RUNNING REBOUND: Coudersport Senior Kevin Sherry Puts Disappointing 2023 Season Behind Him With Gold Medal in 1,600-meter Run at PIAA Championships

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (EYT/D9) — By the time the PIAA Track and Field Championships rolled around last season, Kevin Sherry was spent.

A season’s worth of running the 3,200-meter run, the 1,600-meter run, the 800 and a leg of the 4×800 relay had worn him down.

Then a junior at Coudersport, he finished a disappointing eighth in the 1,600 in Shippensburg.

He vowed to not let that happen again.

This season as a senior, Sherry whittled down his workload. He added shorter races to improve his speed.

The strategy worked.

Sherry proudly wore a gold medal around his neck after winning the state title this year at sun-drenched Seth Grove Stadium, finishing with a time of 4 minutes, 13.74 seconds to win the Class 2A title.

“Last year I had a bit of a rough year,” Sherry said. “Coming into this year I knew I needed to show up and show out.

“Last year, I definitely didn’t have enough speed,” Sherry added. “I didn’t feel great. At districts last year, I didn’t do great compared to the year before.”

No such problem this year for Sherry.

He won the District 9 championship last week with a time of 4:18.04.

Sherry knew he had to do better at the state meet to have a chance to win.

“I knew it would have to be in the 4:12 to 4:18 range,” Sherry said. “Somewhere in there just from past year.”

Sherry was at his strongest over his final 400 meters, running it in 1:02.05.

Franklin’s Caleb Prettyman was second, finishing in 4:16.49.

“I think it was definitely some adrenalin,” Sherry said. “I’ve been doing some more speed this year, which I think has helped a lot. I have a little more speed and a little more endurance. I’ve been doing the 4×4 and the open 400, which I think has helped with my finish.”

Sherry has the 3,200 to run on Saturday.

“Go out and have fun,” Sherry said, smiling. “Go out definitely hard. Trying to place. And go for another title. Why not?”