May 15, 2002 By Jim Downey 4 min read

HOOKSTOWN – The weather may have been overcast, but Tuesday turned out to be golden day for Waynesburg Central’s Derek Mears. Mears took gold medals in the shot put and discus during the WPIAL Class AA Boys Individual Track and Field Championships at South Side High School, qualifying for the PIAA finals in both events.

“I’m happy to make it in both,” said Mears, a senior. “I threw over 51 feet (53 feet 1/4 inches) in the shot, so I’m pleased with that distance, considering the conditions.”

The windy, rainy weather was a challenge for the discus throwers, according to Mears.

“The cold weather made it hard to hold the disc,” Mears said. “And the wind was knocking it down once you got it out there.”

Joining Mears on the gold medal stand was teammate Nathan Freedman. The Raider senior cleared 14 feet in qualifying for the state championships in Shippensburg for the fourth year in a row.

Once again, the weather played havoc with the event, this time causing lengthy hold ups.

“The rain made it such a long wait to get started,” Freedman said. “I had a tough time warming up, and getting speed.”

Freedman still took three shots at the WPIAL record of 14-8, but failed in each attempt.

Southmoreland’s Tim Fratto also is headed to Shippensburg. Fratto was so dominant in winning the triple jump that his six jumps – three in the preliminary round and three in the finals – were the six best of the day. He eclipsed the 43-foot mark on his first attempt.

Fratto also took part in the Scotties’ 400 relay team, which medaled but did not qualify for the state meet.

Fratto’s teammate, Tommy Brittain, was a double medallist, taking gold in the 1,600 and second in the 800.

“The wind was very bad, especially going from the second to third turn,” Brittain said. “These are the worst conditions I’ve run in all year.”

Brittain picked up a third medal when he helped the Scotties’ 1,600 relay team place fourth by running the anchor leg. The relay team did not qualify for states, however.

Brittain said he will compete in the 1,600 in the PIAA finals, but not the 800.

That decision opened the door to Shippensburg for Beth-Center junior George Hilverding, who finished fourth in the 800. Originally, Hilverding just missed out on earning a berth to the states, but was bumped up when Brittain chose to skip the event later this week.

Hilverding, who has battled back from a football injury, knocked two full seconds off last year’s time, even though he and Brittain were boxed in badly early in the race.

Also headed to Shippensburg is Brownsville junior Doug Patterson, who took third in the long jump.

“I’m happy to advance after coming so close last year,” said Patterson, who hit 18-11 on his final leap. “I’m very relieved. This is something I’ve been working towards.”

Patterson added another medal in the triple jump with a sixth-place finish, but did not qualify for states, and failed to advance in the 100.

Southmoreland’s Adam Baker earned a fourth-place medal in the 1,600, but it was a bittersweet as he was in the top three most of the race, only to be passed in the final straightaway, leaving him short of his goal to reach Shippensburg.

Other local athletes who medaled, but did not advance to the PIAA final were Beth-Center’s Aaron Beck (1,600), Southmoreland’s Don Powell (pole vault), Brownsville’s Joe Cardine (110 high hurdles) and Waynesburg’s Frank Bryan (800).

Cardine, a junior, turned in a personal-best time of 15.9 seconds.

“Now that I broke that barrier, I have a base to go on for next year,” Cardine said.

Other local athletes who took part but did not medal in individual events were Beth-Center’s Steven Barb (1,600), Brownsville’s Josh Crable (800), Southmoreland’s Rick Fosbrink (pole vault) and Jeff Leonard (discus), and Waynesburg’s Bill Patterson (discus, shot put).

The PIAA Individual Track and Field Championships will be held at Shippensburg University May 24 and 25.