SHIPPENSBURG — The role of dark horse seemed to suit Rob Reichenbaugh just fine.

So does the state championship medal that was placed around his neck Saturday afternoon at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium.

Freeport's senior won the Class AA boys 800-meter run with a school-record time of 1 minute, 55.12 seconds at the PIAA Championships.

“It really didn't hit me until I was walking off the field after getting my medal and saw my family standing there. It was nice to see them and share it with them,” Reichenbaugh said.

The 800 has always been Reichenbaugh's best event, but he did not medal in it in either of his two previous trips to the state meet.

He entered this season with a low-key approach.

“I don't think he said anything this season about possibly winning a state title,” said Freeport coach John Gaillot. “We just ask our kids to compete as hard as they can and Robbie is all about the team. He would always ask me, “What do you need me to do?'”

Reichenbaugh's effort of 2:00.39 was sixth-best in Friday's preliminary race.

“I really didn't go all out there,” he said. “Most kids take it easy in prelims. It's all about just qualifying on the first day.”

Reichenbaugh was in third place coming around the final turn of Saturday's final. He estimates that he was eight meters back of the lead.

“That's when he kicked it in,” said Gaillot. “He made up a lot of ground.”

Reichenbaugh overtook and held off Milton Area's Tyler Leeser (1:55.44) and Neumann Goretti's Kamil Jihad (1:55.63) to earn Freeport's first boys track and field state title since Bobby Woods won the 110 hurdles in 2001.

“I go from having no chance to winning a state title,” Reichenbaugh said. “It was a thrill. It's been great being a member of this team for the last four years.”

In Class AAA, Seneca Valley's 4x800 relay squad of Alex Dixon, Seth Ketler, Luke Bellack and Sam Owori placed seventh with a school-record time of 7:46.38.

Girls

Kendall Grossman proved this season that she is way ahead of the curve.

Moniteau's pole vaulter capped her freshman campaign with a second-place finish in the Class AA event with a height of 11 feet.

Earlier in the season, she broke the school record by vaulting 11-4½ before winning a District 9 title May 19.

“We figured all of this would happen, but didn't know it would come this year,” said Moniteau coach Sue Scialabba. “She seized the moment and we're happy for her.”

The only girl to finish ahead of Grossman was South Williamsport senior Katie Jones, who broke her own meet record from last year with a 13-4.

“I shocked myself,” admitted Grossman. “I did not expect to do this well.

“I had a lot of fun watching my teammates compete, but when it came time for the pole vault, I was dialed in.”

Having some familiar faces around didn't hurt.

“Her cousin, Cambrie Campbell, competed in the shot put and javelin,” said Matt Grossman, Kendall's father and coach. “They roomed together in the dorm and I think that helped keep Kendall loose.

“I also think Coach Scialabba deserves a lot of credit. She does a great job of keeping things light for the kids.”

Kendall Grossman has a pole vault pit outside her house.

“I'll probably be out there within a week,” she said. “When you have as much fun with it as we do, it doesn't seem like practice.

“I didn't expect this much as a freshman,” she added. “I just worked really hard.”