×

Hogg breaks former Olympian Shine’s school record to win high jump; Keyes takes gold in javelin

Youngsville senior Jordan Keyes stands atop the podium following his winning throw in the javelin at the District 10 Track and Field championships on Saturday at Slippery Rock University. Keyes now advances to the PIAA championships.

SLIPPERY ROCK – Mike Shine is arguably the most recognizable name in Warren’s County’s rich sports history, which made what Youngsville freshman Jake Hogg did at Saturday’s District 10 Track and Field championships, if possible, even more special.

The Eagle cleared 6-4 in the high jump, which not only secured him the District 10 Class 2A title and a trip to states, but shattered the school record set by Shine, the 1976 Olympic silver-medalist in the 400 meter hurdles, which stood at 6-2 1/4.

Oh yeah, it was also a personal best by three inches.

Hogg’s winning leap came just about an hour after Jordan Keyes became Youngsville’s first D-10 champ of the day in the javelin at Slippery Rock University’s Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

Together, they helped make this a day for the history books for Youngsville track and field.

Youngsville's Naomi Swartzbaugh races to a fourth place finish in the 100 hurdles at the District 10 Track and Field championships on Saturday at Slippery Rock University.

“Amazing day for some of our Eagles,” said Youngsville coach Michelle Johnson. “These student-athletes made the coaching staff, parents, community and Youngsville High School proud!”

The Eagles took 13 athletes between the boys and girls and came away with ten places, led of course by Hogg and Keyes.

Hogg and Greenville’s Deavon Rainey, also a freshman, were the only two jumpers to clear 6-2, which punched their tickets to states. Hogg cleared on his first attempt and Rainey his third and final.

The bar went up to 6-4 and Hogg showed no nerves whatsoever, clearing with ease. Rainey missed on all three of his attempts.

Hogg could have stopped there, having secure the D-10 title and school record, but he elected to go to 6-6. He missed on all three attempts, although not by much.

While Hogg was busy winning his title, Keyes had already wrapped his up by 11 a.m.

On a rainy morning, the Youngsville senior uncorked a throw of 162-1, narrowly beating Wilmington’s Danny Hanssen, whose best toss was 161-4.

Sharon’s Noah Weese, the top seed, finished third (152-0).

The title for Keyes came after a sixth-place medalist finish in 2017.

Both Keyes and Hogg now move on to Shippensburg for the state championships Friday and Saturday.

Hogg is one of four athletes who share the top overall seed at 6-4, while Keyes is seeded 14th in the javelin.

While those two stole the show, there were plenty of other impressive performances for the Eagles on both the boys and girls side.

For the girls, Naomi Swartzbaugh finished fourth in the 100 hurdles, bettering her own school record at 16.45. Just a junior, she’ll have a legitimate chance to qualify for states next year.

Teammate and fellow junior Jocelyn Taydus finished eighth with a personal best time of 16.78

The duo of Swartzbaugh and Taydus also finished fifth and seventh in the 300 hurdles, while Linsey Jukes also had a pair of medals in the 200 and long jump, setting a personal best in the latter with a leap of 15-11.

Rebekah Hogg, meanwhile, finished fifth in the shot put with a heave of 31-5 3/4.

Aaron Morris, meanwhile, capped off his brilliant Eagle career with a fourth place finish in the 110 hurdles, clocking in at 15.87.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today