Jackson Hersh recorded the No. 3 all-time mark in the javelin in school history Friday to highlight the first of two days of competition for the Shippensburg University men's outdoor track & field team at Lynchburg's Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational.
 
Hersh's new personal best of 224 feet, 2 inches (68.34 meters) was achieved on his sixth and final throw, capping a strong sequence that included five straight tosses of at least 204 feet. The new PR moves him up to No. 3 all-time in school history – one spot ahead of his current coach John Pacovsky.
 
His throw is eight feet farther than the No. 20 mark in the nation last season (216 feet, 2 inches); the NCAA provisional qualifier should hopefully be enough to result in an NCAA Championships appearance as he looks to improve it further in the coming weeks. His previous PR (212 feet, 4 inches – set last year at Lynchburg) ranked No. 24 in NCAA Division II.
 
It was also one of three on the day by the Raiders that satisfied the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships automatic qualifying standards.
 
Mason Pretopapa made it back-to-back weeks with a new PR, upping his best to 192 feet, 2 inches (58.59 meters) with a fourth-place finish. Aiden Zimmerman was one place behind – his best throw traveled 186 feet, 3 inches (56.77 meters).
 
Also in field competition, Gilberto Raphael Ramos equaled the PSAC standard in the pole vault for the second straight week with a clearance of 14 feet, 5 ¼ inches (4.40 meters).
 
The action on the track was limited to distance events but a whole host of Raiders picked up PSAC Championships qualifiers in their respective events.
 
Tommy Crum Jr. paced four Raiders to do so in the 1,500 meters, winning the event in 3:57.52. Ben Hummel was second in 3:58.75; Chase Hensinger ran 3:59.24, and Daniel Naylor crossed the finish line in 4:02.80.
 
Brennan Wellock (4:03.09) and Jackson Gutekunst (4:03.71) narrowly missed the conference standard (4:03.00) in the 1,500.
 
Under the lights in the 10K, Garrett Quinan, Ryan Wolfe and Jaycen Conrad earned their qualifiers. Quinan ran 31:33.25 to pace the group, while Wolfe ran 31:42.07 and Conrad completed his run in 32:05.74.
 
The meet resumes at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
 
1500
1. Tommy Crum Jr. 3:57.52 (PSAC)
2. Ben Hummel 3:58.75 (PSAC)
5. Chase Hensinger 3:59.24 (PSAC)
Daniel Naylor 4:02.80 (PSAC)
Brennan Wellock 4:03.09
Jackson Gutekunst 4:03.71
 
5K (Invite)
No entries
 
5K (Open)
No entries
 
10K
4. Garrett Quinan 31:33.25 (PSAC)
5. Ryan Wolfe 31:42.07 (PSAC)
8. Jaycen Conrad 32:05.74 (PSAC)
 
Pole Vault
7. Gilberto Raphael Ramos 14' 5 ¼" (4.40m) (PSAC)
Joe Ryan NH
 
Javelin
1. Jackson Hersh 224' 2" (68.34m) (NCAA 'P') (No. 3 all-time at SU)
4. Mason Pretopapa 192' 2" (58.59m) (PSAC)
5. Aiden Zimmerman 186' 3" (56.77m) (PSAC)
Jacob McNerney 155' 9" (47.49m)