Belle Vernon senior Ryan Kent turned in quite a performance at the 52nd Baldwin Invitational on Friday.
And so did Hempfield senior Jonathan Stetchock.
Despite dropping temperatures and occasional showers, Kent won the shot put and discus throws and finished third in the javelin, and Stetchock won the prestigious McKenney Mile in 4 minutes, 16.58 seconds and the Helbig two-mile with a meet-record 9:17.
For Kent, this comes a week after he swept all three throwing events in the Fayette County Coaches Association meet. He is one of the top throwers in the WPIAL.
His performance earned field MVP honors.
Kent threw 55 feet, 41⁄2 inches in the shot and 172-6 in the discus. His javelin throw was 164-3.
“It was really exciting to win,” Kent said, “especially the discus and shot. I am not really a javelin thrower even though I won here last year.
“I was really happy with my throws. I came within two feet of my personal record in the discus, and I came close in the shot put.”
Stetchock is one of the top distance runners in the WPIAL. He is trying to decide what event he plans to run at WPIALs.
“It was pretty big to win both,” Stetchock said. “I have been watching this race since I was a freshman, but this year I got to be in it. It is neat to get your name called out. It is a nice touch.
“I wanted to go out quicker. After the first 400, I knew I could go for this, and from there I took it out from there.”
Two other Spartans came home with gold medals. Junior Angelina Overfield won the 300-meter hurdles, and senior Chesnee Smith blew away the competition running a 57.04. Overfield finished second in the 100 hurdles.
Kiski Area senior Gianna DeVito, sophomore Alaysia Bell and senior Samuel Plazio had quite a day in the field events.
DeVito won the high jump clearing 5-21⁄2, and Bell had her best jump of the season, 37-81⁄2, in winning the triple jump. DeVito also competed in the triple jump, and Bell competed in the long jump. Bell finished third.
Plazio won the 1,600.
“I have not been to this meet since freshman year,” DeVito said. “I knew it would be a crappy weather day, but I am happy to get the win. All the competitors were doing poorly. No one could clear any heights. I did triple jump, and my legs were tired.”
Bell was thrilled with her performance, especially her personal record in both jumps.
“This was a big victory for me,” Bell said. “It is my first big invitational victory. It has been a struggle with the weather.”
Norwin sophomore Katelyn Navarra won the javelin with a personal-record throw of 120-7.
The Hempfield girls 3,200 relay team finished second behind Morgantown, W.Va., and the boys 3,200 relay team placed fourth.
Other Spartans placewinners were Jiana Patterson (third, shot put and fifth, discus), Maddie Tulley (fifth, shot put), Mayla Brunazzi (sixth, high jump and fourth, pole vault), Brayden Ser (fourth, high jump), Owen Fox (third, pole vault), Joseph Paul (fifth, pole vault), Alan Methven (eighth, pole vault), Sophia Stoner (second, discus and seventh, javelin), Xavier Smith (sixth, javelin), Adam Hudick (eighth, javelin), Sofia Weimer (third, 1,600), Lyla Moody (fifth, 1,600), Luke Harster (fourth, 110 hurdles), Jake Halsted (fourth, 1,600), Troy Payne (seventh, 800), Gianna Moore (eighth, pole vault) and Tessa Trageser (second, pole vault).
Norwin’s placewinners included Alexander Irwin (second, pole vault), Potter Brozeski (seventh, high jump), Jeremiah Francis (seventh, 100), Ransom Gaydos (second, 1,600), Owen Rankin (third, 1,600), Alexander Barrett (fourth, mile), Gabriella Watson (fifth, long jump), Ciera Berthelsen (eighth, 800), Kiley DeNoble (fourth, pole vault), Karina Karadus (seventh, 100 hurdles) and Ashlyn Field (third, discus).
Kiski Area’s placewinners included Avery Biltz (eighth, shot put) and Daevion McNeil (seventh, high jump), Landyn Artman (fifth, javelin), Kelsi Lott (sixth, 1,600) and Braden Miller (second, 300 hurdles).
Other Belle Vernon placewinners were Lily Walsh (sixth, 3,200), Courtney Martin (third, 300 hurdles) and Leonidas Soto (third, 3,200).