Area athletes come up golden at WPIAL track finals
Savannah Shaw
Chyna Beck clears the hurdle during a previous invitational this spring. The Canon-McMillan senior captured a WPIAL Class AAA championship title in the 100-meter hurdles. She will be among the local athletes competing for PIAA gold at the state finals to be held May 26-27 in Shippensburg.
Three local ladies grabbed gold medals during the WPIAL track and field championships held May 18 at Baldwin. They will be among the area athletes competing in the PIAA championships set for May 26-27 at Shippensburg University.
Savannah Shaw of Upper St. Clair, Chyna Beck from Canon-McMillan and South Fayette’s Courtney Phoennik all finished first in their premier events.
In the 1,600 event, Shaw outlegged the competition which included Peters Township’s Laura Ehrenberger, who took third, and Oakland Catholic’s Lauren Finikiotis, who secured second. Finikiotis was the WPIAL runner-up in cross country. Shaw won the metric mile in 4:57.96, more than two seconds ahead of the competition.
“Savannah is a special talent on the track,” said USC coach Doug Petrick. “Witnessing her win a WPIAL championship was a surreal moment for everyone. I got chills watching her kick at the end of her race.”
Petrick noted diligence, intelligence and personality as keys to Shaw’s success. Recognized as The Almanac’s cross country MVP, she holds multiple course and school records, including being the first female harrier to medal at states. A year-round performer, she paved her path to the podium with a victory in the mile during the indoor season as well as a win in the prestigious McKinney Mile during the Baldwin Invitational held just a week prior to the WPIAL championships.
“It’s the years of hard work and commitment Savannah has put in that allowed this feat to come to fruition,” said Petrick. “We are so proud of her. She’s an awesome person who happens to be an awesome runner. She buys into the training, and is truly a student of the sport. She is a joy to work with and really is tuned into intelligent, consistent training.”
Petrick expects that training to pay off this weekend in Shippensburg. Shaw will make her second appearance in two years at the state track finals.
“We are pumped for her to continue the progression and get on the medal stand,” he said. “The best is yet to come for her. We can’t wait to get back to Shippensburg.”
Beck to states
When one considers the adversity Beck has had to overcome, it is amazing she is a champion much less heading to Shippensburg to compete in two events. The Big Mac senior also earned a silver medal in the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, 6.5 inches.
During her scholastic career, she developed shin splints. After surgery to correct the lower limb issue, she developed compartment syndrome. The condition can cause amputation. After spending months in casts on both legs, she returned to the track, setting record after record for both the indoor and outdoor track teams, before clinching the gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles.
A Duquesne University recruit, Beck built her speed then pulled away at the mid-point of the race. She finished in 14.52, ahead of Jayla Ellis from Oakland Catholic (14.67) and Melina Owens of North Allegheny (14.82)
“I’ve been working on new steps,” said Beck. “I was focusing on the first two hurdles because usually they are the hardest for me. I have such a slow start that usually everyone passes me,” continued Beck, who helped the 4×100 and 4×400 relays place third and qualify for states. “It frustrates me but having so many good competitors pushes me.”
Phoennik was one of those competitors. She pushed Beck in the jumping. But, Phoennik prevailed. She won the triple jump with a distance of 38 feet, 2.25 inches.
“Being a WPIAL champion is really exciting,” said Phoennik. “I worked for this for four years.”
South Fayette coach Scott Litwinovich can attest to Phoennik’s determination and diligence.
“Courtney was extremely driven to win her WPIAL championship,” he said, noting that the girls who placed second and third had placed ahead of Phoennik at the Lions’ meet and the more recent Baldwin Invitational.
“She has worked hard since her sophomore year to get to this point and has done everything that the coaching staff has asked her to do. She is also one of the most “coachable” females that I have ever worked with. She takes all feedback and uses it to her advantage. She is very competitive and does not like to lose. She is also a great leader that has mentored many of our younger jumpers and sprinters. She has set a great example of how much you can achieve if you set a goal for yourself and strive to accomplish it.”
The Bethel Park foursome of Ken Barnhart, James Krandel, Terron Murphy and Zach Taylor certainly accomplished much. They completed the list of gold-medal winners from The Almanac coverage area. They combined to win the 4×100 relay in 42.64. Individually, Taylor took third in the long jump and Krandel claimed bronze in the 100-meter dash.
Kane doubles
Harvey Kane made a trip to the podium twice and is qualified for two jumping events in the PIAA championships. The Upper St. Clair senior, who earlier this season placed 13th at the Penn Relays, captured silver in the long jump (23.1) and third in the high jump.
“Harvey did an amazing job,” said USC coach Matt Cosgrove. “He is the athlete that every coach wants. Not because of his skill level but because he is a coachable athlete. Harvey is very in tune to his jumping ability. Before we talk after each jump he is already making suggestions on what can be fixed for the next one.”
The USC coaching staff expect big things from Harvey at states. “We are looking forward to seeing Harvey Kane on the podium,” said Doug Petrick. “Harvey’s an amazing athlete who stays cool under pressure. He’s built for these types of high stakes situations.”
Several other area athletes, including Harvey’s teammate, Jay Pollock, have qualified for the “high stakes” competition at states. Pollock had finished fifth in the shot put but because the fourth-place finisher dropped out of the competition, the USC senior will fill the final qualifying spot.
Among the other state qualifiers are:
• Rachel Helbling-second in the 400-meter dash.
• Amanda Oliver-third and fourth in the 100 and 200 dashes.
• Sam Snodgrass-second in the 1,600.
• Mason Ventrone-second in the high jump.
• Molly Mangon-second in the 300 hurdles.
• Tara Gologram-third in the 100 meters and long jump.
• Selena Canello-third in the 200 dash.
• Alicia Lehman-fourth in discus.
• Madison Grogan-fourth in shot put.
• Rebecca Libell-fourth in pole vault.
Bishop Canevin qualified its 4×400 girls’ relay team for the state finals. The unit consisted of sophomore Alyssa Deasy, seniors Eva Zenk and Anne Philbin as well as junior Maddie Walter.
Canon-McMillan qualified two relays for the PIAA. The unit of Chyna Beck, Emily Clopp, Tamara Mathis and Nayah Williams placed third in the 4×100, clocking a 49 flat. The foursome of Mathis, Beck, Serena Esquivel and Cerena McBride combined in the 4×400, posting a 3:59.42 time, good enough for the bronze medal.
Mt. Lebanon’s 4×400 relay team followed the Lady Macs, finishing fourth with a 3:59.95 time. The team included: freshman Patrice Smith along with sophomores Jane Chavez Aoife-Ruby Dunne and Molly Mangan.
Oakland Catholic junior Megan Nagy combined with Lauren Finikiotis, Megan Ellery and Hanna Schapansky to win the 4×800 relay in 9:24.52. Nagy is a Peters Township resident.