ADAMS TWP — Emma Lizewski is often reminded of who she is chasing in the Seneca Valley record book.

Whether it is at a practice or meet, the person currently holding the Raiders' standard in the girls triple jump is never far away — SV jumping coach, Crystal Weimer.

Lizewski won the event at the Mars Track and Field Invitational for the second straight year with a distance of 36 feet, nine inches Friday afternoon.

It is a personal-best leap for the junior and also brings her to within six inches of Weimer's 37-3, achieved in 1997.

“I did that here at the Mars Invite,” said Weimer. “After Emma was finished today, she told me, 'Coach, I'm coming for you!'”

With the WPIAL Championships less than three weeks away, Lizewski seems to be peaking at the right time.

At last Friday's Butler Invitational, she placed fourth with a personal-record effort of 36-4. She topped that mark by five inches at Mars. She won here last year with a 35-9.

Friday's weather was not optimal — temperatures in the low-50s, light rain and at times, a stiff breeze.

“I was just here for fun,” admitted Lizewski. “I never thought I'd be able to jump my personal best.

“I started the triple jump in eighth grade, but it was last year that things really started falling in place for me. I placed fifth at WPIALs. (Coach Weimer) has helped me so much. I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without her.”

Weimer would have no problem with one of her pupils knocking her from the top spot in SV's annals. In fact, she's rooting for it to happen.

“I'm praying for her to get it,” Weimer said. “She is getting stronger and better every year and I know she can do it. She's a great kid, a great student and I'm very excited for her.”

Seneca Valley's boys did not go home without a first-place medal thanks to Justin Gaydos.

The senior turned in a time of two minutes, two seconds to top the field in the 800-meter run. He was 1.16 seconds ahead of Morgantown High School's Connor Riley.

Gaydos bettered his previous best by one second to earn his first invite victory.

“Any time I compete at an invite, my goal is to improve my time and place as high as I can,” he said. “I didn't have the lead today until the final 200 meters. That's when I made my move.”

Gaydos, also a member of the Raiders' 3,200 relay, has clear-cut goals for the rest of the season.

“I want to break two minutes in the 800 and help us get to states in the 4x800.”

SV's boys placed second out of 21 teams, scoring 69 points. Hickory won the team title with 70 points.

Senior Mark Smith was a key part of the team effort, helping the Raiders' 4x100 relay place second. Individually, he was second in the 300 hurdles (41.11) and third in the 100 dash (11.47).

Smith joined the track team last year, but focused strictly on sprint events. He picked up the hurdles this spring.

“My best time in the 300 is (40.82) from the Butler Invite last week,” said Smith. “If I tweak a few things, I know I can be in the 39s.

“Today, I ran the 100 three times at full speed,” Smith added of competing in the 100 dash preliminaries and finals and the relay. “Fatigue had set in by the time I ran the 300 hurdles and I just wasn't going to run my best time, but I knew that coming in.”