Distance runners Dylan Boyle of Freedom and Mekhi Britt of Bethlehem Catholic were down to their last chance to clinch gold medals at the District XI Track and Field Championships on May 15 at Whitehall High School where both made it to the top of the awards podium in their respective events.

Boyle won the Class 3A 1600 meter run with a time of 4:27.25, out stepping Parkland’s Colin McGuigan, whose time was 4:27.68.

“I guess I just put it all out there and always have some heart. I think that’s what carried me today,” Boyle said. “I kind of stayed behind the first two guys, and I was hanging out there for awhile. It was that last lap where I stuck with them the whole time, and I knew I had to go. I was overwhelmed with excitement. I was not expecting to do that. I’m not usually a miler. I just kind of had fun with the mile, and I’ll try to do the same thing at states.”

Britt won the Class 2A 800 meter run with a time of 1:56.81, out stepping Nativity BVM’s Nolan Daynorowicz whose time was 1:56.91.

“It was interesting today because he was at a 1:59 seed time, and I’m like, he’s right here, and I gotta go,” Britt said. “With probably 100 meters left, he was ahead of me, and I was like, do I have it? I don’t know if I have it, and I just let God take the wheel. I’m just really grateful I was able to do this. The past two years, I’ve run very competitive times, but I haven’t been able to get it done in terms of winning.

“I was just so relieved. There was a lot of expectation put on me. I’ve committed to run at Lehigh next year, and having that on your shoulders, kids look at you, and they’re like, I’ve got to beat that kid. This week, I had to think to myself, I’m good enough, I’ve worked hard enough for this and had to go out there and show it, so I’m very happy about it. It was about me living up to what I know I’m capable of.”

Liberty also had a distance runner qualify for states when David Myer took second place in the Class 3A 800 meter run with a time of 1:57.40.

“This race, I stuck with the person in first the whole race,” Myer said. “It’s a hard race to pace. I knew it was gonna be fast. I’m hoping states pushes me more than I’ve ever been pushed before.”

Hurricane teammate Anthony Otero was the long jump champion with a distance of 23-6.50 on his second-to-last jump.

“Before that, I did 23-2, but before that, I was in second place,” said Otero. “It’s really just getting my marks right and my approach to the board, and I pulled through. I just love track and love doing this, and that’s what pushes me.”

In the girls 800 meter run, Liberty’s Elizabeth McClarin pulled ahead of teammate Katie Drabouski to win gold with her time of 2:16.07.

“The last 100, I know I have to give it everything I’ve got...my 110 percent in that last stretch. I just wanted to finish strong, and whatever that was, it was,” said McClarin. “For Katie to lead it that long and set the pace was awesome. It did help because in the 4x800 relay, I had to set the pace, so it was cool to do the opposite today and control myself and try to dig deep. We were together the whole race, and I just edged her at the end.”

Drabouski won silver in 2:16.35.

Freedom’s Stephan Richards also won a silver medal with a time of 15.27 in 110 meter hurdles, and teammate Amare Duboise placed fourth in 15.55.

Also from Freedom, Natalie Ray placed third in the 400 meter dash with a time of 56.96 and fourth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.35.

Bethlehem Catholic’s Rio Stoudt took third place in the 1600 meter run in 5:43.50.