By JEREMY SELLEW
Ringgold freshman distance runner Ryan Pajak continues to impress on the track as the track and field season gets into full swing.
Pajak had a memorable day Saturday at the Tri-State Track Coaches Association Track and Field Invitational at West Mifflin High School.
Pajak finished second overall in the 3200m run with a time of 9:23.65. The finish broke the Ringgold program record in the event by nearly 24 seconds, previously held by his brother, Rams senior Lucas Pajak (9:47).
Ryan Pajak’s time is currently the fastest time run by a freshman in the state and third nationally.
Ryan Pajak’s performance led a number of local medalists in the boys’ events Saturday.
Belle Vernon Area’s Dane Anden finished first in the high jump with a leap of 6 feet.
Joining Anden with a first-place finish was McKeesport’s Colin Lyons, who finished first in the discus with a toss measuring 172.05 feet. He added a fifth-place finish in the shot put (46-01.25).
Lyons’ McKeesport teammate Assad Robinson (11.60) finished fifth in the 100m dash, and Elizabeth Forward’s Logan Monzak medaled in the 200m by finishing eighth with a time of 24.26.
BVA’s Hunter Meade was seventh in the 400m (53.79), while Elizabeth Forward’s Andrew Smith finished third and Ringgold’s Ben Daerr was eighth in the 800. Smith crossed the finish line in 1:59.56 with Daerr ending with a time of 2:05.63.
Lucas Pajak (4:38.21) and Daerr (4:39.07) medaled in the 1600, finishing seventh and eighth.
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