SHIPPENSBURG — Mackenzie Magness stood on the artificial turf at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium basking in the glow of a PIAA Class 2A girls pole vault championship.

Surrounded by reporters, the sophomore proudly displayed the state gold medal around her neck and held a small photo in her right hand.

The picture was of Dylan Tarbi, a good friend of Magness who was struck by a pickup truck and killed in May 2024.

"I found out that he died when I was here at the state meet," Magness said. "I became very emotional. This win today was for him."

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Magness finished in ninth place 12 months ago at the state track and field championships, just out of a medal spot. She returned here Saturday, just over a week after winning her second straight WPIAL title in the pole vault. A height of 12 feet won for her state bragging rights.

Two other vaulters — Quaker Valley's Evie Rosselli and Grove City's Aleah Morgante — also reached 12 feet, but unlike Magness, they did not clear that height on their first attempt.

"I knew clearing a height on my first try would be very important (toward winning a tie-breaker)," said Magness, who went 12-4 to win her district crown. "I honestly thought I would have to go 12-6 to win today, but when I cleared 12 feet on my first attempt, I knew that was big.

"The wind affected us, but I always tell myself to not let weather get into my head."

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Magness has been vaulting for nearly five years.

"I went to a track camp when I was in sixth grade, and that got me into the pole vault," she said. "My dad, Ian Magness, was a pole vaulter in high school, and he's now my coach. He's taught me a lot, and I'm very grateful for him."

Freeport senior Michael Braun closed an impressive career with a runner-up finish in the Class 2A 3,200 run. His time of 9:05.82 was second only to Mohawk's Jaxon Schoedel, who turned in a state-meet record of 8:59.34.

"I was hoping to set the record myself," Braun said. "I was leading and pushing it pretty good for (Laps) 3 through 6. Jaxon got by me on the seventh lap, and I just didn't have enough to catch him."

Schoedel was the defending state champion in the event. He was also the only runner to finish ahead of Braun in the 1,600 and 3,200 at WPIALs earlier this month.

"We've been battling each other at all the big meets for the last few years," said Braun, who placed third in the 1,600 on Friday. "But now we're going to be teammates (at Penn State) and the only battles will be in practice."

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Also placing second in Class 2A boys was Moniteau senior Ashton Grossman, who reached 14 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault. The event's champion, Danville's Gavin Holcombe, went 14-6, as well, but cleared it in one less miss than Grossman.

"That makes it tough, it came down to one jump," Grossman said. "But that takes nothing away from Gavin, he's an amazing jumper."

Grossman will graduate with Moniteau's school record in the event (15-3), two District 9 titles and two state medals. He finished sixth here last year.

"I also was named All-American in the pole vault during the indoor season last winter," said Grossman, who will compete for Slippery Rock University. "I'm proud of what I accomplished."

Karns City's Alex Wilson placed fifth in the same event at 14 feet.

Following are the Butler County-area athletes who earned a medal by placing in the top eight at the PIAA Track and Field Championships, which concluded Saturday at Shippensburg University.

2025 PIAA Track and Field Championships Results

(Butler County area medalists)

Class 3A

Boys

4x100 relay: 6-Butler (L.Ekas, K.Shriver, G.Brown, C.Rubcic) 42.53

4x400 relay: 6-Butler (R.Peth, A.Stebick, J.Gratzmiller, C.Ekas) 3:20.23

Girls

400 dash: 8-Morgan Duker (Mars) 58.73

High jump: 4-Jordan Monteleone (Seneca Valley) 5-6

Class 2A

Boys

3,200 run: 2-Michael Braun (Freeport) 9:05.82

Pole vault: 2-Ashton Grossman (Moniteau) 14-6; 5-Alex Wilson (KC) 14-0

Girls

100 hurdles: 2-Audra Lazzara (North Catholic) 15.10

4x100 relay: 1-North Catholic (Au.Lazzara, S.Cresta, D.Flerl, An.Lazzara) 48.06

4x400 relay: 4-North Catholic (D.Flerl, S.Cresta, E.Eiler, A.Stoltz) 4:02.27

Pole vault: 1-Mackenzie Magness (Freeport) 12-0