The Helman Invitational at Pennridge High is annually a high level meet with plenty of AAA athletes that challenge the Dock track and field team. It was the case again Thursday and the Pioneers responded to the challenges with several bests in their final full-team meet before the Bicentennial Athletic League Championships.

Luke Smeland had his best in boys shot put with a 40-feet-0.5 personal record for ninth place. The senior captain sits second the District 1 AA boys rankings in the event. He also had a great boys discus series and finished 13th with a personal-best 99-5 throw, which sits seventh in the district, and he sent the javelin 116-1 for 11th.

Xander Morsby placed seventh with a personal record of 40-feet in the boys triple jump. He is ranked second in the district, just three inches off the leader. The sophomore also hit a personal best of 23.98 for 17th in the boys 200 meters, a mark that is tied for fifth in the district standings.

Bennett Briggs ran 46.61 seconds for 12th place in his first time in the boys 300 hurdles. The time puts him fourth in the district. Cade Jackson recorded a PR of 48.53 (fifth in the district ranks) and Roman Kurian had a best of 48.73 for seventh in the district. Kurian earlier ran 12.10 seconds on a moment’s notice in the boys 100 meters.

The boys 4x100 of Kurian, Jackson, Briggs and Morsby ran 46.98 for ninth place. The same quartet came back at the end of the meet to run 3:57.27 for the boys 4x400.

Briggs and Jackson both had PRs in the boys long jump. Briggs jumped 18-10.75 for 11th place and Jackson was just behind at 18-7. They rank fifth and sixth respectively in the district.

Aaron Sensenig posted a season-best 11:16.29 in the boys 3,200 meters. The senior is ninth in the latest district rankings. Ryan Ykoruk returned after the 1,600 to post a personal-record 11:57.00 for the 3,200. The freshman ran 5:34.20 for the boys 1,600 meters. Isaac Snedigar had a PR of 2:31.51 in the boys 800.

The Dock track and field teams will host the BAL Championships on Wednesday and Thursday. The Pioneers will honor their five seniors on Wednesday following the day’s competition.