Mt. Lebanon Invitational features top-notch talent
In one of the big outdoor meets of the season, several area athletes enjoyed superior success when they raced to victory during the Tri-State Coaches Association Championships held at West Mifflin High School.
Though Butler captured the boys’ team title, Mt. Lebanon earned runner-up honors behind the Golden Tornadoes in the girls’ division.
Molly Mangan led the Lebo attack. She set a new meet and school record when she won the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 43.87. The time was faster than the one she posted in earning a medal at the PIAA state championships.
Mangan also anchored the winning 4×100 relay team of Flynn Begor, Katie Ward and Patrice Smith as well as the runner-up 4×400 relay unit.
Meanwhile, Begor won the high hurdles in 14.55 while Ward medalled in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
Smith finished third in the long jump. In her first long jump competition ever, she recorded the fifth-best distance recorded in Lebo history during a meet last week.
In the 800 run, Aoife-Ruby Dunne equaled her personal best time and finished as the runner-up. She also anchored the fourth-place 4×800 relay and ran an “excellent” leg on the second-place 4×400 relay.
Additionally, Marija Pavlick finished fourth in the javelin, to highlight the Blue Devils’ efforts.
“All of these girls’ performances are a testament to our great staff,” head coach Oscar Shutt said.
Shutt noted the efforts of Dave Carl with the sprinters, Aaron Panczyk with the hurdlers, Drew Haberberger with the jumpers and Frank Cremonese with the throwers.
On the men’s side, Lebo’s 3,200 relay team racked up first-place honors with a time of 8:16.76. Patrick Anderson, Cameron Potts, Luca Hignett-Lewis and Nathan Everhart comprised the foursome.
Mt. Lebanon will host its invitational beginning at 10 a.m. April 21. It is one of many meets scheduled for this weekend as Butler and the Washington County Coaches will also be hosting their annual events. Additionally, Upper St. Clair, like Lebo, had to reschedule its co-ed relays meet for Saturday because of inclement weather on the originally set date back in March.
Many Panthers provided thrilling results, too, at the Tri-State Meet.
Jane Madson won the 200-meter dash. Her time of 25.44 currently ranks sixth-best in the state.
“Jane’s strength at the end of her races are what separates her from the rest of the field,” said coach Matt Cosgrove. “As her competitors waver during the last 90 meters, Jane picks it up and finishes strong.
“While it still is early in the season, I expect Jane will be an athlete to watch in the meets leading up to WPIALs and states,” Cosgrove added.
Madson also helped the 4×100 relay team of Cara Marsh, MacKenzie Veglia and Natalie Rohrbaugh to a fourth-place finish.
In the distance events, Savannah Shaw dominated. She won the 1,600 in 5:02.14 and the 3,200 in 11:19.96.
“She looked great,” said Petrick. “Savannah’s a powerful competitor and a student of the sport. We are really amped to see how she continues to do.”
Shaw, like Mangan, will compete in the prestigious Penn Relays later this month.
“It’s going to be a fun and exciting event,” said USC coach Doug Petrick. “There’s a lot of history in this meet. It should be a blast and a great way to break up the middle of the season.”
Other top performers for USC during the Tri-State meet included: Anne Ferry, seventh in the 400 meters, Mike Gallagher, seventh in the 1,600, and Khalil Jackson, third in the high jump.
“Overall we were very pleased with a strong day at West Mifflin,” Petrick said. “We are excited to get lots of data from racing in April as we move into May. We know the best is yet to come.”
Several other area athletes put their best effort forward during the Tri-State Meet.
Sam Mastro from South Fayette captured the gold in the discus (166 feet) as well as the shot put (50 feet, 1 inch).
Rachel Helbling of South Fayette won the 400-meter dash in 58.11.
Rebacca Libell of Bethel Park won the pole vault (10 feet, 6 inches).
Chartiers Valley finished first in the 1,600 relay. The unit consisted of Elias Zajicek, Abdul Brooks, Caleb Nelson and Hunter Haer.