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Hatboro-Horsham's Marino is second in state pole vault

SHIPPENSBURG - Nick Marino almost left everything he had in the pole vault pit Friday afternoon at the PIAA track and field championships in Shippensburg.

SHIPPENSBURG - Nick Marino almost left everything he had in the pole vault pit Friday afternoon at the PIAA track and field championships in Shippensburg.

On a near 90-degree day under a relentless sun and almost cloudless sky, the Hatboro-Horsham vaulter eventually outdueled nearly every competitor, notched a personal best and finished in second place.

On his final attempt, No. 10 on the day, Marino plopped into the red pit, his sanguine-colored jersey nearly matching his sun-battered skin.

As Marino rose, an official asked if he was OK as the junior Hatter nodded and wobbled toward his congratulatory coaches.

"My last attempt, I almost passed out in the pit," Marino said, his silver medal dangling from his weary neck. "I was very tired, like light-headed."

State College senior Griffin Thompson won the event with a height of 16 feet, 3 inches. Marino's best height, a personal best, was 15-9. The height also qualified him to compete in the national championships in June.

As he fielded interview questions from reporters, Marino's face still dripped sweat as veins bulged from his temples.

"It was worth it," he said, mustering a smile.

Comeback kid. In the long jump, Del-Val Charter senior Jahmair Craig was just happy to compete last year when he finished 10th. It was, after all, his first year competing in high school track.

What a difference a year makes.

The University of Pittsburgh-bound jumper finished second on Friday with a personal record jump of 23-9 in the Class 2A finale.

Schuylkill Valley sophomore took gold with a jump of 23-11 1/4.

So, what was the reason for Craig's success?

"I know what I'm capable of doing," said Craig, who went to Parkway Northwest as a freshman and sophomore but did not compete in track. "I know I can go out here and win, just put everything you have toward winning."

Craig has competed in summer AAU track since eighth grade, but Parkway Northwest did not field a team, and Craig didn't compete for schools with which it partnered.

On Friday, he also qualified for Saturday's semifinals in the 100 meters, 200 and the 4x100 relay.

"If I really put my mind to it, along with a work ethic, I can really take this far," he said. "Your mentality has to be right and then you have to work hard."

Bumped and bruised. Cheltenham High junior Chanel Brissett banged her left knee on a hurdle, coach Kelly Jensen said, during a preliminary race for the 100 hurdles Friday morning. Brissett, who recently became a provisional qualifier in the same event for the Olympic Trials in Oregon, stumbled and nearly fell during the race before regaining her balance and winning the heat.

Her status for Saturday's semifinals is unknown.

Post-nasal panic. Darian Alston awoke Friday morning to a tickle in his throat and post-nasal drip leaking from his nose.

Panic set in shortly thereafter as the Downingtown West senior prepared for the meet.

"I was like,'Oh, God, I'm not going to do well!' " Alston said. "My throat, runny nose the whole night. I didn't know, but I had to just think positively."

After a poor showing last year, Alston finished third on Friday in the Class 3A boys' triple jump with a distance of 48-1 3/4.

Gettysburg's Ravaughn Dillard took first place with a distance of 48-7.

Unknown to him, Alston's 10th-place finish as a junior was the result of a stress fracture in his left foot. In January, he also injured his left hamstring.

After that, the Penn State commit, took no chances.

"Vitamins, calcium pills and stretching all the time," he said. "Just taking care of my body because this is my prize."

The meet is scheduled to resume Saturday.

@AceCarter

Cartera@phillynews.com