Twin Wins
Butler track rolls to
WPIAL 3A boys, girls team crowns
May 13, 2021 High School Track & Field
Butler's
boys and girls track and field athletes celebrate their sweep of the WPIAL
Class AAA team championship meets Wednesday at West Mifflin High School's
track. This marks the first time Butler has claimed both championships in the
same season in a number of years.
SEB FOLTZ/BUTLER EAGLE
WEST MIFFLIN — As dominant as Butler's track
and field teams have been this season, they knew that only with victory at
Wednesday's WPIAL Class 3A team championship meet would 2021 be considered
truly special.
The Golden Tornado boys and girls left no
doubt, both earning three convincing wins to improve to 15-0 on the season.
The boys earned their first team title in 14
years by crushing South Fayette (112.5-37.5), Seneca Valley (100.5-49.5) and
Canon-McMillan (109-41).
The Tornado girls were fitted for their
fourth straight crown with wins against Norwin (95-55), North Allegheny (86-64)
and Belle Vernon (115-35).
“Between both programs, we now have (22)
WPIAL championships between boys and girls,” said Butler boys coach Mike
Seybert. “That's pretty cool.”
As they've done all spring, Butler's boys
owned the track, with eight overall wins there out of 11 events.
Butler's
Byron Manchester, left, edges Seneca Valley's Aiden Kutchma in the 110-meter
hurdles during the WPIAL Class AAA team championships Wednesday. Butler's boys
cruised to the team title.
SEB FOLTZ/BUTLER EAGLE
CJ Singleton was part of three of those
victories, winning the 1,600-meter run, 800 and running two laps of the 4x800
relay.
“This means a lot to me. I did what I needed
to do to help the team win,” Singleton said. “We were able to close things up
pretty early today.”
Indeed, the Tornado had already clinched the
championship with a number of events still pending.
“Our goal this season was to score at least
100 points in every meet and we did that,” Seybert said. “You could see it in
the kids' faces today. They were focused on taking care of what they worked
for, beginning last year.
“This is the best boys team we've ever had.
That's saying something because we had some really good ones 20 years ago.”
Many of this year's athletes were primed for
a big season in 2020, but the season was canceled.
“This (title) was our plan last year,”
explained Jordan Stutz, who won the high jump. “It's priceless and is the most
fun I've ever had, being part of this team.”
Guinness Brown turned in his usual effort by
winning the 100, 200 and 400.
Skyler Vavro won the 3,200 and helped
Butler's 4x800 relay squad to another victory.
Seneca Valley defeated Canon-McMillan and
South Fayette to finish second in the WPIAL.
“Butler deserves this title,” said SV coach
Ray Peaco. “They have great coaches and a great attitude.
“We were breathing down their neck as much
as we could. I'm so proud of our guys.”
Butler's girls swept the seven field events,
sparked by a couple of personal-best performances.
Justine
Forbes runs a leg of the Butler girls' winning 4x400 meter relay Wednesday. The
Golden Tornado girls defended their team title.
SEB FOLTZ/BUTLER EAGLE
Junior Alli Morrow went 17 feet, 10.75
inches in the long jump, improving her top effort by nine inches.
She also won the 100, tied for first place
in the 200 and was on the winning 4x100 relay quartet.
Morrow edged in front of Norwin's Jordyn
Turcovski to win the 100 by .06 seconds.
“I competed in this meet two years ago as a
freshman. I ran in the 400 relay, but we did not do well, so I didn't actually
contribute to the win.
“The fact that I contributed today in all
four of my events, that makes all the difference to me. I'm so happy to help
the team.”
Sarayne Forbes managed 126-6 in the discus,
nearly seven feet better than her previous best.
“Everything just came together for me,” she
said. “It was warm and sunny and I was able to throw without a jacket on. It
(discus) felt good coming out of my hand.
“I was thinking about it all day, how
important this meet was. I feel really fortunate to be part of Butler's
championship streak.”
Megan Penrod just began throwing the javelin
this season, but chipped in a win in the event Wednesday.
“I'm so excited with how well it's gone for
me,” she said.
Taylor Timmons and Gabby Boden both did
their part to bring victory in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.
Emma Lehman was on both of those squads as
well and added a first place in the 300 hurdles.
“We're not as deep as we've been in the
past, but we definitely have a lot of talent,” said Butler girls coach John
Williams. “The kids stepped up today.”
Boys
Butler 112.5, South Fayette 37.5
Butler 100.5, Seneca Valley 49.5
Butler 109, Canon-McMillan 41
Seneca Valley 107, South Fayette 43
Seneca Valley 94.5, Canon-McMillan 55.5
3,200 relay: Butler (Gratzmiller, Slear,
Vavro, Singleton) 7:57.75; 110 hurdles: Byron Manchester (B) 15.29; 100 dash:
Guinness Brown (B) 11.01; 1,600 run: CJ Singleton (B) 4:25.82; 400 run:
Guinness Brown (B) 48.87; 400 relay: Seneca Valley (Hartman, Kutchma, Dworek,
Yurich) 43.44; 300 hurdles: Canon-McMillan; 800 run: CJ Singleton (B) 1:58.96;
200 dash: Guinness Brown (B) 22.73; 3,200 run: Skyler Vavro (B) 9:40.86; 1,600
relay: Canon-McMillan
Shot put: South Fayette; Discus: South
Fayette; Javelin: Landon Kretzer (B) 164-9; High jump: Jordan Stutz (B) 6-0;
Long jump: Tyler Yurich (SV) 23-1/2; Triple jump: Matt Laslavic (SV) 44-7; Pole
vault: South Fayette
Girls
Butler 95, Norwin 55
Butler 86, North Allegheny 64
Butler 115, Belle Vernon 35
3,200 relay: North Allegheny; 100 hurdles:
Norwin; 100 dash: Alli Morrow (B) 12.90; 1,600 run: Belle Vernon; 400 run:
Norwin; 400 relay: Butler (Timmons, Morrow, Boden, Lehman) 49.48; 300 hurdles:
Emma Lehman (B) 46.64; 800 run: North Allegheny; 200 dash: (tie) Alli Morrow
(B) 27.03;
3,200 run: Belle Vernon; 1,600 relay: Butler
(Lehman, Timmons, J.Forbes, Boden) 4:04.56
Shot put: Kenna Jackson (B) 33-2.5; Discus:
Sarayne Forbes (B) 126-6; Javelin: Megan Penrod (B) 103-2; High jump: Alexia
Mechling (B) 5-2; Long jump: Alli Morrow (B) 17-10.75; Triple jump: Megan
Baggetta (B) 37-7; Pole vault: Sam Penrod (B) 10-6