The District 6 Class AAA Track and Field Championships are set to begin on Tuesday at Altoona’s Mansion Park Stadium. Fresh off competing against the best the Heartland-I league has the offer, the Central Mountain track and field team is now set to test its talents against the best in District 6.

Plenty of Wildcats head into the event with the potential to come away with hardware, some of which will look to build on the medals they’ve already earned. Here are some storylines to keep an eye on heading into districts.

HAND-IN-HAND

Track and field tends to go hand-in-hand with a lot of sports. Distance running can help with the endurance needed to compete on a soccer field and vice versa. Sprints can help with the quick burst needed for football’s skill positions, from route running to finding a hole out of the backfield.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Sofia Kelly reacts after clearing a high-jump attempt during the Lock Haven High School Classic earlier this season.

And in the case of Central Mountain freshman Sofia Kelly, volleyball has proven complementary to her skills as a jumper. Obviously, there are plenty of differences when it comes to approach and technique, but the high-flying ability required for both makes her recent success in jumps make sense.

On the volleyball court, Kelly immediately established herself as a strong outside hitter alongside esteemed senior Gabby Beaubrun, as the Wildcats went on to finish as PHAC champs and District 6 runners-up. And in the field, she already leads Central Mountain in the high jump – with a PR of 5-0 – and has been improving considerably in triple.

“Of course. (The consistent jumping) helps with my vertical, getting farther and everything,” said Kelley when asked if her sports complement one another. “I did do (jumps) in middle school, but I definitely like to stick with jumping because I feel like that’s the main key for me.”

At the PHAC Track and Field championships on Saturday, Kelly placed fifth in both while setting a new PR in the triple jump at 34-2. Of her five times competing in triple this season, the two that came at big meets (LHU High School Classic and PHACs) have both featured improvements of over a foot.

In triple jump, arguably the most important factor in building distance is an athlete’s handling of the three phases – the hop, step and jump. Kelly feels that’s where she’s improved the most throughout the season, an aspect she feels fueled her top attempt on Saturday. Getting a feel for high school competition as a freshman has helped as well.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Sofia Kelly competes in a relay during the Lock Haven High School Classic earlier this season.

“Freshman season, it was definitely scary at first because you’re coming in with all these fears and older people,” said Kelly. “But it’s been a really good season. Like I’ve had fun, I’ve done a lot and my team is great.”

She’s set the tone for what could certainly be an exciting District 6 debut.

Heading into Tuesday, Kelly hopes to build on the success she had at PHACs at districts, vying not only to place and PR but also to make a push towards states. As it stands, she’s seeded top eight in both the high and triple jump. And though the Class AAA state standards are lofty, districts tends to bring out the best in athletes.

QUEST TO DEFEND

Like Kelly, Central Mountain sophomore Macia Owens certainly established herself as a freshman last season. As a hurdler, she improved considerably throughout the campaign, leading a strong hurdles core heading into May before going on to take home a District 6 Class AAA title and clinch a PIAA bid.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Macia Owens competes in the 100-meter hurdles during the Lock Haven High School Classic earlier this season.

Now, one year later, she faces the difficult task of vying to defend her title.

Owens has improved as a sophomore, recently hitting a sub-16 in the 100-meter hurdles for the first time in mid-April, but the field has notably improved alongside her. Including Owens, four athletes within the field hold a sub-16 PR heading into Tuesday, including another Wildcat in senior Sarah Hall.

Owens heads into the event seeded No. 2, with Altoona senior Hannah Owulade occupying the top slot with a half second advantage over the Wildcat. Hall is seeded No. 4 with a PR of 15.99, and State College freshman Ella Raish is one tick above her with a 15.98. Those obstacles are considerable, but the goal remains the same.

“Altoona and State College both have some tough girls that are going to try to stop her from doing that, but I’m hopeful that she has a really good night, hits a PR and gets another ticket to states,” said Central Mountain head coach Scott Bair on her quest to defend her title.

Whatever happens this week, Owens has put herself in a great position to succeed, continuing to work to improve after earning District 6 Class AAA gold as a freshman. She didn’t have her best run at PHACs, taking sixth with a 16.43, but Bair doesn’t believe that’s indicative of her readiness for districts.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Macia Owens competes in the 100-meter hurdles during the Lock Haven High School Classic earlier this season.

“Her prelim (on Saturday) was pretty strong. I think in the final, she got out of the blocks a little slower than she probably would have liked,” said Bair. “But all in all, she had a good day going into districts. I think she’s ready for that.”

“She puts in the time. She’s a hard worker, trains all offseason. She had a pretty big PR in the third meet of the season and is trying to get back there,” he added on Owens.

She and Hall are also seeded in the top 8 in the 300-meter hurdles, so there’s potential in both leaving Altoona with multiple medals.

MEDAL CANDIDATES

Alongside Kelly, Owens and Hall, the Wildcats head into districts with a fair share of athletes in position to take home hardware. It’s just a matter of putting their best foot forward and building off the success they’ve had this season.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Grace Keohane competes in a run during the Lock Haven High School Classic earlier this season.

On the girls side, freshman Zaylie Warren adds strength to Central Mountain’s jumps, seeded No. 7 in the high jump and just outside the top 10 in triple. Alongside Kelly, she also hit a PR in the triple jump on Saturday, heading into Tuesday with a best jump of 32-8.

In distance, senior Grace Keohane is coming off running a season best of 2:25.82 in the 800, seeded No. 9 in a particularly tight 800 field. And freshman Lane Walker is seeded in the top 11 in two events – the 400-meter dash and javelin.

On the boys side, Ethan Shetler (javelin), Josiah Allert (high jump) and Wyatt Heeman (400) are each seeded No. 4 in their respective events. Junior Shayden Hill is seeded top 10 in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dash, and Jacob and Jonathan Nyman are top 11 in both hurdles events and projected to medal in the 300.

Senior Damien Winner adds a third potential medal in the 300, seeded No. 8 alongside his No. 10 seeding in the 3,200. And fellow seniors Keron Yerger and Camden Mann are each seeded No. 7 in the high jump, a few inches short of Allert.

All in all, there’s plenty of potential for excitement over the next two days. The District 6 Track and Field Championships are set to begin on noon on Tuesday before wrapping up Wednesday evening.

“We’re excited,” said Bair. “We’re just going to go and give it everything we have, hope for PRs and that the placements take care of themselves.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Lane Walker competes in a run during the Lock Haven High School Classic earlier this season.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain's Damien Winner competes in the 2000-meter steeplechase during the Lock Haven High School Classic earlier this season.