It has been more than six years since the Hempfield boys and girls track and field teams have been WPIAL Class 3A champions.

Both squads advanced to this season’s WPIAL finals at 3 p.m. on May 5 at West Mifflin by excelling at the semifinals Tuesday.

The Spartans boys will compete against Norwin, Butler and Seneca Valley in the finals. The girls will face North Allegheny, Norwin and Mt. Lebanon

The Hempfield boys defeated Franklin Regional (76-74), Ringgold (127-22) and Moon (93-37). The girls beat Franklin Regional (86-64), Laurel Highlands (126-24) and Ringgold (131-19).

It was the third time in the past three weeks the Spartans edged the Panthers by a few points.

“They made a few moves that benefited them,” Hempfield coach Ron Colland said. “They are strong where we are not. But our distance runners led the way.”

Hempfield won the 3,200-meter relay and swept the 3,200 and 1,600 runs.

Senior Jonathan Stetchock won the 1,600 and 3,200.

Xavier Smith (javelin) and Owen Fox (pole vault) earned the Spartans’ other first-place finishes.

“It was a good team effort against a very good team,” Colland said. “We had some athletes do what we expected and some that did not. Hopefully, they learn from this experience.”

Franklin Regional coach Bob Ralston said he was disappointed with the outcome but pleased with the effort.

“We won 11 of 18 events and lost,” Ralston said. “That does not happen often. It came down to a third-place finish.”

The Panthers got another solid performance from junior Sean Cartwright, who was a triple winner (high jump, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles) and junior Loch Bresnahan (100 and 200).

The Panthers also won the 400 and 1,600 relay races.

Franklin Regional winners against Hempfield were Andy Silvis (400), Mason Gray (800), Cole Devola (shot put), Anthony Petrucci (discus), Jaymeir Austin (long jump) and Gage Williams (triple jump).

The Lady Spartans put together a dominating performance despite missing key junior Madison Altman, who is sidelined with a leg injury.

“I am very pleased with the girls,” Colland said. “They stepped up and did the job.”

The Lady Spartans dominated the events on the track.

They won the 400 and 3,200 relays and got double wins from Angelina Overfield (100 and 300 hurdles), Peyton Leduc (100 and 200) and Chesnee Smith (800 and 1,600).

In the field, Jiana Patterson (shot put) and Maddie Tulley (discus) also won.

Hempfield will be competing in the WPIAL finals against Norwin, North Allegheny and Mt. Lebanon.

Colland said he is looking forward to next week.

“The girls should be in a good battle with North Allegheny,” Colland said. “As for both teams, I want to see how the underclassmen perform in a big meet.”

In the semifinal at Baldwin, Norwin and South Fayette tied 75-75. The meet was decided by the second criteria, most total points, which the Knights won 329-309.5.