CALN TWP. — Jessica Cooper was one of the shorter competitors in the girls District 1 Class 2A competition Saturday at Coatesville Area High.
But Cooper, a proud product of Delaware County Christian School, stood tall on the podium after winning a gold medal in the discus to earn her first berth in the state tournament in Shippensburg.
Fighting through the rain and slippery conditions, Cooper fired the discus 94 feet, seven inches on her second throw to take the gold medal. Entering the competition her personal record was 88-11. Cooper reached 91-11 on her first and final throws.
Cooper, who stands about 5-8, said she “had a feeling” something big was going to happen on Saturday.
“Last night and this morning I was taking mental reps,” Cooper said. “I was just saying, ‘I’m going to win, I’m going to win, I’m going to win.’ And then it just came to me.”
Ava Ruff of Phil-Mont Christian Academy was second with a throw of 90-03 with Pallavi Joy of Calvary Christian third at 88-07.
Delco Christian’s Hallie Kees was fourth with a throw of 87-0.
Only the winner, Cooper, qualified for states because the other efforts were lower than the state qualifying distance of 113-0.
Cooper trusted her technique from steps to delivery and let it go.
“I didn’t change anything,” she said. “The rain didn’t bother me.”
Cooper also finished third in the shot put (24-9.25). Those 13 total points were vital in helping Delco Christian win the girls Class AA title. The Knights secured 167 points while Dock Mennonite was second with 107.
Alex Confine of Delco Christian ran a PR of 18.19 in the 100-meter hurdles and a 51.40 in the 300 hurdles to win both events and qualify for states in those competitions.
Delco Christian’s Marrielle Clayton was first in the 400 (1:00.79) to qualify for states.
Hallie Keys of Delco Christian qualified for states in three events as she won the javelin (116-1), long jump (14-5) and triple jump (34-11).
The Knights’ 4 x 100 (51.58) and 4 x 400 (4:19.30) girls relay teams also triumphed to qualify for states.
The Delco Christian boys were third in the team scoring with 77 points. Calvary Christian was first with 155 points, Church Farm School second with 87 points.
The Delco Christian boys had no individual winners, but Luke Bushra was second in the discus and third in the shot put, and CJ Simbiri was second in the triple jump.
![By Bill Rudick brudick55@gmail.com EAST MARLBOROUGH>>It’s always tough to beat a good team three times, and Downingtown East showed they are definitely a good team. Squared off against archrival Downingtown West in the quarterfinal round of the PIAA, class 6A softball tournament, the Cougars rode the strength of two big home runs, and the reliable arm of ace Rachael Schumann to secure a program-first in the state semi-finals with a 4-2 win over the Whippets at Unionville High School. Up next for the Cougars (22-4) is another familiar foe in Council Rock South. East previously met the Hawks (21-3) in […]](https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Downingtown-East-celebrates-the-state-quarterfinal-win-over-Downingtown-West-BILL-RUDICK-for-MediaNews-Group.jpg?w=490 "By Bill Rudick brudick55@gmail.com EAST MARLBOROUGH>>It’s always tough to beat a good team three times, and Downingtown East showed they are definitely a good team. Squared off against archrival Downingtown West in the quarterfinal round of the PIAA, class 6A softball tournament, the Cougars rode the strength of two big home runs, and the reliable arm of ace Rachael Schumann to secure a program-first in the state semi-finals with a 4-2 win over the Whippets at Unionville High School. Up next for the Cougars (22-4) is another familiar foe in Council Rock South. East previously met the Hawks (21-3) in […]")