Ephrata’s Sophia Rivera was on top of the PIAA world. She’s not too far off the national throne, either.
At Friday’s New Balance Nationals Outdoor at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Rivera placed sixth in the girls discus. The rising senior threw 155 feet, 9 inches to reach the podium and later finished 16th in the shot put at 41-7.25.
Recent Lancaster Catholic grad Margaret Bila joined the Mountaineers standout with discus honors, unleashing an eighth-place throw of 149-11. Rivera, who won the PIAA Class 3A discus and shot put titles after sweeping the Lancaster-Lebanon League and District Three contingents, measured 155-9 on her second attempt and faulted on her first, fourth and sixth throws.
Bila, the District Three and state Class 2A discus champion, touched 149-11 after 129-4 and 139-6 marks. She missed on her fifth attempt and concluded with a 138-7 heave.
The Manheim Township boys 3,200-meter relay unit of Ethan Peffley, Andrew Kemper, Adam Kingston and Cole Stevens cruised to 10th place in 7:43.84. Peffley, Kingston and Stevens contributed to the Blue Streaks’ fourth-place laurels in the 6,400 relay on Thursday.
Warwick’s Isabella George was the other local top 20 finisher, snaring 17th in the freshman girls discus in 111-0.
The events continue through Sunday.
