It’s an historic event. It’s a cool event. It’s a unique event.

It may just be Lebanon County’s premiere sporting event and one of the locale’s best of any kind.

The Lebanon County Track and Field Championships draws kids outdoors and separates them from electronics, it brings people together in an athletic setting, and it teaches student-athletes things about others and themselves.

Besides, there’s just something about seeing kids running, jumping, throwing, and vaulting for the pure enjoyment of doing their best that returns all of us to our childhoods.

On a picturesque spring Friday evening, April 26, at Cedar Crest High School’s Earl Boltz Stadium, dozens of student-athletes from Palmyra, Annville-Cleona, ELCO, Lebanon, Northern Lebanon and the host school celebrated the sport of track and field and what it means to be from Lebanon County.

View of event being set up prior to start time. One of Lebanon County’s premiere sporting events, the Lebanon County Track and Field Championships couldn’t be staged without the support of dedicated volunteers. (Will Trostel)
The event took place at Earl Boltz stadium at Cedar Crest High School on Friday. After more than 40 years at Lebanon High School, the Lebanon County Track and Field Championships moved to Cedar Crest in 2023. (Will Trostel)
Cedar Crest track and field athletes warm up prior to the start of the event. The Lebanon County meet signifies the start of the annual scholastic track and field postseason. (Will Trostel)
Cedar Crest track and field athlete Jack Waranavage warms up prior to the start of the event. Traditionally, the sport of track and field has served as a vehicle for some athletes seeking to stay in shape for other sports. (Will Trostel)
Northern Lebanon track and field athletes warm up prior to the start of the event. The Lebanon County Track and Field Championships bring together local athletes from all six public schools. (Will Trostel)
Carmen McConaghy of Palmyra listens to event officials speak prior to the start of her pole vaulting event, which was won by Hailee Kreiser of Cedar Crest. (Will Trostel)

Awards and medals were handed out in 38 events, and the first-place finishers were crowned Lebanon County champions, but the real rewards didn’t have anything to do with stuff that can be measured or timed.

For some of the competitors, the annual championships serve as a launching pad to bigger and more competitive competitions at upcoming Lancaster-Lebanon, Mid-Penn Conference, District Three and PIAA meets. For other student-athletes, the county meet is it, their highest form of competition, and for them, that’s more than OK.

Lebanon sophomore triple jumper Eddie Ferer finished as the runner-up to winner Dylan Groff of Cedar Crest and his leap of 40-11.25. (Will Trostel)
Zaraiyah Whigham of Lebanon High speaks to coach Tyler Cottle. Cottle instructed Whigham to win the triple jump and she listened. (Will Trostel)
Cedar Crest brothers Cameron, left, and Leo Tirado competed with and against each in the high jump at the Lebanon County Track and Field Championships on Friday night. Cameron upset his top-seeded older brother to capture the title. (Will Trostel)

“I’m originally from Hershey and when I took over as head coach, I was a Lebanon County newbie,” said coach Danny Byrd, whose Palmyra boys finished first as a team and whose Cougar girls finished as the runner-up to Cedar Crest in the team competition. “Over the years, the Lebanon County championships has just been something we’ve looked forward to. It’s just a fun meet. Our kids look forward to it so much and it gets them fired up.

“From all six schools, there are so many incredible athletes on the field,” he continued. “I think that the more people see it (the county meet), the more people are going to realize how talented these kids are. It’s such a great event. I’d guess it’s the premiere sporting event in the area. When I was there (on Friday), I was just watching all the excitement. I think it brings out the best in a lot of kids.”

Cedar Crest sophomore Eliana Schneider finished second in the javelin to Palmyra’s Sofie Price’s winning throw of 132-3. (Will Trostel)

By scoring 168.5 points, the Palmyra boys ended Cedar Crest’s remarkable run of 25 Lebanon County Track and Field team championships over the last 26 years. The ELCO boys finished third as a team, followed by Lebanon, Northern Lebanon and Annville-Cleona.

On the girls’ side, Cedar Crest out-distanced runner-up Palmyra by a similar points margin for the team title. Annville-Cleona came in third, followed by ELCO, Lebanon and Northern Lebanon.

