Adams perseveres through back injury to win medal

Altoona Junior Branson Adams Overcomes Injury to Finish Sixth in Long Jump at PIAA Championships

Altoona junior Branson Adams had a remarkable turnaround at the PIAA championships at Seth Grove Stadium, finishing sixth in the 3A long jump after battling a lingering back problem for most of the season.

Adams, who wasn’t even supposed to compete at the District 6 championships due to his injury, credited his coach for giving him the opportunity to jump at the state meet. With a distance of 22 feet, 6.75 inches, Adams equaled the fifth-place finisher but secured his spot on a later attempt.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Adams said. “Being able to compete and get a medal is amazing. My whole life feels like it’s turned around and gotten better.”

In addition to Adams’ success, Hailey Kravetz also brought home a sixth-place medal for Altoona in the 3A girls 300 hurdles, improving on her eighth-place seeding. Central sophomore Lanee Berkhimer finished fifth in the 3200-meter run, bouncing back from injury to achieve a strong performance.

Hollidaysburg sprinter Isaac Yarnell placed seventh in the Class 3A boys 100 dash, while Central Cambria senior Christian Vasil claimed the fourth-place medal in the Class 2A boys shot put.

The Central Cambria girls continued their tradition of earning medals in the 3200 relay, finishing eighth at the state meet. Juniata Valley’s Bryce Weirich tied his own school record in the boys pole vault, securing an eighth-place finish.

Overall, it was a successful weekend for local athletes at the PIAA championships, with several standout performances and personal bests achieved despite various challenges throughout the season.