WPIAL track notebook: Depth key in Norwin’s success

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 | 10:14 PM

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The Norwin boys and girls track and field teams are headed back to the WPIAL Class 3A team championship Tuesday at West Mifflin.

The boys defeated Kiski Area (131-19), Connellsville (107-38) and Baldwin (119.5-30.50) in the semifinals Wednesday. Connellsville finished second by defeating Kiski Area (93-57) and Baldwin (76-74).

The girls knocked off Upper St. Clair (106-44), Laurel Highlands (131-13) and Kiski Area (115-35). Upper St. Clair finished second by beating Laurel Highlands (124-19) and Kiski Area (85-64).

“The key to the season has been the depth we have on the squads,” Norwin coach Tim Van Horn said. “We have some individuals that have performed very well.”

Some of the boys to shine include junior Ryan Schiller (110- and 300-meter hurdles), Carter Tobin (sprints), senior Luke Denny (400), junior Nicholas Puskar (pole vault), Thomas Gaydos (3,200) and Jeremiah Francis (hurdles and jumps).

Winning races in the team tournament for the Knights were Nicholas Legnine (100), Eliezer Nicolas (200), Denny (400), Luke Simpson (800), Enzo Jiancristoforo (1,600), Gaydos (3,200), Schiller (110 and 300 hurdles) and Alexander Irwin (pole vault).

The girls performing well include junior Melani Schmidt (sprints), Annie Czajkowski (distance), Brandi Brozeski (hurdles and high jump), Casey Rose Colcombe (hurdles) and Alexis Heller (throws),

The Norwin girls winners were Heller (javelin), Schmidt (200 and 400), Czajkowski (800 and 1,600), Audra Fedor (3,200), Brozeski (100 hurdles), Colcombe (300 hurdles) and Kiley DeNoble (pole vault).

WPIAL dominates 3,200

The top 3,200 runners in the state reside in the WPIAL.

Leading the way is Butler senior Drew Griffith, who ran an 8:37.43 at Acadia, Calif.

Right behind him is his future Notre Dame teammate Ryan Pajak (8:38.02) of Ringgold. North Allegheny’s Jack Bertram (8:56.99) is third and Mohawk’s Jaxon Schoedel (9:01.40) is fourth.

Freeport’s Michael Braun (9:02.76) is fifth and Fox Chapel’s Rowan Gwin (9:03.59) is sixth.

Beaver’s Elijah Bechdel (9:16.91) is 10th and South Fayette’s Alaa-Eddine Guetari (9:17.26) is 11th.

Griffith just missed running a sub four-minute mile at the Butler Invitational on April 13.

WPIAL athletes ranked No. 1

There are numerous WPIAL athletes ranked No. 1 in the state.

Along with Griffith in the 1,600 and 3,200, the other boys are Hempfield senior Peyton Murray (discus) and Hampton’s Dale Hall (800).

The top girls are Knoch’s Kendall Loos (100 hurdles) and Derry’s Sophia Mazzoni (javelin).

River Valley’s Sara McConnell is ranked No. 1 in the high jump (56 ¼).

County notes

Luke Denny and Logan Irwin didn’t participate in the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association meet because they were in Nashville singing with the choir – singing and dancing. … Puskar has cleared 15-1 in the pole vault, tying the school record. He attempted 15-2 at the county meet, but just missed. … Excellence Award winners at the Westmoreland County Scholar-Athlete banquet were Kiski Area senior Eliza Miller and Hempfield’s Murray.

Coming up

The annual Baldwin Invitational and Pine-Richland Invitational will be held Friday. More than 65 teams will be headed to Baldwin and more than 50 to Pine-Richland.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.