Sizzling Seymour snares second silver
Track & Field coverage presented by ATT Sports, Inc.
By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
SHIPPENSBURG — At the end of a spring spent chasing any record he could find, Luke Seymour nearly broke one without even realizing it. It was the biggest one from his corner of the world.
Schuylkill Valley’s senior ran the 800 in 1:51.85, less than one second off Dylan Eddinger’s Berks County mark set in 2015.
That time, believe it or not, wasn’t fast enough to win Class 2A gold Saturday. Seymour placed second behind Carson McCoy of Deer Lakes at the PIAA Track and Field championships at Seth Grove Stadium.
The final meet of Seymour’s career left him with matching silvers. Both narrow losses to McCoy. The two finished 1-2 in the 1600 Friday.
Although Seymour was disappointed he didn’t bring home the coveted gold, it was hard not to be excited about a nearly peerless performance.
“Second is not the best,” he said. “I’m just happy with the times.”
An unexpected camaraderie has formed between Seymour and his cross-state rival. The two first collided in the 1600 at last year’s PIAA meet. That produced the same first and second finish. Again it was very close.
“Our friendship and our competitive spirit grew throughout the two years,” Seymour said. “We keep battling back and forth down the last stretch. It keeps growing each time we race each other.”
Seymour, who broke a 42-year-old District 3 record in the mile last week, held the lead entering the final turn of all three races against McCoy. Each time the Deer Lakes senior had enough of a kick to steal it at the end.
Schuylkill Valley’s three-time state silver medalist discussed changing strategy with coach Allyson McKechnie. They ultimately decided to go for the best time and let the rest happen.
“If I would just sit behind him, the race would probably be a lot slower than what it is,” Seymour said. “I push the pace and he just sits. I wasn’t trying to run a slow time at states.”
Eddinger set the record at 1:51.19 at the PIAA championships seven years ago. The Boyertown grad also didn’t win that day.
As much as Seymour wanted gold, he’ll have to be content with a different distinction in his favorite event. Only one Berks runner has ever been better.
Other notable medalists
- Wyomissing’s Alexis Hardy, the county champion, earned Class 2A silver in the 100. The freshman finished in 12.82.
- Wyomissing’s Amory Thompson took third in the Class 2A triple jump. The senior reached 45-3 and surpassed his PR by 9.5 inches.
- Tulpehocken’s Ella Ahner, a two-time district gold medalist last week, finished third in the Class 2A 200. The senior hit the line at 25.74.
- Wilson’s Caryn Rippey completed an impressive double when she medaled in the Class 3A 3200. The senior paired her seventh-place finish with an identical result in the 1600 Friday.
- Wilson’s Katie Dallas took seventh in the Class 3A 800. Dallas finished in 2:14.88, about two seconds off the county record time she set last year.
