Local teams have tough time in team track & field semifinals
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Eight area teams fell short of reaching the WPIAL team track & field finals in Wednesday’s semifinal meets.
California hosted a Class 2A boys and girls semifinal meet with Carlynton advancing to the girls final and Beaver to the boys.
Mount Pleasant’s boys team and Southmoreland’s girls team also competed at California.
Laurel Highlands had nine girls competing at North Allegheny, but the Fillies’ Diondra Brown came away with a victory in the long jump with a leap of 16-10.75.
Waynesburg Central boys and Brownsville girls teams fell short at Shenango.
Belle Vernon’s girls team lost at Butler, and the Connellsville boys wasn’t able to get out of the semifinal at South Fayette, but the Falcons’ Glen Strickler won the shot put with a throw of 47-9.
The Vikings’ Aiden Johnson was the local star in winning four events. The senior took top honors in the 110 and 300-meter hurdles with times of 17.57 and 44.29. He won the long (21-2.5) and triple jumps (41-11).
Teammate Gage Sowers, a sophomore, cleared the bar at 13-0 to win the pole vault.
The Trojans’ Niamh McClaflin won the 3,200 in 11:06.84. California won the 400 relay in 44.81.
The Lady Trojans’ Ella Neil won the high jump in 4-10.5. California’s Hayley Gibson topped the field in the shot put with a throw of 31-2.5.
The Lady Scotties’ Addie Billheimer won the discus with a toss of 81-4. Teammate Olivia Aumer won the javelin in 87-10.
The WPIAL Track & Field Team Championships are scheduled for May 6 at 3 p.m.
Class 2A will be contested at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium on the campus of Peters Township Middle School. Class 3A is at West Mifflin High School.
Carlynton, Laurel, North Catholic and Quaker Valley make up the finalists in Class 2A girls. Beaver, Mohawk, Quaker Valley and Shenango will compete for the title in Class 2A boys.
Butler, North Allegheny and Norwin will compete in the boys and girls finals for the Class 3A title. Mt. Lebanon is the other team in the boys final, while South Fayette will look for the championship in the girls final.