SHIPPENSBURG — Last year, Cambrie Campbell's strategy in the javelin was bare bones and simple.

“Chuck it and hope,” Campbell said.

It worked out well enough in the end. At the PIAA Track and Field Championships last season, Campbell finished third in the event with a throw that was 18 feet better than her previous best.

With a year spent honing her craft, Campbell, a junior at Moniteau, has been a more consistent thrower in 2017. That yielded another third place finish in the Class AA girls javelin Friday afternoon at Shippensburg University.

Only this time, she didn't need one big throw to zoom onto the medal stand.

She got her best throw on her first attempt, a 140 feet, 8 inch heave that is a national honor roll mark.

Maura Fiamoncini of Mount Carmel won the title with a throw of 144-8.

Campbell was aided by the fact it was a big, pressure-packet meet; she said she excels on the big stage.

“I like being in bigger meets,” Campbell said. “I'm pretty good under pressure. It's all the good competition and knowing I have to step up and do my best under that kind of pressure. I guess I like that kind of challenge.”

Moniteau throwing coach Ryan Protzman likes that Campbell can rise to the occasion.

“As a coach when you have an athlete who can't handle the pressure, it's the worst thing because there is absolutely nothing you can do,” Protzman said. “Cambrie doesn't have that problem.”

Campbell didn't begin throwing the javelin until last season. Also a shot put and discus thrower, Campbell relied on her speed and raw strength to do the job in the jav.

This season, her technique has improved, especially recently.

“Her form earlier in the season was still a little rocky,” Protzman said. “In the last couple of weeks we've worked on it and she's become more consistent. She's heading in the right direction.”

Campbell has gone all-in with the javelin, attending camps and soaking up as much information and techniques as she can in the event.

She hopes to use that next year to come home with a gold.

First, she will have another big event next month when she competes at the New Balance Nationals Outdoors meet.

If she can crack the top six there she will earn All-American status.

Protzman figures she will have to throw between 145 and 150 feet to finish in the top six.

“She's capable of it,” Protzman said. “A big throw is in there.”

Other highlights from the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships:

Butler senior Taylor Weaver cleared 11-6 in the Class AAA pole vault to finish seventh.

The Seneca Valley boys Class AAA 3,200-meter relay team of Alex Dixon, Seth Ketler, Luke Bellack, Sam Owori ran a time of 7 minutes, 49.67 seconds to set a school record and win their heat.

They are seeded first for the finals Saturday.