Rain delay: Storm suspends key Section 6-AA track meet
COAL CENTER – Sole possession of first place in Section 6-AA was up for grabs Thursday afternoon when California hosted Waynesburg Central, Beth-Center and Bentworth.
The Trojans and Raiders will have to wait a few days longer to decide which team has control of the section because a thunderstorm rolled through around 7 p.m., leading to the suspension of the meet.
California will finish the meet against Waynesburg on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The Trojans will score the unfinished events against Beth-Center Tuesday when the teams travel to Charleroi.
Waynesburg has a 60-49 lead against California with the 800, 200, 3,200 and 1,600 relay remaining on the track, and one more round of throws in the javelin.
California was ahead 84-17 against Beth-Center and Bentworth held a slim 40-34 lead over the Bulldogs.
Rain plagued the meet throughout, but reached its worst as the Raiders’ Nate Fox was about to lead the pack around the track for the second time in the 800.
Fox also ran on the Raiders’ 3,200 relay that finished second overall and was second to Niamh McClaflin in the 1,600.
“Our 4×800 was good. Our fourth leg got a cramp (in the last 200 meters),” said Fox. “The mile was tough competition. (McClaflin) just played that really tactfully. He just sat in front of me. I should’ve beat him.
“I was too slow in the mile. The times were really slow. Weather conditions were good for the mile. No rain. It was just a bad day.”
California’s 3,200 relay (9:19.58), Lee Qualk (100, 11.11; long jump, 20-7¼), McClaflin (1,600, 5:18.39), and Christian Ross (triple jump, 36-11½) took overall first-place finishes.
Waynesburg’s 400 relay (46.54), Ace Litwinovich (110 high hurdles), Jack Ricciuti (400, 55.73; high jump, 5-8), Zack Andrews (300 intermediate hurdles, 44.61), Mason Schroyer (pole vault, 12-0), Roan Tustin (shot put, 38-8), and Jeffrey Blair (discus, 108-4) finished first overall.
The Raiders swept the discus for nine key points.
The Trojans’ Carter Kent usually runs the 1,600, but was put in the 400 instead with the hope he’d pick up key points. Kent was edged at the finish by Ricciuti by .19 seconds.
He ran the opening leg to help the 3,200 relay finish first and has yet to run the 3,200.
“We ran a good time (in the 3,200 relay). I was just trying to hold with (Waynesburg’s) lead guy to give the next runner a good position,” said Kent. “It was the first time I ran the 400 in an actual meet. No, it was not fun. I hit that backstretch, and I hit that wind and it held me back a little bit.”
Kent is looking to lower his time in the 1,600 with the WPIAL meet looming in just over a month.
“I was trying to focus on the 1,600, and really try to get a good time on that. I want to run a sub-4:50. No, I’ve run a 4:56. So, it’s doable. The end time is sub-4:40. That’s really reaching, but, ultimately if I can do it, that would be good.”
Kent continued, “I thought I’d be focusing on the 3,200 this year, but I might have a better shot in the 1,600.”
Bentworth’s Ryan Colbert had a strong showing in the 1,600, placing third overall with a time of 5:22.35.
“That’s the fastest time I’ve run. I beat my PR by three seconds,” said Colbert. “I was surprised. I was so dead after that. I just tried to stick with (McClaflin and Fox) the best I could. I knew they were fast.
“I want to get around 5:10, if I can.”
Colbert played on Bentworth’s soccer team that won the WPIAL title last fall.
“It’s my first year on track. I’m only doing it because my dad’s the assistant coach,” said Colbert. “I did it because it’s my senior year and I just wanted to come out and have fun.”
Beth-Center freshman Parker Amos and Qualk both cleared 5-6 to finish behind Ricciuti.
“It was not my best. I was close to 5-8. It couldn’t have been more than a ½-inch off,” said Amos. “I was a little stiff.”
Amos is looking to raise the bar as the season progresses.
“I want to get six feet,” said Amos, who cleared 5-10½ in his last meet. “That’s the school record. By the end of the season, I’m hoping to get around 6-1.”