Going into the 2023 spring season, the boys and girls of the Hempfield Track & Field team have started strong. This season has many returning athletes who will continue the legacy, along with promising underclassmen ready to take on new challenges. 

     A lot of potential was shown during the first meet against Manheim Township. Right off the bat, an exciting race ensued between the two boys 4×800 relay teams. Each member gave their full efforts and never backed down. After a series of gutsy races, powerful throws, and impressive jumps, the boys took home a win with a final score of 96 to 45.  Jordan Thode made a great difference in the score with his 1st place discus throw. For the girls, many new athletes made their strong debuts. Several freshmen scored points and some took first place in their new events, including Julia Sweigart in the 300m hurdles. The sophomores, juniors, and seniors used their experience to their advantage. They strategically raced and led the team to place in multiple events. The final score for the girls was 57 to 84, with Hempfield losing, but there was a lot to be proud of. 

     The success continued on for the next dual meets, including an away meet at Penn Manor, where both the boys and girls teams won. The final score for the boys was 86-64, with many standout performances in the pole vault, javelin, 1600m, and high jump. Brody Weachter put on a great show for the team and audience in the pole vault. For the girls, the score was 89-61! Izzy Heisey had four 1st places in her sprinting events. Many jumpers made a difference in the scores, and the girls took first, second, and third place in the 200m, 400m, 800m, and 3200m. 

      Next up was the intense competition against Cedar Crest. Both the boys and girls teams lost, but not without putting up a fight. There were six female athletes who got personal records in the 400m dash and twelve in the 200m dash! The 4x100m relay took first. All three high jumpers and throwers got a personal record, with Sydney Rhoads qualifying for the league meet. For the boys, Aidan Hodge ran the second fastest 1600m time in school history, and the boys 4×400 meter relay gave their all, taking first place. 

      Currently, Ella Wolfe, Aidan Hodge, Joe Fahrney, Emerson Long, Sydney Rhoads, Pete Wenzel, Brody Weachter, Sam Freedman, Molly Siebert, Sam Meyer, and Eddie Asadu have qualified for the league meet. Stay tuned for more updates following the next meets.