Eighteen Tyrone athletes competed at the PIAA State Championship Meet last weekend, with Kylee Nelson leading the Golden Eagles with a fifth-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 118-6.
Making her accomplishment even more remarkable is the fact that Nelson wasn’t even sure if she would have a track season after having shoulder surgery last year.
But in the past few weeks, she has worked her way back into form and went into the state meet intending to reach the podium.
“I didn’t have a good first throw, but my second one was 117 and my third one got me in the finals with a 119, so I feel pretty happy about it,” Nelson said.
Tyrone Head Coach Brad Kanuch was very impressed with Nelson’s comeback this season.
“Kylee is such a competitor,” Kanuch said. “I’m sure all of her coaches would say that about her. She is special, and she did something that is special. She has been through a lot over the last few years but her relentlessly competitive attitude helped her have an edge to be able to place at states.”
Another outstanding performance for the Lady Eagles came from Lola Woomer, who just missed the podium with a ninth-place finish in the high jump.
Woomer is just a freshman, so she will have a great chance of making the top eight next season.
Tyrone sent 18 athletes to Shippensburg, including five district champions and two school record-breaking relays.
“The team performed well at states,” Tyrone Head Coach Brad Kanuch said. “I think as a whole, we probably will all say we wish we did a little bit better, but it was two great days.”
Sophomore Sarah Chichester finished 27th in the 100m prelims and 30th in the 200m.
“Although states might not have gone the way I had hoped, the experience and getting to spend time with my friends was worth all the hard work we put in this past season,” Chichester said.
Junior Claire Lehman finished 25th in the 300m hurdles, and Nicole Ramsey was 22nd in the triple jump.
The Girls 4×100 relay team of junior Claire Lehman, junior Nicole Ramsey, senior Alayna Greene, and sophomore Sarah Chichester placed 32nd, and the 4×400 team of sophomore Sarah Chichester, sophomore Taylor Wrye, sophomore Braeleigh Flicks, and junior Claire Lehman finished 23rd.
On the boy’s side, Tyrone sent the 1600-meter relay and the 3200-meter relay to states.
The 3200-meter relay team of Aiden Detwiler, Dante Novak, senior Tom Sutt, and junior Alex Brumbaugh placed 18th.
The 1600-meter relay team of sophomore Drew Irons, senior Aiden Detwiler, sophomore Tytus Novak, and Dante Novak placed 25th.
Drew Irons was the only individual athlete representing the boys, and he earned 25th in the 200m prelims
While many of the athletes did not post their best times or distances at states, overall the season was a very successful one for both teams.
Tyrone finished the 2025 season with a state medalist, five district champions, 18 state qualifiers, 23 place winners at districts, two team wins at invitationals, and four new school records.
“I am happy with the way the season went and looking forward to another great season next year. We have a lot returning for both the boys and the girls, so it should be another fun and successful season,” Kanuch said.
