Junior Becca Gruntz qualified for states in long jump on Thursday at WPIAL individual track championships.

Gruntz finished third in the long jump. She jumped 17 feet, seven inches. 

It was a big moment for Gruntz, especially considering how she came up just short of qualifying for states in the same event last year.

“I finished last year within one and a quarter inches of making it to states,” she said. “This year I did make it, so I’m just happy.”

She will compete next week at Shippensburg University at states.

Senior Olivia Shellman was impressed with Gruntz’s accomplishment

“Becca always does great in my personal opinion. She works very hard to do great,” Shellman said.

Sophomore Austin Barrett is happy for Gruntz and believes that she will perform well at states.

“I feel very proud of her. I feel like that’s a great accomplishment, and I think that she will do great at states,” Barrett said.

Senior Maddie Granttan said the whole team was happy for Gruntz.

“We were all happy for her, especially her coach, who was very happy,” Grattan said.

Shellman said Gruntz works hard and stays focused for practices and meets.

“I think that she is going to go far with track,” Shellman said.

Shellman competed in the 200 meters, placing 15th overall, and as part of the 4×400 relay, which placed fifth in its heat. The other members of the 4×400 team were senior Jules Ott, sophomore Alexa O’Malley, and senior Maddie Grattan.  

Shellman described being nervous for the 4×400 because of the difficulty of the race, but she said her teammates on the relay ran well.

Grattan was also nervous going into WPIALs since it was her last time.

“My favorite part about being there was getting to do it with my team one last time,” Grattan said.

The team had a team dinner the night before and had a practice race before they competed. 

Barrett competed in the 4×800 with junior Jack Reichl, senior Zach Lieu, and senior Alex Castaneda. This was Barrett’s first time making it to WPIALs after making the cut a week before in practice.

“I was really excited,” Barrett said.

Barrett said the relay team did well, but the competition being delayed threw off everyone as well as the rainy conditions.

“We knew we had a chance to do well,” Barrett said. ”We were really locked in during workouts.”