Gilmour Academy runner Bekka Simko has verbally comitted to continue her academic and athletic career at Penn State University. Once in Happy Valley, she will be coached by 2008 Big Ten track and field coach of the year Beth Alford-Sullivan.
Simko has earned 12 medals in outdoor track and field in her first 3 years including 8 golds, 3 silvers and a 4th place. She is the two time defending state champion in the OHSAA Division 3 400 meter dash outdoors and the defending OATCCC indoor Dividion 2/3 champion in the 800m. Simko and her teammates have won state championships in the outdoor 4x400 three times, 4x800 twice, and 4x200 once. Gilmour holds the State and State Meet record in all 3 of those events. She has led Gilmour to three team titles (2 in track, 1 in cross) and 2 runner-ups (1 in track, 1 in cross).
Simko has high aspirations for this track season after a less than desired finish to the fall. She returns with the states 5th fastest 800m time (2:11.70- Nike Outdoor Nationals) and 8th fastest 400m time (56.11- OHSAA State Championships). The other schools she considered were Ohio State and Kentucky.