Hempfield has big day at Baldwin Invitational.
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Friday, May 4, 2018 | 9:48 PM
MacKenna Orie didn't play lacrosse this spring to concentrate on throwing events with the Hempfield track and field team.
Her decision is starting to pay off in a big way.
The junior set personal records in the shot put and discus Friday at the Baldwin Invitational, and her throw of 43 feet, 10 inches won the event.
“My sister (Samantha) won it last year, so I kept it in the family,” Orie said. “I bested my throw in the shot put by more than 2 feet.”
Her throw in the discus was 131-10.
“She had an incredible day,” Hempfield throwing coach Dave Murray said. “I've been waiting for this from her.
“She hadn't thrown well previously at Baldwin, so this should give her a lot of confidence. She still has better throws in her.”
Murray believes 45 feet in the shot put is reachable for her, and he has seen her make big throws in the discus at practice.
Molly DeBone had hopes of reaching 12 feet in the pole vault for the first time this season, but gusty winds prevented that.
But the West Virginia recruit and Hempfield senior still won the event with a jump of 11-6.
DeBone didn't stick around for the awards ceremony. She opted to head back home to get ready for school's prom Saturday.
“I'm happy. I was good on my heights,” DeBone said. “I was right there, but the wind affected the jumps.”
DeBone was the WPIAL Class AAA pole vault champion in 2015 and placed second the past two seasons. Her best vault of 12-6 came in a dual meet at Greensburg Salem.
Hempfield's other champion was senior Eudel Moreta, who won the 400. It was the first time he had run the race, and his time of 49.80 edged Norwin sophomore Logan Huss (49.92).
Moreta also finished third in the 200.
Moreta usually runs the sprints, but his coaches wanted him to give the 400 a try.
“I'm really proud of myself,” Moreta said. “My coaches wanted me to compete in an event they thought could get me to states.”
Hempfield's Bailey Traczynski had a busy day. She placed second in the 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles. She also ran a leg of the 400-meter relay.
Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.
Tags: Hempfield Area, Norwin
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