‘Eight is enough’ to secure berth into WPIAL finals
Holly Tonini
Brownsville’s Maris Seto clears the high jump at 4-10 during Tuesday’s Class AA track & field qualifiers at South Side Beaver. Seto qualified for the WPIAL Championships in the high, long and triple jump.
Jefferson Morgan’s Nic Santoya competes in the long jump during the Class AA qualifier at South Side Beaver. Santoya missed qualifying in the long jump, but earned a spot in the WPIAL finals in the javelin. (Photo by Holly Tonini)
California's Cailyn Clancy throws the discus 106-4 feet to qualify for WPIAL Championships during the Class AA qualifiers Tuesday at South Side Beaver.
West Greene’s Dalton Wildman charges ahead as Dayton Walker makes the pass of the baton in the boys 400 relay during Tuesday’s qualifiers at South Side Beaver. (Photo by Holly Tonini)
HOOKSTOWN — The recurring theme at Tuesday’s WPIAL Class AA southern individual track & field qualifer at South Side Beaver was “eight is enough.”
Eight was enough because to secure a berth into next Thursday’s WPIAL Championships at Baldwin athletes needed to finish in the top eight, and a number of local small school athletes did just that.
Brownsville’s Maris Seto led the way by qualifying in all three jumps. She cleared 4-10 in the high jump, and jumped over 33 feet in the triple jump.
“I was a little bit tired,” the reigning county meet Field MVP said of competing in the triple jump on the heels of the high jump. “I want to qualify in all three, but two out of three would be okay.
“The competition is better and it pushes me.”
The Falcons’ Nick Despot qualified in the high jump and Brandon Myrga earned a finals berth in the triple jump.
California’s Kailyn Clancy doubled out in the discus and shot put last year, and the junior has the opportunity to do so again after qualifying in both events.
“I threw 106-4 in the discus. It was good enough. I wanted to do better, but just so I can move on,” said Clancy between events. “I want to do good in the shot put.
“I’m looking forward to (throwing in both in events).”
Clancy will have company in the district finals with Eilish Miller (1,600), Brett Schwalb (high jump), Danni Koehler (200), and Gavin Anderson (100) also finishing in the top eight of their individual event. All four will be competing in their first WPIAL finals.
Miller was on the outside lane in the staggered start of the 1,600, so it took her a while to find her stride.
“It was pretty tough to move in (on the second curve). I was towards the back in the beginning, but started to move up at the end of the second lap,” said Miller, who finished eighth in 5:57. “I just wanted to finish.”
Anderson, the former baseball player, also finished eighth in his only event.
“It was real close,” Anderson said of the final 100 heats. “I wanted to get to the WPIALs. If I make it past there, God bless.”
The Waynesburg Central girls will bring a vanful of athletes to Baldwin, led by javelin thrower Richelle Tharp.
Tharp earned berths in both the javelin (3rd, 123-9) and discus (7th, 90-4).
“I love throwing (the javelin) at Baldwin. I love throwing off the grass,” said Tharp, a senior. “It will be a brand new slate next week.
“I love having someone there that can push me. I’d like to break my school record (in the javelin) of 131-7.”
Also earning berths were the 3,200 relay team of Ally Younken, Lindsee Zimmer, Jana Fox and Danielle Jacobs, who finished in a school record time of 10:34, Michelle Cesa, who advanced on time in the 100 high hurdles, and the 400 relay quartet of Caitlin Brooks, Annekah Marx, Cesa and Skylar Braga.
The Raiders’ Sean Hilverding set the early pace in the 3,200, and then made a late push for second before settling for third for a berth into next week’s final. Teammate Hunter Cenname qualified in the triple jump.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Nic Santoya fell 1½ short of qualifying in the long jump, but tempered that disappointment by securing a first berth in the javelin.
“My hips have been bothering me all year,” explained Santoya, who will have surgery for an injury suffered during football season. “I’m not sure (what happened in the long jump).”
Frazier will be well represented with Lauren Timko (100 high hurdles) and a trio of javelin throwers, Matt Brown, the county champ, Drake Bucci and Ethan Weiser.
“It’s not my best, but I wanted one of the eight spots,” said Timko. “I was hoping for a PR.
“The girl in front of me was very fast. I just wanted to keep up with her.”
Timko advanced to the semifinals last Friday at the Baldwin Invitational, an eye opening experience.
“It’s overwhelming. It definitely helped,” said Timko. “I didn’t lose a section meet. Baldwin was a humbling experience, but anything helps.”
Brown hit his mark of 156-10 on his first throw to finish fourth. Bucci was second with a throw of over 158 feet and Weiser was sixth with a throw of over 151 feet.
“I knew I was able to qualify after my first throw. My last three throws didn’t feel right,” said Brown, who just missed qualifying last year in ninth place. “I know what I have to do next week to get to states. Today’s finish was okay. As long as it gets me to the next step.”
Beth-Center’s Erin Pirt qualified in the high jump again, and West Greene’s Emily Courtwright earned a berth in the 300 intermediate hurdles.
Waynesburg girls did not have a pole vaulter qualify for the finals for the first time since the event has been open as a championship.