Chance Post is a specimen.
At first glimpse of Conestoga Valley's standout senior athlete, you’d peg him as a tight end or even a lean and mean upper-weight wrestler.
You’d be incorrect.
Post is the Buckskins’ hurdles specialist. And he’s having quite the spring on local tracks.
Earlier this season, Post romped to 300 hurdles victories in the PA Track Classic at Plymouth-Whitemarsh in 38.28, and in the Bruce Dallas Invitational at Cumberland Valley in 38.99.
His 38.28 was the fastest time in the state this spring.
Then Post went out and bettered that mark last Saturday, when he hit the line in a blazing 37.89 to win gold in Hempfield’s Black Knight Invitational — setting the meet record, gaining a new PR and going under 38 in the process.
“Whew, 37,” Post said, still catching his breath on a warm spring day in Landisville. “That’s been my goal since freshman year.”
Incredibly, Post posts these eye-popping times and chugs around the track quite impressively while battling sports-induced asthma.
He’s also the top 110 hurdler in the L-L League this spring; Post, who also competed in cross country for the Buckskins, ran a nifty 14.45 to win Black Knight Invitational gold last weekend.
Post will be in Philadelphia next week to compete in the Penn Relays; he qualified for the high school boys’ 400 hurdles event. And when the L-L League, District 3 and PIAA finals roll around next month, he’ll have plenty of bull’s-eyes in the 300 hurdles.
That’s what happens when you run a 37.89.
After clocking his incredible time at Hempfield, we played five questions with Post, who was still letting his win — and time — sink in …
HOW PROUD ARE YOU OF THIS RESULT — “It’s amazing. I always do my best. That’s my goal. Whether it’s during a workout or in a meet. So to get that No. 1 time in the state … it’s a lot of hard work and dedication. But it’s paying off.”
YOU WENT UP AGAINST RIVAL DEVON SANTOS FROM HEMPFIELD. HOW DID THE RACE GO — “Santos is so great to work off of. So it was great to be out there with him. I was able to pass him at the first hurdle. I knew I was in a good spot once I passed him. Santos has a great first 100 meters, so I knew that if I could keep up with him and even pass him, I’d be set for the rest of the race.”
Santos finished second on Saturday, earning silver in 39.44.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PRE-RACE ROUTINE — “I try and put my mind at ease and just relax. Breath. Normally I don’t get butterflies. Before a race I’ll pop on my music (Eminem, pump-up tunes) and just try and tune people out.”
STILL A LOT OF EVENTS OUT THERE THIS SPRING, BUT WHAT DOES THE 37.89 MEAN TO YOU — “Wow. It means a lot. So, so much. I’ve basically dedicated my life to track. You know, I was going to take a job doing construction, but now I have some big plans for track.”
WILL YOU RUN TRACK AT THE NEXT LEVEL — “My plan right now is to go to Thaddeus Stevens for two years and then to transfer. Hopefully to Penn State. This winter I hit the weight room every day. I did a lot of power lifting. I worked on everything. I’ve been running pretty much since I was born. So this is something I want to keep doing.”