SHIPPENSBURG — If you were hoping for picture-perfect weather for the PIAA track and field championships this weekend at Seth Grove Stadium, expect the worst.
Athletes from across the state are expected to be greeted by heavy rain and cold temperatures.
The runners, throwers and jumpers from the WPIAL had similar conditions, at least the cold temperatures, at the WPIAL championships \May 14 at Slippery Rock University.
But despite the predicted lousy weather, the meet will be held.
Greensburg Central Catholic senior Jerry Davis, who edged North Catholic senior Logan Schade by 1/1000th of a second to win his third WPIAL Class 2A 400-meter title, is excited to defend his PIAA title. He also is competing in the 200.
“Hopefully I will be 100%,” Davis said. “The last two weeks I was sick and lost some endurance. Logan is a great runner, and we have had two great battles. I got a little lucky. We should have a third.”
Davis and Schade were neck-and-neck heading down the stretch, and Davis was able to lean forward at the finish line for the win.
“I did not mean to fall,” Davis said. “It just happened. I have a lot to work on before the state meet. I need to get my endurance back, and I hope to repeat.”
Franklin Regional junior Sean Cartwright, Hempfield senior Jonathan Stetchock, Belle Vernon senior Ryan Kent and Southmoreland senior Megan Mehall each won two gold medals at the WPIAL meet.
They would love to bring home gold again.
Cartwright won the 300-meter hurdles and high jump, and he placed second in the 110-meter hurdles.
He did not let the second-place finish in the 110 hurdles bother him too much. It motivated him.
“I thought I would win the 110s and placed in the high jump and 300s,” Cartwright said. “That was my plan. But after placing second in the 110s, it motivated me to work harder.
“It turned out to be a great day. I cannot put into words or be disappointed.”
Stetchock won the 1,600 and 3,200, Kent won the shot put and discus and Mehall won the 800 and 1,600 in Class 2A.
“I am really happy to get both,” Stetchock said. “The 3,200 was tough because it was windy and cold. It was a mental battle out there.”
Kent said he was pleased to break his personal record on his final throw in the discus. He said he is looking forward to competing at Shippensburg, where he will compete in college.
“I am excited because I had never doubled,” Mehall said. “This was a big surprise. I just want to enjoy the rest of the season.”
Other WPIAL champions from Westmoreland County looking for PIAA gold are Latrobe junior Preston Miller in the 300 and Hempfield senior Chesnee Smith in the 800 (3A).
“I feel I have more in the tank for states,” Smith said. “The poor weather forced me to do a lot of warm-ups because it was so cold.”
Hershey bound
Here are the other county athletes to qualify for states:
Burrell: Riley Quinn (discus, fifth); Lily Liotta (triple jump, second).
Derry: Jeremiah Gess (pole vault, third).
Franklin Regional: Anthony Petrucci (discus, fourth); Jamie Kociela (high jump, second)
Greensburg Central Catholic: Blasé Bugosh (high jump, second); Lira Bateson (triple jump, fourth); Julia Stilley, (200 sixth and 400, fifth); Georgia Evans (300 hurdles, fourth, and long jump, third); Grant Brewer (300 hurdles, fifth).
Greensburg Salem: Isabella Dinkel (100, third and 200, third).
Hempfield: Luke Harster, (110 hurdles, seventh); Madison Altman (100 hurdles, second, and 300 hurdles, second); Angelina Overfield (100 hurdles, third); Jiana Patterson (shot put, second); Sophia Stoner (discus, second); 3,200 boys relay team: Isaiah Bittner, Ryan Ewing, Jake Halsted and Troy Payne (third); 1,600 girls relay team: Altman, Peyton Leduc, Overfield, Smith (second).
Kiski Area: Braden Miller (110 hurdles, third, and 300 hurdles, second); Nicolas Anderson (shot put, fourth); Alaysia Bell (triple jump, second).
Ligonier Valley: Elyse Witcoski (100, fourth); Alec Brisdenstein (pole vault, second).
Mt. Pleasant: Andrew Brodak (shot put, fifth); Bryson Bankosh (long jump, fifth); Gage Sowers (pole vault, second).
Norwin: Jeremiah Francis (110 hurdles, fourth; Tyler Beck (110 hurdles, fifth, and 300 hurdles, third); Annie Czajkowski (1,600, third, and 3,200, fourth); Benjamin McBride (3,200, third); and Karina Karadus (100 hurdles, seventh).
Southmoreland: Dawson Wolfe (shot put, fourth).