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.
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.
“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.”
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.
“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.”
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.”
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.
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.”
Full results
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