Palmerton's Brinn Doherty seemed primed for a breakout season.

Coming off a sophomore campaign that ended with her second consecutive trip to the PIAA Track and Field Championships in the Class AA long jump, Doherty appeared set to take another step forward as a junior.But Doherty never got the chance to hit her stride.Working her way back from a hamstring injury suffered on the second day of practice, Doherty's season came to an abrupt end on April 16.Competing in the 100-meter dash against Palisades' standout Mary Ramsden, Doherty used a late lean in an effort to edge her rival. As Doherty lunged toward the line, it contorted her body in a way that her spikes stuck in the track, sending her hurdling to the ground.What followed was a gruesome broken arm that took Doherty off the track for the rest of the year and ended any hopes of going to Shippensburg for a third time.My, how things have changed.Doherty returned for her senior year both fully healed and motivated, and she will now get a chance to finish her scholastic career on the podium at Shippensburg's Seth Grove Stadium as a state qualifier in the Class AA 100 and long jump.Doherty confessed it took her some time to return to form."Usually it takes me a little bit to get back in my groove," she said. "In the beginning of the season I wasn't moving too well. But when it comes to leagues and districts, that's when I typically start peaking and that's the time I want to start peaking."She took second place in the 100 and long jump, and third place in the 200 at the Colonial League championships, before placing second in the 100 and third in the long jump at the District 11 meet to qualify for states. Doherty also took third in the 200, and was a member of the 400-meter relay team that took fourth at districts.While no one could have predicted Doherty would return so strong, the results haven't surprised Palmerton head coach Jeff Minnich."What I expected is what I have seen and what I've gotten," Minnich said. "She has always been one of the better sprinters and jumpers in the district since she started. Once she got back to full strength physically and mentally, it was like vintage Brinn. This is the girl we've known since she was a ninth grader."Though Doherty's body of work has been impressive since her freshman campaign, she lamented not being able to compete in more than a few meets as a junior."Knowing I got hurt my junior year was important because that's the year a lot of colleges look at," Doherty said. "I was devastated. I didn't know what I was going to do - I thought I would have to wait until my senior year for colleges to look at me."But it made me even more motivated. My family really supported me and kept telling me I would come back stronger than ever as a senior."Having further proven herself on the track, Doherty, who also plays soccer, committed earlier this year to continue her education and track career at Millersville University.With time to reflect on the injury, Doherty often wonders what could have been."Mentally, I think I'm better overall," she said. "But I think my junior year, before it started, that was my best training year. I did so good my sophomore year, and I was so hungry and ready to go my junior year. I worked so hard all winter, and I felt great at practice, then everything happened."I always say I'm curious to see what I would have done last year, what my times would have been if nothing happened. But overall, this year I know injuries can happen, so I'm more aware of that now and more prepared."With the past behind her and a bright future ahead, all Doherty is thinking about now is ending her career on a high note - and with a state medal."That would be awesome," she said. "But I'm just happy I'm even going to states, especially in two events."Good CompanyDoherty won't be alone in Shippensburg, as Blue Bomber teammates Logan Blasiak (pole vault) and Spencer Hay (high jump), who earned the highest seeds of all TN athletes, will also be competing this weekend. Blasiak is the top seed in the Class AA pole vault, while Hay is the fourth seed in the high jump, an event he took third in a year ago.Minnich is expecting Blasiak and Hay to maintain the type of performances that have gotten them to this point."For both of them, I think the experience of having been there before will benefit them," the coach said. "They both won district titles in pressure situations, where they pretty much had to win to advance, and they did it."They're performing the best they have all year, and they understand psychologically and physically what it takes to compete out there. If they perform like they have been and like they're capable of, I expect them to be in the mix."Full SlateTamaqua's Monika Shimko won't have much downtime this weekend, as she's competing in three events, including the Class AA 800, an event she also qualified for the last two years.In addition to the 800, Shimko will also be competing in the 3200 relay with Olivia Stanek, Chelsea Frantz and Victoria Labar. Shimko, Frantz, Labar and Janette Kabana also qualified in the 1600 relay.Morgan Boyle will also be competing in multiple events for the Lady Raiders, as she qualified for both the pole