May 14, 2009 3 min read

Rodney Richter really made a name for himself at last year’s WPIAL Class AAA Individual Track & Field Championships, and the Connellsville senior enters today’s district championship as the man to beat. The WPIAL will hold both the boys and girls Class AAA and AA championships at Baldwin High School at the same time for the first time. The Class AA meet had been held two days earlier at South Side Beaver in previous years. Heats and field events begin at 1 p.m. Richter won the shot put with a throw of 58-41/4 and finished second in the discus to top rival Matt Kann of Fox Chapel. He is the top seed in both events, throwing state-qualifying marks of 57-111/2 in the shot put in last week’s qualifier and 167-11 in the discus.

Richter is one of several local athletes with high aspirations of securing a top spot on the awards podium and the accompanying berth into the state championships. The top four finishers in Class AAA and five in Class AA automatically qualify for the state meet with those who finish fifth through eighth advancing by meeting the state-qualifying standard.

The PIAA Individual Track & Field Championships will be hosted by Shippensburg University on Friday-Saturday, May 21-22.

Albert Gallatin’s Anthony Stevenson earned silver in the high jump and bronze in the long jump last year, and is the top seed in the high jump this year.

Laurel Highlands has a trio of hopefuls in the boys pole vault, led by last year’s silver medalist Nathaniel Hensh. Zach Breakiron finished eighth last year with freshman Jacob Hensh competing in his first district final.

Uniontown’s Doogie Sanner was tantalizing close to qualifying in both the triple jump and javelin last year, and is among the top seeds in both events this season. Teammate Avery Crenshaw just missed the podium with a 9th-place finish in the high jump.

Belle Vernon’s Matt Green had a great start to his career as a freshman last year by finishing fourth in the long jump, and looks to build on that success in both the high jump and long jump.

The Falcons’ 400 relay finished third last year, and is among the top seeds in today’s meet. Jarrett McCutcheon, who runs a leg on the relay, looks to improve upon last year’s 9th-place finish in the 200.

Waynesburg Central’s Nick Patton looks to double. The senior won the javelin last year and is seeded second this year, and is tied for the top seed in the pole vault after finishing third in 2008. Jefferson-Morgan’s Hans Lubich seeks his second trip to the states after finishing second in the high jump last year.

Laurel Highlands senior Aleesha Washington finished second in the girls Class AAA 100 last year, and will have company in the opening heats with teammate Jerricka Belt.

Belle Vernon’s senior Shaina Vasquez was so close to advancing to the state meet last year in the 300 intermediate hurdles. She missed by one place and .30 seconds. Vasquez has two shots, also qualifying in the 100 high hurdles.

Laurel Highlands Maressa Guynn was in the same spot last year in the discus, finishing fifth. The senior has qualified in both the discus and shot put. Teammate Demi Phillipy seeks a return trip to the state meet in the javelin after finishing third last year.

Southmoreland’s Jenny Patton was on the outside looking in last year after finishing ninth in the girls Class AA discus.