In the days leading up to the PIAA Track and Field Championships, Salisbury senior Steven Lozada tried simulating what the last meet of his high school career could look like.

During those practice days, Lozada cleared 15 feet in the pole vault, which gave him plenty of confidence heading into the event over the weekend.

The Falcon senior capped a successful career with his fourth state medal and a third-place finish in his main event, pole vault, by jumping 14 feet, 6 inches at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium.

“I jumped the same height as I did last year, but I definitely wanted more,” Lozada said. “I felt pretty confident with the bar going up to 15 feet. Especially throughout the week, my coach and I were doing meet simulations coming in at 14 feet, and then going up to 14-6, 15, and 15-6. Sometimes it’s just not your day.”

In those practice days leading up to states, Lozada crossed the 15-foot mark on both days.

“We had two practices where we did bars, and I cleared 15 feet in each of them,” Lozada said. “So, I felt pretty confident going into states.”

After jumping 13 feet, 6 inches at districts, Lozada cleared both 14 feet and 14 feet, 6 inches on his first attempts at states. However, he couldn’t cleanly clear 15 feet, which would have tied him with second-place finisher Ethan Johnston of Wilmington. Jacob Mackie of Oley Valley placed first and cleared 16 feet in his final attempt.

The event was moved indoors due to inclement weather, and despite the unfamiliar atmosphere of jumping indoors, Lozada adapted and fared well.

“The runway is a little different,” Lozada said. “Outside there is a little bounce back; inside it’s just hard. It feels pretty fast to me. I played basketball all my life, and being on the hardwood floor, I feel good with it.”

Lozada also picked up a medal in the triple jump event, placing fifth with a mark of 44 feet, 6 inches.

He was only four and 3/4 inches behind third-place finisher Lachlan Tabacheck of Oswayo Valley. He jumped his fifth-place mark on his first attempt.

“I felt pretty good going into warm ups,” Lozada said. “I felt pretty confident in what we were doing because we’ve had some meets in the rain during this playoff season. I didn’t feel the weather was a factor, but in my head in might have been there. I didn’t jump what I really wanted to. I fouled on my last two jumps. But a medal is a medal, and fifth place I can’t be too mad with.”

Lozada capped his high school career with four state medals and 12 combined from leagues and districts over the past four years. He’s a school record-holder, and the most successful pole vaulter in school history.

“I have everything to thank with my coaches,” Lozada said. “It feels great. I’m a part of two school records. Have plenty of medals to show for it. And the name is eventually going to go on that banner, so it’s cool.”

A few other Falcons also qualified for states and competed at Shippensburg last weekend.

Annalise Shelly placed 14th in the long jump with a mark of 17-5 1/4. Jamanni Cruz placed 19th in the 200-meter dash prelims in 22.88 seconds, while Emma Yakaitis took 21st in the 300-meter hurdle prelims in a time of 48.82 seconds.