vault and javelin. Boyle has medaled in both events the past two years, and placed sixth in the javelin and eighth in the pole vault a year ago.Shanna Brinkworth, who will be making her first appearance at the state meet in the pole vault, will join Boyle. The Lady Raiders' Allison Pedersen will also be competing in Shippensburg for the first time after winning district gold in the shot put last week.Tamaqua's Joseph Nortavagae will be another first-time participant after winning the Class AA 400 at last week's district meet.Marian will have a strong presence in both boys and girls Class AA competition.Dominic Mussoline will be the busiest of the bunch after qualifying as the district runner-up in the 800 and also as a member of the 1600 and 3200 relay teams. Freshman Emma McClafferty (discus) advanced as a district champion, as did Tina Capparell (1600), who also qualified in the 800 after taking second at districts a week ago. Capparell was also a state qualifier in the 800 last season.Marian's Brenna Karnish qualified in the shot put after making the 'Trip to Ship' a year ago in the discus.Time to ShineJim Thorpe's Rayan Green will be returning to Shippensburg in the triple jump, an event he was seventh in last season.Sisters Autumn and Brooke Cope will represent Jim Thorpe in the Class AAA javelin for the second straight year. Autumn is coming off a district championship in the event, while Brooke took second.Pleasant Valley's Mike Mitchell (long jump) will be returning to Shippensburg after qualifying for the state meet in the triple jump last year, while Seth Slavin will be making his first trip as an individual after qualifying for the 3200.On the girls' side, Jenn Mickens, who will be looking to close out her scholastic career with a state medal, will be making her third appearance in Shippensburg after winning the Class AAA 800 at last week's district meet.Northern Lehigh's Jillian Olewine qualified for the Class AA long jump, while Gavin Kemery qualified for the Class AA 3200 for the Bulldogs.Following a Schuylkill League title and a runner-up finish at last week's district meet, Lehighton's Hunter Greene (javelin) will be making his first appearance at the state meet in Class AAA competition in hopes of continuing what has been a breakout season.WHERE THEY STAND … The PIAA Track and Field Championships will be held Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium. Following are the Times News area athletes that will be competing. They are listed by their classification and event with their seed; qualifying time, distance or height; and the number of competitors also are listed in parentheses.BOYSCLASS AAA3200 (33 boys)29. Seth Slavin, Pleasant Valley, 9:35.86Long jump (28 boys)8. Mike Mitchell, Pleasant Valley, 22-4.25Triple jump (26 boys)8. Rayan Green, Jim Thorpe, 45-11.5Javelin (25 boys)16. Hunter Greene, Lehighton, 176-7CLASS AA3200 relay (27 teams)17. Marian Catholic, 8:17.60400 (24 boys)19. Joseph Nortavage, Tamaqua, 51.29800 (25 boys)7. Dominic Mussoline, Marian Catholic, 1:57.623200 (25 boys)16. Gavin Kemery, Northern Lehigh, 9:58.641600 relay (27 teams)22. Marian Catholic, 3:30.06High jump (26 boys)4. Spencer Hay, Palmerton, 6-4Pole vault (24 boys)1. Logan Blasiak, Palmerton, 14-0GIRLSCLASS AAA800 (31 girls)13. Jenn Mickens, Pleasant Valley, 2:16.13Javelin (30 girls)5. Autumn Cope, Jim Thorpe, 131-07. Brooke Cope, Jim Thorpe, 130-2CLASS AA3200 relay (23 teams)8. Tamaqua, 9:47.14100 (26 girls)22. Brinn Doherty, Palmerton, 12.751600 (29 girls)14. Tina Capparell, Marian Catholic, 5:16.99800 (24 girls)14. Monika Shimko Tamaqua, 2:21.9919. Tina Capparell, Marian Catholic, 2:25.171600 relay (25 teams)12. Tamaqua, 4:05.82Pole vault (26 girls)12. Morgan Boyle, Tamaqua, 10-023. Shanna Brinkworth, Tamaqua, 9-0Long jump (27 girls)9. Jill Olewine, Northern Lehigh, 17-5.7513. Brinn Doherty, Palmerton, 17-2.75Shot put (29 girls)20. Allison Pedersen, Tamaqua, 34-10.025. Brenna Karnish, Marian Catholic, 33-9.0Discus (26 girls)11. Emma McClafferty, Marian Catholic, 117-11Javelin (26 girls)9. Morgan Boyle, Tamaqua, 126-5WHAT - AND HOW - TO WATCH … As in years past, the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will provide exclusive live coverage of the event on Saturday. But there will be a new wrinkle in the form of a virtual reality experience."We are thrilled to partner with Greenfish labs to provide a new experience for viewers," Brian Lockman, president and CEO of PCN, said in a press release. "With this technology viewers can be on the track inside Seth Grove Stadium and have a live 360-degree view of the event. We provide live coverage of all of the PIAA Championships and are always looking for new ways to enhance the experience for parents and fans. This is an incredibly exciting time for PCN."Live event coverage starts at 9 a.m. Saturday and is available on cable or through the PCN Select streaming service online and on the PCN Select mobile application. Those interested in the virtual reality experience can do so through the 360 live video stream online at

www.pcntv.com. All events will replay on PCN Select at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 29 and be available on demand on Monday, May 30.