HOOKSTOWN — Experience counts.

No, you haven't stumbled upon more election coverage, but it proved to be the rallying cry for several Mars and Freeport athletes at the WPIAL Class AA Track and Field Championships Tuesday at South Side Beaver High School.

Freeport's Brian Zimmerman defended his boys javelin title with a throw of 191 feet, 7 inches while the Mars 3,200-meter relay team won with a time of 8:19.92 to spearhead several strong performances.

Zimmerman, who is headed to the University of Cincinnati for track and field, won last year's event with a toss of 190-11, but his best this year had been 174-5.

He hit a 167-11 with his first mark, then a 186-8 on his final preliminary throw. He added a throw of 184-9 before unleashing his 191-7 on his final attempt.

"I don't think I put a lot of pressure on myself," said Zimmerman. "I know I have to go out and do what I've done earlier. I worry about what I can do and not everyone else."

The early cold weather this season hampered Zimmerman's throwing, so he believes he only recently began to get his form back.

"I believe adrenaline has a lot to do with it," said Zimmerman. "Whenever you have two meets a week, you can't throw full with just those two meets. The coaches gave great points on what I did last year and not this year."

"(Michael Coleman of Apollo-Ridge) threw a 166-9 on the first throw, but Brian didn't panic," said Freeport coach Bill Dillen. "He made a couple of adjustments, then had the 189 and 191. That's what you do when you're a champion."

Zimmerman said he used the first throw just to get a mark and then took some chances. He also increased his speed on his later throws.

"The first throw is always the worst," said Zimmerman. "In the beginning, you want to get one out. You don't worry about scratching. Then, you just gradually improve."

Mars' 3,200-relay team of Cody Kier, Justin Stadelmyer, Brandon Stadelmyer and Derek Workman opened the meet in grand style, giving the Planets' its lone title of the day.

"The realistic goal for the 3,200 relay was to win, no doubt," said Mars boys coach Joe Cioc.

However, if not for a late surge by Rochester anchor Derek Moye — going from sixth place to first place to edge Mars by less than a second in the 400-meter relay — Mars could have had two relay titles on the day.

The 400 relay squad of Justin Piocquidio, Josh Keil, Steve Jackson and Bill Bair placed fourth (43.92) to also qualify for the state meet.

Piocquidio also earned a second place in the long jump (21-3) and fourth in the high jump (6-2). In the long jump, Brentwood's Akeem Moore nailed a leap of 21-7¾ on his final attempt to slip past Piocquidio.

"I was hoping for a 21 so I'm happy," said Piocquidio. "I just wanted to qualify ... Last year I had 21-6 and set a (personal record), then I've already had a 22-½ this year.

"(In the high jump) I was hoping for a shot at the top five. I wasn't expecting a 6-2. I'm in the record books at Mars. I just want to consistently hit 6-2 and I can work on that for next year. I'm not sure yet about 6-4. I'm 5-foot-8 and that's eight inches taller than me," Piocquidio added.

Other state qualifiers for Mars include Workman in the 800 (second, 2:00.14) and Dan Lynch in the 110 hurdles (third, 15.45) and Freeport's Zane Bowser in the pole vault (third, 13-3).

"Dan Lynch just had his two best hurdles races as a senior here," said Cioc. "I'm proud of how all the boys did. The experience of this team is the key. They've been here before and understand what's going on."

As for the Freeport girls, the team's success came in the field events.

Merrissa Malcolm placed second in the pole vault (10-9), just three inches behind winner Abbey Way of Mt. Pleasant.

In the high jump, Megan Affrica placed second (4-11) and Cassandra Dumot tied for fourth (4-11) while in the long jump, Maurielle Blake was third (17-1½) and Allison McClelland was fourth (16-2¼) to advance to Shippensburg.

"(Affrica and Dumot) have been jumping well all year," said Dillen. "We knew if they hit today, they could do it.

"(Blake and McClelland) have been jumping super and they both did it. Maurielle was close to first place. She had a couple over 17 feet."

