Big Spring's Vinny Todaro has always considered the 1,600 to be his best track event.
But following a PIAA Class AA cross country championship this fall, Todaro is strongly considering shifting his focus to the 3,200.
Todaro certainly looked strong in the two-mile event at Saturday's 87th Jack Roddick/Shippensburg University High School Track and Field Invitational, held at Seth Grove Stadium.
Todaro won the 3,200 in seemingly effortless fashion, posting a time of 9:27.43 to finish nine seconds ahead of the runner-up, Dallas' Dominic Deluca.
"This was only my third-ever competitive two-mile," Todaro said. "As much as I hate to say it, I may be more of a 3,200 kid come states. I ran a PR in the 3,200 in cross country and broke 10 minutes for the first time.
"After cross country, I thought maybe I'm more of a long-distance guy."
The 3,200 was a close race between Todaro and Deluca until the final lap, when Todaro burst ahead of his opponent and sprinted out the final 400 meters for victory.
A newcomer to the 3,200, Todaro said he wasn't exactly sure how to approach his race.
"I wasn't sure what to expect," Todaro said. "It's definitely a whole new game for me. I figured I'd just stick near the top until the end, and then go for it."
In comparison, Todaro finished seventh against a talented field in the 1,600, posting a time of 4:27.97.
Todaro was seeded first with a time of 4:16.73, but that time was from last season.
Todaro was a little concerned when he realized he was competing against guys who were running miles in the 4:21-4:23 range.
"I don't know what happened out there. I came through the first lap in 66 (seconds), but normally I'm faster," Todaro said. "My body was telling me this was a fast race, but my brain was saying, 'Oh crap.'
"I just sat back and was hoping for the best."
While Todaro works to figure out which event he will pursue in the postseason, Harrisburg's Jaylen Kent is just working on getting faster.
The Cougars' burner turned in an individual win in the 100 (11.14), took third in the 200 (23.02) and anchored his team to victory in the 4x100 (43.63).
"It feels great knowing I can compete with the best of them," Kent said. "With all the guys in the 100, I didn't know what was going to happen. I just started running."
Kent said he wasn't happy with his time in the 100, but added he was very proud of his 4x100 squad, which included teammates Domonique Shurns, Desmond Kent and Kyle Martin.
The group started in Lane 8, normally reserved for teams with no chance of winning.
"We just knew we had to go out and get it," Kent said. "We had to believe in each other. We're just getting more and more confidence every meet.
"We know we're the best in the conference, but come district time, we want to compete with everyone else."
Milton Hershey's Lindell Robinson-Swinson gained a big boost of confidence following his victory in the 400. He posted a time of 50.10 to finish ahead of James Buchanan's Peter Hughey (51.15) and State College's Mason Post (51.79).
Just cleared to run in March following surgery on the lining of his rotator cuff, Robinson-Swinson is already ahead of where he was at this point last year.
"Honestly, I think I did pretty good," Robinson-Swinson said. "If I keep going against faster people, I think my time will keep on dropping."
Other local winners included Chambersburg's Kellen Williams (300 hurdles, 38.85), Palmyra's Tim Moses (pole vault, 15-9) and Milton Hershey's 4x400 squad of Leeshawn Joyner, James Peters, Robinson-Swinson and Jonathen Simmons, which clocked a winning time of 3:26.54.
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