Greensburg Salem distance runner Binda building toward WPIAL meet

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Wednesday, May 9, 2018 | 7:36 PM


Greensburg Salem junior Cameron Binda has been building up a head of steam for the WPIAL Class AAA individual track and field championship meet May 17 at Baldwin.

Binda cruised to wins in the 1,600-meter run (4 minutes, 22.03 seconds) and 3,200 run (9:33.50) at the Pine-Richland Invitational on May 4.

He was third in the 3,200 (9:34.08) and sixth in the 1,600 (4:25.10) at the Butler Invitational on April 20.

Earlier in the year, Binda placed sixth in the mile (4:22.53) at the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association Indoor State Championship at Penn State.

He was ranked among elite performers by timekeeper MileSplit in all three meets.

“Cam has progressed well (through) the indoor season and into the outdoor season,” Greensburg Salem distance coach Nathan Snider said. “He's been pushing harder on the daily runs, and I feel like that's really showing in his performances so far.

“He's become more confident in himself and his abilities.”

Snider said his goals for Binda are to break 4:20 in the 1,600 and 9:25 in the 3,200 and qualify for and place at states.

The PIAA championships will be May 25-26 at Shippensburg.

“I'd like to see him improve on that (indoor) finish,” Snider said.

Binda placed fourth in the 1,600 (4:26.73) at WPIALs last season. He failed to the reach the state final.

He said he has been doubling up in the 1,600 and 3,200 in every race this season.

He holds the school record in the 1,600 and is aiming for one in the 3,200.

He said he does not have a favorite event.

Greensburg Salem coach Bob Lehman said Binda, a captain, is one of the hardest workers on the team, on and off the track.

“He does the little organizational stuff that really helps me out, (such as) making sure we have what we need (and) organizing the team equipment before meets,” Lehman said.

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

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