Falcons a little too deep for Belle Vernon
Belle Vernon’s Hunter Martin finished first in the boys 110-meter high hurdles Wednesday during the Leopards’ Section 2-AAA meet against Connellsville at Connellsville’s Falcon Stadium.
John F. Brothers
| Herald-Standard
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Connellsville’s Noah Karpiak stays just steps ahead of Belle Vernon’s Cross Yankosky to win the boys 200-meter dash during Wednesday’s Section 2-AAA meet at Connellsville’s Falcon Stadium.
Connellsville's Noah Karpiak breaks the tape to win the boys 100-meter dash during Section 2-AAA track & field action against Belle Vernon Wednesday at Connellsville's Falcon Stadium.
CONNELLSVILLE — The Falcons had the edge in the speed and throwing events Wednesday afternoon with Connellsville winning its Section 2-AAA opener, 86-64, against visiting Belle Vernon.
Leading the way on the track was Connellsville’s Noah Karpiak, who won the 100 (11.4) and 200 (23.5) and anchored the victorious 400 relay (46.3).
Karpiak said he’s steadily lowering his times as he attempts to find his way into one of the low 24 times to qualify for the WPIAL finals. He’s looking forward to meets and invitationals where he’ll see some of the fastest runners in the area.
“I’ve been getting faster each meet,” said Karpiak. “I want to get that one meet, one competition, where you’re not running against paper.”
Karpiak hopes to double by qualifying in both sprints, and is hopeful for a third as a member of the 400 relay.
“I like the 100, but still need to get a lot better in the 200, a lot better,” said Karpiak.
As for a time, Karpiak added, “I have 10.8 (seconds) running through my head all the time.”
The Falcons opened the meet with Chris Stahl, Dominic Prestipino, George Trimbath and Logan Gonzales winning the 3,200 relay in 8:52.
Stahl (1,600, 4:46.9; 3,200, 10:41.6), Prestipino (800, 2:13), Zachary Cavanaugh (shot put, 41-6; javelin, 139-8½), Mason Franks (pole vault, 12-6), and Logan Visconti (high jump, 5-6) all had first-place finishes for the Falcons.
Hunter Martin accounted for 20 points of Belle Vernon’s final total with first-place finishes in the 110 high hurdles (15.8), 300 intermediate hurdles (41.8), long jump (19-9), and triple jump (40-3).
Martin has his sights on many accomplishments, including his name in the record book at Belle Vernon.
“I’m basically going for school records now. I’m three-tenths of a second from the 300 intermediate hurdles and four-tenths in the high hurdles,” said Martin, who played soccer in the fall.
Martin explained how to pick up that time, saying, “Right off the start and at the ending. It’s hard to gain speed through the hurdles.”
Martin’s goal is the same for most donning the spikes at this time of the year.
“I’m hoping for states this year. I improved by two seconds in the high hurdles and increased by two feet in the triple jump. I want to try to go all out for those,” said Martin. “I go out every time 100 percent.”
Cross Yankosky (400, 52.9) and Jake Herron (discus, 147-0) also finished first. Evan Brown, Isaac Evans, Seth Yankosky and Cross Yankosky closed the meet by winning the 1,600 relay in 3:42.6.