On Friday in the PIAA track and field championships, Hempfield Area senior Liz Tapper claimed gold in the Class 3A girls shot put, while teammate Peyton Murray took silver in the same event in Class 3A boys. A day later at Shippensburg University, the roles were reversed, as Murray, a junior, placed first in the discus, while Tapper finished as runner up in the event.

Tapper took first in the shot put with a distance of 45-2, easily surpassing runner up Alexa Brown of Strath Haven, who threw 43-2.5. Norwin senior Savannah Schneck placed eighth in the event.

Meanwhile, Murray’s golden effort in the discus came by a wide margin, as he measured 185-9, well ahead of the 177-0 scored by Matthew Arnold of York County School of Technology. Two other county competitors placed in the event, as Penn-Trafford junior Matthew Sarnowski finished third, while Jack Crider of Kiski Area took eighth.

Tapper garnered silver in the discus, as her throw of 155-8 slotted behind the 163-9 toss by Ella Lucas of Warwick.

Murray’s second-place effort in the shot put came on a throw measuring 54-7, which was behind Berks Catholic’s Brady Mider, who notched 58-9.75.

Also taking silver was Derry Area sophomore Sophia Mazzoni, who registered 143.6 on her throw in the 2A girls javelin, well behind the 170.2 effort by Evelyn Bliss from Union in District 9.

Mount Pleasant Area senior Tiffany Zelmore placed in two events, highlighted by a third-place effort in the Class 2A girls discus. In that event, Zelmore measured 123-4, while she ranked sixth in the shot put with a distance of 36-11.25.

Another Norwin girl placed, as senior Hannah Shaw finished fourth in the Class 3A pole vault.

Meanwhile, Ligonier Valley sophomore John Jablunovsky tied for fourth, as he placed in the Class 2A boys high jump.

Franklin Regional freshman Monroe Law placed fifth in the Class 3A girls 100-meter dash, while Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore Eva Denis ranked seventh in the Class 2A girls event.

In the team scoring, the Hempfield Area boys finished highest among Westmoreland County teams, as the Spartans placed sixth with a score of 18. Similarly, the Spartans paced county girls squads, as they tied for 10th with a score of 18.