Jul 10, 2014 3 min read

Dani Prunzik of Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon’s Patrice Smith and Molly Mangan captured Pennsylvania state championships during the Hershey’s Track and Field Games’ held at Penn State University.

Depending upon how their times compare to those across the country as well as in Canada, the three track stars may qualify for the North American Meet to be held the weekend of Aug. 2 in Hershey.

In the 9-10 age division, Prunzik claimed gold in the 100- and 200-meter dashes in 15.17 and 32.42 times. Prunzik also helped the USC team of Macie Miller, Gina Smith and Victoria Pettko secure second in the 4-by-100 relay. Individually, Pettko took third in the 50-meter dash.

For girls, ages 13-14, Mangan raced to victory in the 200 with a 27.57 mark while Smith won the 800 run in 2:33.24. Additionally, Smith finished second in the 1,600 run followed by Samantha Boris of Bethel Park in third. Boris also followed Smith in the 800, placing sixth.

In other action, Lebo dominated the boys’ softball throw, securing second places in the 9-14 age groups with Micah and Nate Black as well as Chris Kahl. Additionally, Kahl was sixth in the 100 dash for ages 13-14.

Other top Lebo finishers included: Sophia Zundel, who secured second in the 400 for ages 9-10, and Colton Cramer, who took third in the 100 for ages 9-10.

The 4-by-100 relay grouping of Brooke Collins, Mary Hoffman, Anna Reisinger and Sydney Saba finished fourth in the 9-10 division. Individually, Hoffman finished fourth in the softball throw.

All of the area competitors qualified for the state finals by finishing first or second during a qualifier held at Somerset.

Among the champions were: Smith (800), Zundel (400), Pettko (50); Cramer (400), Prunzik (100 and 200), Mangan (200), Boris (1600), Nate Black (softball), Micah Black (softball) and Jane Chaves from Lebo (softball).

Three additional area champions were crowned at Somerset including Lebo’s Brady Napoleon and Matthew Wertz as well as Bethel Park’s Christopher Davis. While Napoleon won the boys’ 11-12 400-meter run in 1:12.3, Wertz claimed gold in the 100 for ages 9-10 with a 15:31 mark. Davis won the 200 dash in 31.8 for boys ages 9-10.

There were three winning 4-by-100 relays.

Pettko, Smith, Miller and Prunzik combined to win in the girls’ 9-10 division with a 1:05.58 time. Wertz, Cramer, Micah Black and Evan Rossi won the boys’ 9-10 relay in 1:05.49. Chaves, Madeline Hraber, Mangan and Erin Leach won for girls’ 13-14 in 0.58.07.

Collins, Hoffman, Reisinger and Saba combined for second in the 9-10 girls’ relay.

Second-place finishers at Somerset included: Boris (800), Napoleon (200), Rossi (200), Smith (1600), Hoffman (softball) and Kahl (softball).

Among the third-place finishers were: Smith, (long jump), Zundel (100) Andy Cort of Lebo, (800), Nate Black (100), Jacob Metcalf of Bethel Park (200), Joseph Breslau of Lebo (1600) as well as USC’s 400 girls’ relay team of Matisse Gelblum, Emily Rhodes, Paige Black and Kelly Prunzik.

Individually, Gelblum finished fifth in the 100 while Saba placed fourth in the 200 meter.

While they did not advance to states, other top finishers in the Somerset meet included:

• Alyjah Carter of Bethel Park – fifth, long jump and sixth, 50 meters.

• Zach Bobro of BP – fifth, long jump.

• Kelly Prunzik of USC – fifth, 800 run.

• Ava Prezioso of Lebo – fourth, long jump.

• Hailey Latona of Lebo – fourth, softball.

Finally the 11-12 girls’ relay team of Jessica Pecore, Ava Prezioso, Lana Rice and Courtney Alexander from Lebo finished fourth.