SHIPPENSBURG -- In the final event of the PIAA 3A Track & Field Championships, the Downingtown West boys 4×400 meter relay team of junior Josiah Wade, junior Ryan Witherspoon, junior Olo Kolade and senior Andrew Ernst brought the crowd at Seth Grove Stadium to its feet one last time, winning by more than two seconds with a clocking of three minutes, 13.86 seconds.

Seeing Ernst run the homestretch with the lead, Downingtown West sprint coach Tracy Robinson put the race into perspective.

"Seeing Andrew coming down the stretch, (I thought of) all the pressure and all the hard work that (the quartet) put in," said Robinson. "They've won every single medal from indoor, they were All-Americans and now for them, this is the medal that they did not get yet (as of Saturday morning). When they won this, all the pressure went away, and I was so happy because they worked so hard, they deserve this."

Wade, who ran the first leg, said, "I just wanted to make the best of this race, it was our last race of the season, get out there and go as hard as I could."

Witherspoon, who took the second leg, said, "I just wanted to maintain our lead and give it to Olo in good position."

Kolade, the third leg, said, "I just saw my boy (Witherspoon) coming in, he was working; I just knew I had to put in the work on the backstretch and put my boy Andrew in a good spot. ... All of our hard work paid off."

Ernst, the anchor, said, "In my mind I was running as hard as I could, it was our last race of the day, giving it everything I had. My teammate gave me a great lead and I was like, 'I've got to maintain that,' and I did."

The victorious Whippets got plenty of hugs from family members on the Seth Grove Stadium turf field after the race.

Ernst motioned to his three teammates and said, "The love between these guys, it's our last race."

Robinson said, "Seeing Andrew cross the finish line, I was so happy for him - he's a very humble guy, he doesn't talk much, he comes in every single day and he does his work, he's our silent leader. We all take our cue from him. He's definitely going to be missed (when he graduates), but I'm so happy for him."

On Saturday morning, Ernst placed a strong second in the boys long jump with a mark of 24 feet, ¾ inches, finishing just 3 ¼ inches behind the winner.

Another Chester County athlete who sparkled at the PIAA 3A Track & Field Championships Saturday was Kennett sophomore Aydriane Bowden, who won three state medals on the day.

Bowden was a busy athlete Saturday, competing in the finals for 100 meter hurdles, 300 hurdles and 200 meter run, and winning state medals in all three events.

She started off the day finishing second in the 100 hurdles (14.07) behind Spring Grove junior Ella Bahn (13.64); then placed a strong second in the 300 hurdles (42.04), barely edged out by Bahn (41.98); and finally, placed third in the girls 200 meter dash (24.72), earning three state medals for the day.

Bowden, who earned fourth-place medals in both the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at PIAA 3A state meet last year, was asked for her thoughts on winning three medals this time.

"I'm proud of myself, and I've got to keep working harder," responded Bowden.

Bowden was particularly happy about her performance in the 200. On Friday, she posted a PR 25.30 in the prelims, then recorded a PR 24.72 in the finals Saturday, finishing behind just two runners, Cheltenham junior Amirah Nesmith (24.07) and JP McCaskey freshman Ella Petrosky (24.43).

Asked what the key was for her performance in the 200 final, Bowden responded, "Making sure I kept my form, and just trusting my preparation."

Kennett head coach John Ramagano said, "Aydriane had a nice step-up these two days (at the state meet), with two PRs and three medals all inside the top three. She has grown so much this season in our sport - she's a true athlete."

Thanks for Bowden's efforts, Kennett finished tied for third in the 3A girls team standings with 22 points, same as Owen J Roberts and Spring Grove. Souderton, in first place, had 33 points.

The versatile Bowden will participate in the New Balance Nationals in mid-June, competing in the 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles and 400 meter run.

Another local standout Saturday was the Downingtown West girls 4×100 relay of Simone Wilford, Elena Geanopulos, Macy McCormick and Molly Weitzman, who kicked it up a notch in Saturday's final. After placing fourth in Friday's prelims with a clocking of 48.50, the Whippet quartet finished third in Saturday's final with a time of 47.67, behind Parkland (47.41) and Lower Merion (47.64), shaving nearly one second off Friday's prelim clocking.

Wilford said, "I think the key for us was staying motivated, the weather was so much better today (than yesterday's cold, wet weather). Making sure to stay warm, stay energized, helped so much."

Weitzman said, "I think the key was that we got some practice in with the handoffs, making sure we knew what we were doing, during the break (after the 4×800 relays).

Geanopulos said, "Our motivation was strong, we've practiced so much together."

McCormick said, "We knew what we had to do, and the weather conditions were better today, it's not as cold and rainy as (Friday)."

Just after the 4×100, Weitzman finished sixth in the girls 400 meter run (57.03).

"I think I did well (in the 400) - I wish I could have run a faster time, but I'm so happy that I made the finals and medaled," said Weitzman, who won her first two PIAA track medals Saturday. "It's an amazing experience to make the finals."

In the girls 3200 meter run Saturday morning, West Chester Rustin junior Sophia Hnetinka earned a medal, finishing eighth with a time of 10:36.99. Downingtown West freshman Julia Kelly just missed earning a medal, placing 10th (10:37.24). Conestoga's Alexia Tubbs finished 15th. One week ago at districts, Tubbs, Hnetinka and Kelley finished 2-3-4 in the girls 3200.

In the boys 3200 meter run, Bishop Shanahan senior Steven Todd just missed earning a medal, finishing ninth (9:17.31).

In the girls high jump, West Chester Rustin's Aoife Speer-Gibson just missed earning a medal, finishing ninth (5-4). Avon Grove's Lexi Boiardi tied for 14th (5-2).

In the boys 4×800 relay, the Great Valley quartet of Trip Gomez, Jack Thomas, Ryan Pepperman and Chase Pepperman finished 10th (8:01.90) and the Downingtown West quartet of Finn Pook, Wade, Sam Leisenring and Evan Reidinger placed 12th (8:03.85).

NOTES: In the Class 2A boys 4×800 relay, the Regina Luminis Academy (of Berwyn) quartet of Luke Kozak, Gabe Simkiss, Sean O'Keefe and Martin O'Rourke just missed earning a medal, finishing ninth (8:14.44).