Leps’ Curran has high aspirations in the 400 and 200
WEST MIFFLIN – Now’s the time track and field athletes need to shine, and several local hopefuls did just that Tuesday in the WPIAL Class AAA Individual Southern Regional qualifier at West Mifflin High School. The top eight finishers in each of the 15 individual events and three relays earned a berth into next week’s WPIAL Championships.
Belle Vernon’s Shane Curran has high aspirations in the 400, and ran a season-best time of 50.3 seconds to win the event. He also qualified in the 200.
The run comes on the heels of a seventh-place finish in last week’s Baldwin Invitation, generally regarded as a precursor for the district meet held on the same track.
“Placing (at Baldwin) was awesome. I was so nervous. Today, I was not nervous at all,” said Curran. “I felt like I was going so fast in the beginning (of the 400). If I don’t make states, I’ll be disappointed.
“I qualified in dead-last place last year. The difference is experience and preparation. I think I’m under the radar, and I like that.”
Laurel Highlands coach Bob Costello will have to make a checklist to keep track of his crew with nine individuals and one relay team advancing.
Brian Grady had a busy day, earning berths in the high jump (5-7), 300 intermediate hurdles (41.4), and the 1,600 relay as the opening leg. Zack Girod finished third in the shot put with a throw of 50-5. Nathaniel Hensh and Zack Breakiron both cleared 12 feet to advance in the pole vault.
Steven Lewis was fourth in the 400 in 51.9 seconds, and earned a second berth on the 1,600 relay. Mike Iannamorelli jumped 19-6 for one of the eight spots in the long jump.
Colby Springer, as his name implies, had the hops to grab one of the eight berths in the high jump, matching Grady’s 5-7. He only had to clear 5-7 to advance, and he wasn’t disappointed by the lack of work.
“No, not really,” said Springer. “I don’t want to get real tired. The more attempts, the more of a chance there is to scratch out.”
The state qualifying height in the high jump is 6-5, so Springer still has a way to go.
“I jumped 6-2 last year as a freshman. I almost had it at Baldwin last week,” said Springer. “Last year (at the WPIAL meet) I didn’t have high jump spikes, slipped in the rain, and no-heighted. I learned to listen to what the coaches say and it will work out in the long run.
“My goal is to make states. I can get it.”
The Mustangs’ Zane Breakiron will be making his first trip to the district finals after finishing second in the javelin with a throw of 175-10, just about two feet short of the PIAA qualifying distance.
“It was important to me for my confidence next week,” Breakiron said of getting a good mark in the qualifiers. “I went out, did my best, and threw. I should be throwing 180 (feet) next week.”
The 1,600 relay team of Grady, Lewis, Derrick Grogan, and Nick Browne finished fourth in 3:31.8.
Uniontown had three two individual qualifiers and the 3,200 relay, plus a couple of near misses in the other two relays. Both the 1,600 and 400 relays finished ninth, so there’s still hope a spot might open up for the finals.
Darius Reeves ran a personal-best 15.1 seconds to finish second in the 110 high hurdles and jumped 42-2 to place sixth in the triple jump. He hit the jump on his third of four attempts, to leapfrog several jumpers.
“I’m happy to make the WPIALs (in both events),” said the soft-spoken Reeves. “I’ll see the competition I have. Of course, I always do that.
“The day went really well. I pushed myself. I was going to run a little slower in the heat, but it’s real hard to slow down.”
Teammate Devin Miller returned from a tender back to finish second in the triple jump with a top effort of 42-8¼.
“My back has been messed up since Connellsville,” explained Miller, who just missed his PR of 42-10. “I was ranked second in the long jump, but I couldn’t get my steps right and fouled on all four tries. If I hit the board, I’d be advancing.
“I’ve been there before. I know what I have to do to get a medal around my neck.”
The 3,200 relay team of John O’Neil, Brodie Kelley, Kameron Schaeffer and Derek Thomas finished sixth with a time of 8:23.