Sydni Peiffer went above and beyond everyone’s expectations. Everyone’s except maybe her own.

On Friday night during the District Three Class AA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University’ s Seth Grove Stadium, Peiffer leapt higher than she ever had before. And because she did, the Annville-Cleona sophomore was the surprise winner of the Class AA high jump.

Peiffer skied a personal-best 5-3 on her second attempt to win the event by an inch over Shannon Donnelly of Boiling Springs. Prior to once-in-a-lifetime leap, the highest Peiffer had gone was 5-0.

Peiffer’s gold medal  helped Annville-Cleona to finish second among Class AA teams at the meet. Peiffer was also an important point-getter during a regular season in which the Little Dutchmen captured the Lancaster-Lebanon Section Three team championship.

A week prior, at the Lancaster-Lebanon League Track and Field Championships at Hempfield High School, Peiffer finished fifth with a 5-0 effort.

– Jeff Falk