Sheffield’s Emily Leichtenberger throws the javelin during the District 9 Class 2A Track and Field Meet at Brookville High School, Friday, May 17, 2019. Leichtenberger took fourth in the event and also took fifth in the discus.

BROOKVILLE, Pa. – A pair of Sheffield track and field athletes had strong showings at the District 9 Meet in Brookville Friday.

Junior Caden Smead finished eigth in the 400 meter run and sophomore Emily Leichtenberger took fourth in the javelin and fifth in the discus. Leichtenberger also had her best throw of the season in the shot put.

Smead, who didn’t start running the 400 until midway through the season, was a top-10 finisher in a loaded field. The Class 2A field boasted top seed Hunter Jones of Karns City who had already run under the state qualifying time of 50.7 seconds (50.29) and three other runners who had posted times under 52 seconds, Christian Tanner (Smethport, 51.34), Jack Krug (Brookville, 51.42) and Kaden Scherer (Karns City, 51.56).

Jones ran a blistering time of 49.71 to win the event, followed by Krug, who is also the star quarterback for the Raiders’ football team, who finished second at 51.53. Smead finished with a time of 54.04.

“Caden’s still learning how to run this race,” Sheffield assistant coach Chris Korbar said. “He’s literally run it less than 10 times in his career. Once he gets the form down, he’s going to get even better.”

Leichtenberger came in as the No. 2 seed in the javelin. She was inches away from a top-3 spot and her 112 foot, six inch throw was just under her seed (115 feet, 6 inches). The seeding was thrown off by Kane’s Sierra Hillman who uncorked a 117 foot, 10 inch throw on her first attempt of the day to take second. She hadn’t thrown over 110 feet all season. Johnsonburg’s Skylar Sherry, the two-time state runner-up and heavy favorite, won her first district title in javelin.

In the discus, Leichtenberger threw 94 feet, 7 inches for a fifth place finish. She also had a season best throw of 30 feet, 11 3/4 inches in the shot put. Sara Knox of Karns City won the discus, while A-C Valley’s Kylee Eaton took first in the shot.