Tornado's Renwick struts stuff a meet

By Sam Tallarico
Eagle Staff Writer

BUTLER TWP - Butler's Logan Renwick admits the 300-meter hurdles is starting to grow on him and he seems to wear it well.
Renwick recorded a winning time of 39.99 seconds in the event at the 45th annual Butler Track and Field Invitational Friday, just missing the Golden Tornado school record of 39.8 by Luke Goldner in 2001. Keith Hortert ran a 39.9 in 1976.
If that wasn't enough, Renwick also won the 110 hurdles (14.97) and the triple jump (47-feet-0), and was third in the long jump (22-1C\v).
He was awarded the Field MVP Award for his efforts for the second consecutive year.
"I evolved from doing the 100 to the 110 hurdles starting back from fourth grade," said Renwick. "Now, I'm starting to work on the 300 hurdles and it's one of my better races.
"I wasn't sure I would be near that time all year. I came close last year. I haven't run a perfect race all year. I didn't stutter at any hurdle today. I looked up and saw the finish line."
Renwick's triple jump was his best of the year and just off the pace of his best leap (47-5), which came at the PIAA Class AAA Championships last year.
His third place in the long jump was a result of fouling on two jumps as his toe just went over the board. He would have been much closer to his personal best 22-10 from last year.
"That would have put me in the mix," said Renwick., who settled for a season-best.
"It couldn't have been more than one-half inch," said Butler boys coach Rick Schontz. "He could have broken another school record. It was his choice to run the four events. We have a meet Tuesday against North Allegheny. I told him, 'I want you to be able to recover. Just have fun today.'"
Being so successful at his team's own invitational is a great experience, Renwick said.
"It's an awesome feeling," said Renwick. "We always have great results here. The competition was awesome this year. Last year it was not as strong. This is something to be happy about."
Aside from Renwick's three wins, seven other Butler County athletes captured first places, including three more in the boys meet.

Seneca Valley's Zach Francis won the high jump (6-2) while Slippery Rock's David Caldwell won the boys pole vault (14-3) and Moniteau's Tyler Armagost won the javelin (177-11, just eight inches away from equaling his best from 2007).
Francis placed third in the triple jump (43-3) and seventh in the long jump (20-5), but he enjoyed a breakthrough in his high jump.
"Finally, we a got a good break. This was the first good day where it wasn't cold or windy," said Francis. "Also, it was a good day because of the good competition. It really pushes you higher.
"A lot of this is because of Mr. (Dan) Sample. He's my (jump) coach. He finds out what I did wrong and tries to fix it," Francis added.
Not much was wrong Friday. It was a good first step in trying to reach 6-6, which is Francis' goal for his senior season.
Caldwell won the pole vault at 14-0, but tried to reach 14-3, which he did on his third and final attempt. He gave 14-6 a try as well, but just fell short.
"Last year, I did 12-9 and I was hoping for 14 today," said Caldwell. "I'm psyched.
"Our school record is 14-9 (Chris Kovalsy, 1992) so, hopefully, I can set my sights a little higher," Caldwell added.
In the girls meet, Seneca Valley's Erin Lopresti won the 800 (2:17.0), Stacy Harkins took the discus (102-9Z\x) while the Tornado's Paige Rittelman won the high jump (5-4) and Bri Lumley the shot put.
Lopresti easily outdistanced the field, winning by 7.5 seconds and just missed her meet record of 2:16.0, set last season.
Harkins won by seven inches over Upper St. Clair's Emily Mueller and also placed sixth in the javelin (109-4). Lumley won by 8Z\x inches over Erie McDowell's Nicole Mayr.
"I always aim for distance and let the places fall wherever," said Lumley. "I was feeling good today because of the weather.
"I was aiming for a higher distance (37-10Z\x is her best this year) but I'm very content with this. I definitely feel I can throw 38 or 39 feet this year and maybe 40 next year and definitely going to states," Lumley added.
Rittelman continues her consistency in the high jump, according to Butler girls coach Rod Harris, who was pleased that his predominately young team is starting to show marked improvement, as evidenced by several personal bests.
"Overall, I'm pretty excited," said Harris. We were fourth overall in this invite and we didn't load up. All the kids did just two events (because of the section meet Tuesday) and to do that is fantastic."
Notes: Other double individual medalists included Knoch's Adam Tuzikow (boys shot put and discus, sixth places) and Regina Robb (girls 110 hurdles, fourth; 300 hurdles, fifth) Butler's Becky Nowacki (girls 300 hurdles and long jump, seventh places) and Karns City's Amber Saunders (girls high jump, third; long jump, sixth).