 relay team of Andrew Shaffer, John Spirk, E.J. Fineran and Simmons took the silver medal in 3:29.19, and Liberty had two silver medalists, Roshana Tompkins in the 100 hurdles in 15.03, and Jazmyn Aminu in the shot put with a distance of 37-04.50.

Jazmyn Aminu also placed third in the discus with a distance of 99-10.00. West was third in the long jump with a distance of 18-01.50, and Raisa Kochmaruk, also from Liberty was third in the 3200 run in 11:29.80.

Liberty's 4x4 relay team of Jaylyn Aminu, Sarah King, Peyton Shaffer, and Sahaydak placed third in 4:11.30.

Simmons clinched the bronze medal in 110 hurdles in 14.87 and a spot at states based on time. The top two finishers in each event are guaranteed to compete at the PIAA State Track and Field Championships on May 22-23 at Shippensburg State University.

Winning fourth place medals at districts were Becahi's E.J. Fineran in the 110 hurdles in 15.05, who will compete at states, and Freedom's Will Alpaugh in the 1600 run in 4:27.42 and the 3200 run in 9:54.18.

Liberty's Darius Jones was fourth in the triple jump with a distance of 44.09.00 and will compete at states, and Eleni Prodes was fourth in the javelin with a distance of 117-07.00.

Distance runner Olivia Sahaydak placed fourth in the 1600 run, and sprinter, Grace Mittl took fourth place in the 200 meter dash.

West's long jump qualified her for states, and fifth place finisher, Casey Clearie, qualified in the javelin at 178-00, also for the Hurricanes.