South Fayette duo medals at states
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Rachel Helbling sprints down the track during 200-meter action. The South Fayette senior set a new school record of 25.67 and finished runner-up in the race during last weekend’s invitational. She also won the 400-meter dash in 58.05.
By Eleanor Bailey/Almanac Sports Editor/ebailey@thealmanac.net
Eleanor Bailey/the almanac
Sam Mastro warms up before competing in the discus. The senior earned Field MVP honors for winning the discus (161 feet, 11 inches) as well as the shot put (51 feet, 2 inches) at the South Fayette Invitational. Mastro, who finished fourth in the state as a sophomore, is expected to be one of the top competitors at the WPIAL championships to be held May 17 at Baldwin.
Two track and field athletes from South Fayette secured medals during the PIAA championships.
Sam Mastro finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 165 feet, 5 inches. The toss was off the mark of 175 feet, which he threw at the WPIAL championships to finish second.
“Coming off districts, I wanted to build off that throw,” Mastro said. “I wanted to take second (place) but it didn’t happen that way. It’s nice to know you have a throw that’s not even that good for you and still take fifth in the state meet, but at the end of the day, it’s not what I wanted.
Rachel Helbling finished fourth in the 400-meter dash. The South Fayette senior posted a 55.91 time.
“I was hoping for a personal record but a second-best time is pretty good,” Helbling said of her mark. “I was shooting for top five. So, to get fourth was great. I really tried to mae up the stagger on the outside lands quickly, hold it through the back stretch and push through at the end.”
It was the third straight Top 8 showing and All-State performance for Helbling. Last year she placed seventh in the 400 with a 57.02 time. She finished fifth as a sophomore in 56.27.
The University of Richmond recruit was the WPIAL runner-up in the event with a 54.41. She also was a bronze medalist in the 200 dash with a 25.08 time.