Seneca’s Vincent Rupp wins Class 2A silver in high jump at PIAA meet

SHIPPENSBURG ― It wasn’t Friday’s two-hour weather delay during the PIAA track and field championships that worried Seneca’s Vincent Rupp.

It was the major venue change for his appearance in the meet’s Class 2A boys high jump.

Rupp had never competed indoors in that event before then. His experience within Shippensburg University’s Heiges Field House, located within walking distance of the meet’s main venue of Seth Grove Stadium, could have been more agonizing had he not heeded a suggestion from jumping coach Richard Durko.

“It’s a good thing coach told me to bring my basketball shoes,” Rupp said. “I put them in my bag right at the last second.”

The senior doubts he’d be a PIAA silver medalist had they been left home.

Rupp, who was seeded fourth as District 10’s champion, cleared 6 feet, 4 inches. Only the successful 6-5 height for Hayden Smith of Union-Allegheny Clarion Valley was better.

Rupp also finished second in the 2A high jump despite his haphazard preparations for it.

“I was loose for (Friday) until about an hour in, when I saw the rain starting to come down,” he said. “They told us to starting warming up (for outdoor jumps), but I didn’t even bother to put my spikes on because I knew they were going to call it. I kept my sneakers on but I was first in the gym, so they stayed dry.”