SHIPPENSBURG - Michael Fellin just seems to keep getting better.

On the heels of a stellar performance at last week’s District 11 meet, the Marian junior turned heads again on Friday.

This time, it landed Fellin on the podium in Shippensburg. And nearly on top.

Fellin ran to second place finish in the Class 2A 100 at the PIAA Track and Field Championships to claim his first state medal and cap an incredible season on the track.

“This is my first, technically second year, in track,” said Fellin. “Going to the state championships is nuts for me. I never thought I would be here. I said before it would be a dream come true and I was hoping to get first but Braedon Wisloski from Southern Columbia is a role model for me. And I’m going to come back for next year, he’s a sophomore and I’m a junior, and it’s just amazing to be here. I’m so blessed and thankful to be here.

“I am happy about that because it’s improvement every time I’m on the track. But if it’s not the best, then I have to keep going. I have to be the best. I have to keep pushing. Gotta be the best, and I’ll get there one day.”

Fellin placed second in the 100 with a time of 10.85. The junior ran a 10.95 in the prelims.

Wisloski won in 10.81.

“It was an amazing day. Even with coming in second, which isn’t where I want to be, it was an amazing day and there is some amazing competition,” said Fellin, who was a district champion in the 100 and 200 last week. “Every athlete that runs is by far the best athlete I know in high school. No one can compare to them, any sport can’t compare to track and field. It’s the most intimidating, most hard working. I love it every step of the way. I give all of my gratitude and all of my blessings to every single one of these athletes.”

Both of Fellin’s times in the 100 were personal bests, something that should provide even more incentive heading into next season.

“You never can be fed enough. There’s always something you want to do more,” he said. “I just said I want to be the best and I have to keep working toward that. Even though this is the end of the season technically, I have a lot of work to put in over the summer. Indoor track is coming up so I have to get ready for all of that and next season I’ll be back at it again.

“Being able to PR twice, I can’t complain about that.”

Fellin knew all about Wisloski, and never had to look far for a reminder.

“I write all of my competition on my hand,” said Fellin. “So I’ve raced against him twice before. We were at two invites, and he beat me both times. He beat me again, but he’s a hard worker and deserves it.”

It wasn’t the only medal of the day for Fellin, who teamed up with Jacob Fenstermaker, Ean Chelak and Johnny Malarkey to place seventh in the 400 relay with a time of 43.90 a week after winning the district title in the event.

“We were really confident pretty much all season especially when Mike came out this year and was running the times he was,” said Fenstermaker. “We instantly put it together and we were saying we’re going to states because this is one hell of a team we got this year, and we made it happen.”

The group combined its experiences and abilities to make it work.

“Mike was a sprinter and Jacob was a sprinter, me and Ean weren’t hardcore sprinters,” said Malarkey. “So we kind of just put it together and it worked out and we kept progressing.”

The season turned around after a disappointing eighth-place finish at the Wilson Invitational.

“It was more of a determination thing,” said Malarkey. “We just got closer as a team.”

Chelak also competed in the 400, finishing 18th with a time of 52.03.

“It felt good to finally be able to compete after last season was canceled,” he said. “Last year I was expecting to make it to states and repeat at districts and everything. Even with the 4x1 we were expecting to go to states last year. So finally having the opportunity this season felt amazing. We’re very grateful that we had every opportunity and our coaching staff helped us out so much and pushed us to get better this year.

“I gave it my all today and it feels good to wrap it and have closure.”

Palmerton’s Jonathan Perloni, Ana Recker and Owen Hibell also competed on the first day of the state meet.

Perloni was 11th in preliminaries of the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.77 and did not advance to the finals.

“I would have liked to run better, but just to be here is a great honor,” he said. “I wasn’t feeling nervous before the race, but maybe it got to me right before.”

Hibell finished 24th with a time of 11:48.16 in the 3200, and Recker had no height in the pole vault.

While Perloni ended his career at Shippensburg, both Recker and Hibell will have more opportunities to compete at the state meet.

“Owen and Ana are both underclassmen, Ana has one more year, Owen has two more years,” said Perloni. “I know for sure they’re going to be coming back and will be great leaders for what they do.

“They’re going to help the underclassmen coming up, and I just hope I was able to leave a good impression because I know they have the potential to do great things.”

Panther Valley’s Autumn Steibler was 22nd with a time of 50.05 in the 300 hurdles. She was seeded with a time of 50.61.

“It was amazing,” said Steibler. “It was such a great honor for me because it’s my senior year. I just wanted to get here, and I’m glad I did that. I’m glad I got to experience it.”

BACK AGAIN … Action resumes today with Class 3A competition at 9 a.m.

HAVE A DAY … North Schuylkill and Schuylkill Valley tied for the girls team title with 39 points. Sarah Wagner picked up three medals on the day for the Spartans, including a first place in the long jump. She was also third in the triple jump and sixth in the 200. Cori McCormick was second in both the 800 and the 3200. Kailey Roberts, Ryley Schwalm, Katie McCormick and Cori McCormick came together for fifth in the 3200 relay.