Northampton’s track and field team weathered a cold, rainy Day 1 of the District XI Class 3A Track and Field Championships, and Lucy Colyer and Anne Beenders captured medals nonetheless on May 13 at Whitehall High School.

Colyer won the gold medal in shot put.

“It wasn’t my best day, but I was pretty happy with it,” said Colyer, who threw a 34-10.75. “My main goal was to be aggressive. The rain’s not ideal, but I worked through it. The circle can be pretty slippery, so you’re trying to keep your feet dry. I wasn’t thinking I would qualify for states at the beginning of the year, but throughout the season, I was improving, so then it became a goal.”

Also on Day 1, Anne Beenders took third place in triple jump with a distance of 37-3.

Stormy skies turned to clear skies for Day 2 on May 15 when Andrew Szeplaki won pole vault, despite coming off a recent appendectomy.

“I was really, really happy,” he said. “I thought my season was over, so I’m so relieved that I’m able to do this. This was something I had to do.”

Szeplaki’s winning jump was 14-9, but for states, Szeplaki is planning more.

“17-3 is the goal,” he said. “I gotta try.”

Szeplaki also medaled in high jump, taking third place with a jump of 6-3.

Jeremiah Strowder was the 400 meter dash bronze medalist with a time of 50.48, and Alexa Wiland took fourth place in javelin with a throw of 122-8.

The PIAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships are scheduled for this weekend at Shippensburg University.