Running the 400 and 800, Senior Darian (Bear) Crim has been working towards bringing home the gold as well as preparing for the future at the collegiate level. After his coach suggested that he would make a “better mid-distance runner than sprinter,” Crim has made many notable accomplishments. Crim has won a district medal in the 400 and 4×800, been the back to back champion of the Bruce Dallas and Tim Cook invitational, ran at nationals for 4×800, and broke the school record for the 400.

When asked what outcome he saw for the season personally and as a team, Crim shared, “The outcome I see for the season for myself isn’t exactly clear yet because I run so may events. I see myself taking home a medal in both districts and states though. For the team, I believe we will win districts as well as place at states.”

Senior and runner of the 800 and 4×800 relay, Emily Leatherman has been working towards new personal records every race. After signing with Gardner Webb for track, she shares her accomplishments of making it to districts with her 800 time and progressing to states with the 4 by 800.

To keep up with her consistency, she incorporates difficult workouts with her routine runs about twice a week. She shares that she sees: “A great (personal record) for my 800 and going to states with the girls for a relay.”

One of the fastest freshmen in the nation, Joshua Blanton, focuses on distance events including the 800, 1600, and 3200. Taking after his parents who are also distance runners, his many notable accomplishments include qualifying for states in track and cross country in 7th grade, winning gold Louisiana’s state meet as an 8th grader for both the 800m and 1500m. Last year, Blanton ran at the Nike Indoor Nationals, achieving personal records including: 1:59 for the 800, 4:24 for the 1600, and 10:06 for the 3200.

Blanton has the potential to qualify for states in the 4×100, 4×400, 4×800, DMR, SMR, and 4xmile. Personally, he is, “hoping to run a sub 2 800m, sub 4:30 1600, and sub 10:00 3200…I have not started looking forward to the seasons to come while I am focusing on the current season trying to hit my goals and work with Carlisle while I still live here.” Blanton hails from a military family who are currently assigned to the Army War College and will move on when they are stationed elsewhere this summer. 

Emily Sheffe, a senior thrower has set the standard by placing 8th in the district last year for shot put. Recently signing with Millersville for track, she shares that she is looking forward to her collegiate career and, aspires to “hit big numbers in shotput, and… learn hammer, which will be really exciting to do.”

She shared that what got her into her event was wanting to follow her dad’s footsteps after he threw in high school, “…and I just didn’t want to run.” To practice for throwing, Sheffe explains that they normally do about two events per day starting with a warm up and about 20-30 throws before switching to the other event. On closing this year, Sheffe wants, “a lot of people [on the team] to qualify for districts and I personally want to qualify for states.”

Ranked 18th in the state and running the 1600 and 3200, Kolbin Heberlig focuses on beating personal records and going for medals at states. From running cross country in middle school and starting his high school running career with cross country, he shares that he naturally competes in the distance events for track. A point of pride for Heberlig is running a 9:29 for the 3200 at Shippensburg. To develop as a runner he notes: “Every day is either a track workout, a tempo run, or just going out for a run around town.”

Looking at the season overall, he hopes “the team as a whole can win the division title. For myself and my personal relays, I hope to get some state medals and take a type to Philadelphia for nationals.”