Cumberland Valley's Alec Kunzweiler started the 800 with dark skies.
Just 100 meters into the race, those skies opened, unleashing a heavy downpour.
Kunzweiler said it's a great challenge to run in a storm, yet somehow he was able to dash to victory with a season-best time of 1:54.11.
Kunzweiler was one of the area's top performers on the track at Saturday's Mid-Penn Championships, held at Chambersburg's Trojan Stadium.
Kunzweiler also anchored his 4x800 team of Brady Miller, Scott St. Peter and Alex Coburn to victory in 7:53.09.
But Kunzweiler's highlight of the afternoon came in the 800, when he competed in the nastiest conditions of the day.
"I just looked up and saw a huge wave of rain," Kunzweiler said. "The rain and wind hit us all like a brick. All of us were just trying to make it through the race."
Soaking wet, Kunzweiler did make it through the race. He did it by staying mentally prepared and simply being a strong runner.
Kunzweiler said he was "happy" with his performance.
Just weeks away from states, Kunzweiler is just under a second off the time he recorded at states last season. Kunzweiler took a silver medal at the PIAA Class AAA meet with his time of 1:53.14. He finished second to now-graduated Penn Hills runner Wil Bailey, who won the state championship in 1:51.87.
"Just being able to keep improving means I'm in better shape and getting closer to my ultimate goal of states," Kunzweiler said. "(Running in the rain), I beat the times I ran in good weather, so I'm happy with that."
Chambersburg's Kellen Williams also had a big day, capturing victories in the 110 hurdles (15.26) and 300 hurdles (38.70).
Williams said everytime he takes the track, he expects nothing but first place. So far, so good.
"It's always nice to run here in Chambersburg. I love it here," Williams said. "It's nice to host and get two wins."
Williams was a beast in the 300 hurdles, simply overpowering his competition down the stretch to beat the field by more than a full second.
"The last three hurdles went really good," Williams said. "I felt good running today, but for my personal expectations, I still have to get better.
"Sometimes I'm too close to the hurdles or too far. If I get the right amount of space between the hurdles, my tme will drop."
Williams knocked over a hurdle in the 110 hurdles event, but overcame his mistake with a strong finish, besting CD East's James Waters in a race that was too close to call.
Williams clocked in .04 seconds ahead of Waters, who fell to the ground trying to inch his head across the finish line.
"I was seeded fourth, but I knew I could everyone in the field," Williams said. "I saw (Waters) beating me and I refocused to get my technique and a drive to win."
Lower Dauphin's Josh Boyer turned in a strong performance, dashing to victory in the 100 (11.23) while also collecting third-place finishes in the 200 (22.63) and long jump (21-6). The 200 was won by Milton Hershey's Lindell Robinson-Swinson, who clocked in at 22.29.
With prom in the evening, Big Spring distance ace Vinny Todaro chose to compete in just one event. He made his time on the track worth it, registering a time of 4:17.80 to beat the field by just over two seconds.
Lower Dauphin's Cole Nissley rounded out the area's track winners with a victory in the 3,200. Nissley took the win with his time of 9:31.67.
CLICK HERE FOR TRINITY'S TEAM TITLE AT MID-PENN TRACK MEET
CLICK HERE FOR PALMYRA'S TIM MOSES RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE IN THE POLE VAULT
CLICK HERE FOR THE MID-PENN FIELD ROUNDUP, LED BY CARLISLE SOPHOMORE JUMPER ISA PASCHALL
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