2002 champion girls track and field team to enter Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, July 27, 2024 | 1:42 PM

The Quaker Valley girls track and field team hit a grand slam in 2002, winning a fourth consecutive WPIAL team championship.

And some of QV’s underclassmen would go on to capture three more WPIAL titles over the next five years.

“The 2002 team was deep in talent, certainly with a strong showing from the distance runners as its core,” said Jerry Veshio, QV’s coach in 2002. “That group was coming off a 2001 WPIAL cross country team championship and a PIAA runner-­up finish.”

QV’s highly accomplished track and field squad will be recognized for its achievements and inducted into the school’s Sports HOF this fall.

Four former QV athletes, one current coach and two teams will be added to the Hall of Fame. The HOF weekend is set for Oct. 25-27.

The Quakers had a quality group of distance runners in ‘02 that included seniors Kristen Erny, Barbie Grove, Elissa Olimpi; juniors Maxine Markfield, Melissa Brantley, Cameron Brantley; sophomore Julie Dickhans; and freshmen Eryn Correa, Ali Shorall and Claire Shorall.

“The 2002 season was so wonderful,” said Erny, whose married name is Heimann. “Every event was filled with multiple talented athletes, so QV would score many points versus just having one ‘star’ runner, jumper or thrower. All three relays were very successful.

“We always had wonderful support for each other as we continued through invitationals and the WPIAL individual championships. Team spirits were high as we continued to win throughout the season, culminating in the fourth WPIAL team title in a row.”

Heimann specialized in the distance events and helped spark her team to a fourth-place finish at the state finals.

“We’d been WPIAL champions the last three years,” she said, “so we had high expectations to win the WPIAL team championship again and, of course, send a lot of individuals to the state championships. Everyone did really well that year.”

The HOF selectee also ran for the QV girls cross country team in high school. The Quakers were WPIAL team champions and PIAA runners-up in 2002.

“Our distance team was coming off a fantastic fall cross country season with a deep roster of over 15 really talented distance runners,” Heimann said. “These girls were my best friends and doing intense training with a group of people you really liked never felt like hard work. It was always a lot of fun.”

Heimann attended Penn State where in 2003 she founded club team for cross country runners.

“Actually, the transition from a small school like Quaker Valley to a large school like Penn State was hard. I really missed the team and competitive aspects of running,” Heimann said. “The Penn State cross country club team gave students a chance to train with a team and compete at the D-III level, or just run with the team for fun. It continues to be one of the largest club (teams) on campus.”

Heimann worked for a large advertising agency in New York City following her college graduation where she met her husband, Philip.

“His job took us to France for five years,” Heimann said. “After coming back to the U.S. in 2016, I worked in programming and project management for Stone Barns Center, a sustainable agriculture non-profit outside of New York.”

After 20 years living in the New York area, Heimann’s family moved back to Sewickley in 2021.

“I have two girls who attend Osborne, and I hope they might run cross country and track someday,” said Heimann, who is employed as a real estate agent. “I think the level of training and hard work to reach both personal and team goals is a great learning experience and builds so much character. My experiences with QV running and my teammates are still some of my favorite memories.

“What made QV a championship team in 2002 was that we were lucky enough to have stars like Maxine Markfield, Julie Dickhans, Margi Smith, Courtney Lenart, Shannon McCoy, Kathryn Morrisey, and more, but also a lot of really talented athletes who consistently came in second through eighth place. The depth of the team was incredible. And we always cheered each other on.”

Getting back to 2002, coach Veshio continued with his succinct assessment of the championship squad.

“As was needed and demonstrated, the team possessed high-level athletes in other events, as well,” Veshio said. “The sprint and hurdle members were top-notch.”

Some of the leading competitors in those events included seniors Sara Vogel, Julie Fratangelo, Melissa Gilmore, Morrisey and McCoy; juniors Janine Garrett and Smith; plus sophomores Jasmine Rogers and Rachel Vogel.

Morrisey’s and Smith’s times in the 200-meter dash (26.16) and 100 hurdles (14.88), respectively, still rank in the top five all-time in program history.

Rogers was inducted into the QV HOF in 2014. She was the first girl at QV to claim a PIAA track championship, winning the 100 and 100 hurdles (tying the state record).

She also starred in the gym, playing volleyball for four years and basketball for three. She earned a scholarship to Manhattan College in New York City, then transferred to Delaware State to continue her track career.

The Rogers family is known for its athleticism as Jasmine, Darren and Christa are HOF members. Darren, a 2006 graduate, starred as a quarterback for the Quakers and continued his career at Kent State. Christa, a 2008 grad, was a multi-sport star in track, volleyball and basketball, much like her sister.

Veshio next turned his attention to the team’s field competition from two-plus decades ago.

“The field events were in good hands with our all-star discus throwers, Courtney Lenart and Nicole Nolfi,” he said. “The jumps were led by Janette Schneider, Elissa Olimpi, Shannon McCoy and Anne Paschke.”

Lenart’s best toss was 132 feet which remains second-best all-time.

Team members from 2002 still positioned among the all-time top five event-wise include Claire Shorall, Sara Vogel, Morrisey, Markfield, Correa, Dickhans, Schneider, McCoy and Olimpi.

Veshio, a 1970 QV graduate who lettered in football and track, is a retired teacher and well-respected figure in the QVSD. He is a HOF member who served as athletic director, assistant principal, gym teacher, P.A. announcer, swim coach, track coach and even football coach. His impressive coaching credentials include 13 section and seven WPIAL titles.

Veshio returned in 2017 to coach the QV football team on an interim basis for one season — 31 years after his previous stint as a head coach ended — and guided the Quakers to WPIAL and PIAA titles.

“It was quite a year for Quaker Valley football,” Veshio said. “I was proud and humbled to be a part of that exciting historic season.”

Bill Hamilton, Dave Noyes, Mandy Schnupp and Bill Vicarri were Veshio’s assistants in 2002.

“As I reflect back through the 40-plus years of coaching track at Quaker Valley, the girls teams have always been strong,” Veshio said. “This 2002 team was surely instrumental in keeping and setting high standards that continue to the present day.”

Heimann agreed.

“I saved all the old articles from the WPIAL team and individual meets,” she said, “and it was really fun reading through how well everyone performed.”

As an update, QV has won three consecutive WPIAL team championships in girls track and field.

Tags: Quaker Valley