Entering the shot put competition, Cedar Crest’s Alex Kissinger, left, and Tristan Long were the event’s top two seeds. (Will Trostel)
With an effort of 45-1.5, Cedar Crest junior Alex Kissinger captured the silver medal in the shot put event. (Will Trostel)
Cedar Crest junior Tristan Long was crowned Lebanon County king of the shot put, following a winning heave of 47-4.25. (Will Trostel)

“I think the track-and-field coaching staffs in Lebanon County are as good as it gets,” said Cedar Crest head coach Rob Bare. “The level of competition is ridiculous. I think the camaraderie at the meet is amazing. There are a lot of kids from other schools hanging out and talking. It’s a pretty cool atmosphere. That’s what makes it special.”

Each year the Cedar Crest track and field program adopts a team motto. This year’s is “Pay the Rent.” (Will Trostel)
Cedar Crest track and field athletes Kayden Tirado and Jack Waranavage, with head coach Rob Bare. A master motivator, Bare is recognized as one of the top coaches in any sport in Lebanon County (Will Trostel)

Palmyra’s Tyler Burgess was named the Outstanding Male Athlete of the 2024 Lebanon County Track and Field Championships. He won the 110 high hurdles, the 300 hurdles, collaborated with Jacob Burgess, Jonathan McDannell and Travis McDannell to finish first in the 400-meter relay and teamed with Jonathan McDannell, Luke Vottero and Cornelius Cummings to capture second place in 1600-meter relay,

Annville-Cleona junior sprinter Kendall Cooper was presented with the Outstanding Female Athlete award at the county meet. She took home gold in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and combined with Miracle Hershey, Jada Morales and Sophia Caporaletti to finish first in the 400-meter relay and second in the 1600-meter relay events.

“One of the things I try to stress is the team aspect,” said Byrd. “Like, ‘What can you do to make the person next to you better?’ It’s not all about winning. I get excited when kids have have personal records and compete. All of that work and determination is going to make you a better person. I love the team aspect of the sport. That’s what I like about the county meet; there are team championships.”

Eleana Schaffer ran the third leg of Palmyra’s victorious 3200-meter race. As a team, the Cougars finished second to host Cedar Crest. (Will Trostel)
Lebanon High student-athletes Gavin Sheetz, left, and Ramon Urena. Urena was crowned the Lebanon County champion in the 800-meter run, with a time of 1:57.31. (Will Trostel)
ELCO’s Sara Miller signs up with the PIAA official for her hurdle event. A three-sport, student-athlete Miller captured a silver medal in the 300 hurdles. (Will Trostel)
From bottom left counter-clockwise, the Palmyra team of Amber McCurdy, Madilyn Gingrich, Eleana Shaffer, and Abby Beraducci was victorious in the 3200-meter relay with a time of 10:02.20. (Will Trostel)
From left to right, Cedar Crest student-athletes Kylie Boger, Kaddel Howard, and Samantha Fink. A sophomore, Howard is the reigning PIAA Class AAA champion in the 400-meter dash. (Will Trostel)
ELCO sprinter Jake Williams laces up his cleats prior to competition. (Will Trostel)

The origins of the Lebanon County Track and Field Championships can be traced to a Lebanon Daily News-sponsored event contested on the cinders of Lebanon Alumni Stadium. After the current Lebanon High School was built in the 1970s, the county meet was moved to South Eighth Street in the city, remaining there until being relocated to Cedar Crest in 2023.

Lebanon High School students sell t-shirts to benefit the events. From left to right: Davonte Martinez, Thadeous Gilbert, and Sebastian Polanco. Commemorative items have always been popular merchandise at the Lebanon County Track and Field Championships. (Will Trostel)
Food was also available at the event via Rock and Bounce Treats. The Lebanon County Track and Field Championships is as much of a social event as it is a sporting event. (Will Trostel)

Over seven decades of existence, thousands of local residents have competed in the event.

“We tell our kids, ‘It’s not what you do; it’s how you do it,’” said Bare. “It doesn’t matter if you finish first, second, third or as a county champion; it matters how you compete. Positive attitudes can do amazing things. If you go about sports the right way, you’re going to be successful in life. Put the work in and take advantage of every opportunity.”

Athletically, the Lebanon Track and Field Championships, which was contested on Friday evening at Boltz Stadium on the campus of Cedar Crest High School, signals the beginning of the end of another school year. (Will Trostel)

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Jeff Falk is a seasoned journalist based in Lebanon, PA. He's a graduate of Cedar Crest High School, Penn State University, and a lifelong resident of Lebanon, born and raised. Currently, he is a feature writer for Engle Publishing in Lancaster, the editor of LebCoSports.com, sports director at WLBR...