Best of Sports, Girls Track: Logan St. John Kletter, Mt. Lebanon
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Despite not being in her finest form because of an injury that has nagged her all spring, Logan St. John Kletter defended her track titles at the district and state level.
During the WPIAL Class 3A Track & Field Championships held in May at the Milhalik-Thompson Stadium Complex at Slippery Rock University, the Mt. Lebanon senior won the 1,600-meter run and came back to capture the gold medal in the 3,200 race.
“Logan battled through the 1,600 but was able to capture the championship even when she was not at 100 percent,” said Lebo girls coach Oscar Shutt. “She had a strong performance in the 3,200, coming through the 1,600 mark at just over five minutes.”
The pace was good enough for St. John Kletter to chase down the WPIAL meet record. She ran 10:19.78, breaking the mark of 10:33.66 set in 2018 by Hannah Schupansky from Oakland Catholic. She ran a 4:52.59 to win the 1,600. The time was 2.37 seconds ahead of runner-up Grace Fritzman of West Allegheny.
During the PIAA Championships held at Shippensburg University, St. John Kletter capped her scholastic career by winning two gold medals.
On the first day of the competition, St. John Kletter won the 1,600 with a personal-best time of 4:38.54. The mark was also the fastest time ever clocked by a WPIAL athlete. Moon’s Mia Cochran ran a 4:40.79 in 2022.
On the second day of the state finals, St. John Kletter won the two-mile in 10:21.46, some 12 seconds ahead of Morgan Roemer from DuBois.
After the state championships, St. John Kletter traveled to St. Louis and competed in the Hoka Festival of Miles. She ran a personal best of 4:37.44, placed fifth and is now ranked seventh in the country.
In June, she raced in the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle and the New Balance Nationals in Philly.