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By Eric Thomas, Assistant Sports Editor, May 24, 2008

Last updated: Saturday, May 24, 2008 1:13 AM EDT

SHIPPENSBURG - It’s been an interesting road traveled by Trinity’s Christian Kuntz the last couple of weeks.

After not even attempting to complete a hurdle, in practice, anywhere, Kuntz eased back into his form at the recent Mid-Penn track meet.

Then at the District 3 meet a week ago, he showed the type of potential he has in the 110 meter hurdles with a gold medal.

Friday at the first day of the PIAA state track and field meet at Shippensburg University, Kuntz was at his best ever.

14.88.

That number is good enough to land Kuntz in the semifinals of the 110-meter hurdles, this morning at 10 a.m.

“I’m really impressed with that. I wasn’t expecting to get that out of me, but I took second and I’m moving on and we’ll see how that goes,” Kuntz said.

It’s been a trying couple of months for the Shamrocks speedster.

Nagging injuries have prevented him from being both 100-percent and also competing in the event. Then there was a matter with his trail leg on the hurdles.

“My main fault was my trail leg, and the past week in practice my coaches have been helping me and I haven’t been clipping as many hurdles. I’m happy with how I am doing.”

Kuntz’s competition in today’s semis comes by way of Jeanette’s Nick Spino, who qualified with a 14.68. Eastern York’s Ryan Dohm and Montoursville’s Keenan Michael each ran a 14.83 in their heat. Dohm and Kuntz went at it a week ago in the district finals.

But the story is not just about medals and times, it’s about Kuntz’s ability to do a 180-degree turn in just a short span of time.

The whole Trinity boys’ team at one point or another has battled injuries this season and not all are even 100-percent fereor this weekend.

“ I just wanted to come out and just run a good race. I was out warming up a hour, hour and a half prior,” Kuntz said. “All year I’ve been prone to injuries. I missed the whole bulk of the season doing the hurdles. I started off at Mid-Penns. It’s good to finally get my times going down.”

In the 4X400 relay, Trinity’s David Smith anchored a strong performance, as the Shamrocks won their heat in impressive fashion.

“We’ve won it twice and we want the third one,” said Smith.

The team of Matt Silva, Kuntz, Shane Seymore and Smith ran four seconds faster than last weeks district time of 3:25.97.

“After we saw Carver Engineering and Science run a 3:18 at Penn Relays, I honestly didn’t think we could get it this year after seeing that,” said Seymore.

“It doesn’t matter how hard you dig for that, you can’t come up with a 3:18 unless you have four star athletes. You have to go out there and win it.

“We just wanted to go out there (and compete) with E&S.”

Susquenita’s Nick Velgos also qualified for today’s semifinals in the AA 300 meter hurdles by winning the first heat over Wyomissing’s Darian Garman. Velgos edged Garman in the same event a week ago at the district meet.

“Last year I didn’t even make it to the semifinals and now I’m there,” said Velgos. “Pretty good time, I was pleased with it. I had (Garman) the whole straight, but he was right there. It was close.”

Velgos sits in pretty good shape headed into today’s semifinals as the top five qualifiers for the event are all with in 0.6 seconds of one another.

In order to find the last Susquenita state track champion, it would require some deep digging in the Blackhawk archives.

Velgos now has history at his finger tips.

“(Garman) and I were both pushing each other to get a good time there,” said Velgos. “The final stretch we were like ‘let’s go, come on, push it.’”

“He’ll be there (today).”

And so will Velgos.

In the AAA field, Cumberland Valley’s 4X100 relay team qualified for today’s finals in 42.66, anchored by Juan Steward.

Of note in the 4X100 for later today, Harrisburg’s relay team once again features Josh Potts, who returns after missing the duration of the season with a nagging hamstring injury.

Steward also qualified, as expected for today’s finals in the 100 and 200 meter dash.

In the 200, Steward must get through Neshaminy’s Kevin Steinberg and Ridley’s Kevin Wilbanks in both events and could be pushed by State College’s Alex Kenny in the 200.

Still Steward is halfway home to obtaining state gold in his final high school track meet.

“I needed to get first or second (in the prelims),” Steward said after the 100.

But minutes after finishing his 200 preliminary, Steward paused during an interview to watch Steinberg, who currently holds the state’s top time in the 100 meter dash (10.64), and at one time this season was No. 1 in the 200, before Wilbanks took that role after running a 21.44 on May 2.

Steinberg ran hard in his 200 prelim, checking in at 21.63.

“Let’s see how tired he is (today),” Steward said. “Of course I wanted to watch him to see what position I end up in.”

Steinberg also posted the top time in the 100 with a 10.69 in the prelims, followed by Wilbanks who ran a 10.80, and Steward with a 10.81.

Wilbanks will be the No. 1 seed in the semifinals today after running a 22.19 in the 200.

“I need to get first or second (in the prelims) and I did,” Steward said.