Baldwin junior Becca Gruntz sparkled at the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships May 14 at Slippery Rock University.
Gruntz placed third in the girls long jump, finishing third with a distance of 17 feet, 7 inches. She also has competed in the high jump and triple jump events in her track and field career at Baldwin.
Vince Broccoli, a senior, also was a medalist for the Highlanders thanks to his seventh-place finish in the boys shot put.
Broccoli competes in the javelin and discus, as well, and placed 11th in the javelin at the district meet.
Several other Baldwin athletes qualified for the WPIAL championship meet.
The boys team was represented by seniors Zach Lieu (400) and Alex Castaneda (3,200), sophomore Logan Breisinger (300 hurdles), junior Callen O’Malley (triple jump), sophomore Bryson Smolko (javelin) and all three groups of relay runners.
Other qualifiers for the girls team included seniors Olivia Shellman (200) and Julianne Ott (400), junior Rhiana Lavelle (javelin), plus the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relayers.
Jumpers lead TJ
Thomas Jefferson senior Isaac Fant soared over a personal-best height of 6-5 in the boys high jump at the WPIAL Class 3A meet.
Fant is a jumping specialist for the Jaguars; he also has competed in the long jump and triple jump.
Emily Myers switched gears at TJ following her 2025-26 freshman basketball season with the Jaguars.
A 5-foot-8 forward, Myers literally jumped into the track and field scene at TJ, making an immediate impact in the girls high jump event.
Myers placed ninth in the high jump at the WPIAL championships by clearing a height of 4-11.
The boys 3,200-meter relayers posted a time of 8:18.31 to secure the seventh spot at the district championships.
TJ senior Nate Hampton (100, 200) and sophomore Zachary Kashak (1,600) also qualified for the WPIAL meet.