Local athletes set youth track marks
The future bodes well for area track and field as the younger generation stepped up recently and shattered five meet records during the Mt. Lebanon Olympics.
Formerly the launching pad for the Hershey Track and Field Championships held later in the summer, there is no longer advancement beyond the local competition due to lack of sponsorship.
Nevertheless, history was made.
Jenna Lang of Bethel Park set a new standard in the 800-meter race. The daughter of Jill Lang breezed to victory in 2:34.6. Also in the girls’ 11-12 division, Lang tied the record of 1:09 in the 400-meter run. Claire Dougherty set the mark back in 2010. The 2016 Almanac Female Athlete of the Year currently runs for Dartmouth College. She was a champion in the 800 meters and a standout on Mt. Lebanon’s cross country teams during her scholastic career.
Also in the girls’ 11-12 age group, Mary McElhattan broke the standing long jump record with a leap of seven feet. She is the daughter of Justin and Shirley McElhattan of Mt. Lebanon.
Mt. Lebanon athletes shattered two more records in the tennis ball throw. In the 5-6 age group, Ronan Silva won with a toss of 63 feet while Emilie Winschel won with a heave of 39 feet. Silva is the son of James and Theresa Silva. Winschel is the daughter of Jason and Christine Winschel.