Senior triple jumper wins East Allegheny’s 1st PIAA track gold medal

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, May 25, 2024 | 10:07 PM

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SHIPPENSBURG — East Allegheny senior Lorenzo Fancher entered the PIAA Track and Field Championship seeded No. 1 in Class 2A triple jump.

And he left Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium as he came, still No. 1.

Fancher became the first track athlete from East Allegheny to win a PIAA title when he won the triple jump with a leap of 45 feet, 6 ¾ inches. Close behind him was Greensburg Salem sophomore Luke Rullo, who jumped a personal record of 44-11.

“To be honest with, I’m a little surprised that I won,” Fancher said. “I was injured for most of the season, which held me back. But I was able to fight through it and get the win. I’m very happy about it.

“Winning this means a lot especially after I learned that I was the first athlete to win a state title.”

Fancher hit his winning jump on his fourth attempt.

“I promised my coach I’d get the school record,” Fancher said. “I didn’t the record, but I got the gold medal.”

He said the jump was nearly perfect.

“It felt great,” Fancher said. “I had great speed, great phases, but a little weak on the third phase. But it pushed me to the win.”

Fancher has committed to continue his track career at Slippery Rock.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: East Allegheny