The following are the WPIAL Class AA boys and girls champions in their respective events as well as local medalists. Those local athletes that qualified for next weekend's PIAA Championships at Shippensburg University are in bold.Boys3200-meter relay:

1-Mars (Cody Kier, Derek Workman, Justin Stadelmyer, Brandon Stadelmyer) 8:19.92;

110-meter hurdles:

1-Nick Spino (Jeannette) 15:04; 3-Dan Lynch (Mars) 15.45;

100-meter dash: 1-Davon Moore (Brentwood) 10.89;

1,600-meter run: 1-Joshua Nadzam (Monaca) 4:31.06; 7-Cody Kier (Mars) 4:40.63;

400-meter dash: 1-Derek Moye (Rochester) 48.63 (meet record);

400 meter relay: 1-Aliquippa 43.1;

4-Mars (Justin Piocquidio, Josh Keil, Steve Jackson, Bill Bair) 43.92;

300-meter hurdles: 1-Nick Spino (Jeannette) 39.95;

800-meter run: 1-Alex Smith (South Park) 1:59.3;

2-Derek Workman (Mars) 2:00.14; 200-meter dash: 1-Derek Moye (Rochester) 22.31 (meet record);

3,200-meter run: 1-Joshua Nadzam (Monaca) 9:56.09;

1,600-meter relay: 1-Rochester 3:30.22;

2-Mars (Bill Bair, Luke Martin, Steve Jackson, Derek Workman) 3:30.29

High jump: 1-Josh Arnold (Monessen) 6-4;

4t-Justin Piocquidio (Mars) 6-2;

Long jump: 1-Akeem Moore (Brentwood) 21-7.25;

2-Justin Piocquidio (Mars) 21-3; 7-Brady Sherrieb (Freeport) 20-5;

Triple jump: 1-Stacey O'Neal (Valley) 44-11; 6-Nate Kotecki (Freeport) 41-4.75;

Shot put: 1-Denes Veres (Riverside) 56-11.75;

Discus: 1-Denes Veres (Riverside) 160-1;

Javelin:

1-Brian Zimmerman (Freeport) 191-7;

Pole vault: 1-Denny Kang (South Park) 13-9;

3-Zane Bowser (Freeport) 13-3Girls3200-meter relay: 1-Brentwood 9:47.16;

100-meter hurdles: 1-Christa Rogers (Quaker Valley) 14.94

100-meter dash: Christa Rogers (Quaker Valley) 12.56;

1,600-meter run: 1-Kacey Gibson (Neshannock) 5:17.44;

400-meter dash: 1-Alexa Sarsfield (Springdale) 59.81;

400 meter relay: 1-Quaker Valley 48.51 (meet record);

300-meter hurdles: 1-Samantha Simile (Chartiers-Houston) 46.01;

800-meter run: 1-Maggie Wissler (Brentwood) 2:18.53; 6-Jordan Dunn (Freeport) 2:28.38;

200-meter dash: 1-Christa Rogers (Quaker Valley) 26.16;

3,200-meter run: 1-Rachel Erny (Brentwood) 11:53.12; 6-Kristen Prazenica (Freeport) 12:25.97;

1,600-meter relay: 1-Burrell 4:05.44

High jump: 1-Abbey Way (Mt. Pleasant) 5-1;

2-Megan Affrica (Freeport) 4-11; 4t-Cassandra Dumot (Freeport) 4-11;

Long jump: 1-Touri Goode (Mt. Alvernia) 17-9.75;

3-Maurielle Blake (Freeport) 17-1.5; 4-Allison McClelland (Freeport) 16-2.25;

Triple jump: 1-Tabitha Bemis (Quaker Valley) 35-3;

Shot put: 1-Kristen Ames (Freedom) 37-7.75;

Discus: 1-Erica Keto (Greensburg Central Catholic) 112-2;

Javelin: 1-Conner Radgowski (South Park) 124-4;

Pole vault: 1-Abbey Way (Mt. Pleasant) 11-0;

2-Merrissa Malcolm (Freeport) 10-9