Bethel Park relay builds momentum after 1st-place finish at Baldwin Invitational

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Bethel Park’s girls 1,600-meter relayers waited patiently all day.

It finally was their turn to compete May 3 at the rain-soaked 50th annual Baldwin Invitational at Baldwin Stadium.

Bethel Park seniors Artemis Conaboy and Jenna Lang were joined by freshmen Katelyn Coates and Iyonna Sloan in the relay event, and the foursome took first place with a time of 4 minutes, 4.47 seconds.

“I thought the girls had a great time when it was run,” said Mark Jacobs, Bethel Park’s girls coach. “It was at the end of a very long day, and the rain had been falling for a good hour at that point.

“The girls got out to a lead and never gave it up, which was our goal for the race. They have a faster time this year, so they were a little disappointed to not run a season-best (time) but that was in much better weather conditions. I told the girls, especially the two freshmen, a win at the Baldwin Invitational is a big deal no matter the conditions or time.”

Lang also placed second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:13.98.

“Even though Jenna got second place, I thought it was a great and exciting race,” Jacobs said. “When I saw that Eliza (Miller) from Kiski was entered in the 800, I knew it was going to be one of the events to watch.

“Jenna dropped a massive PR at South Fayette, so I wanted to see how she came back the next time she ran the 800. She did not disappoint. She turned in another personal-best in getting second place and was just two-tenths off our school record.

“I feel Jenna is starting to peak at the right time of year and that record should fall before the end of this year. I think that, as well as medaling at the state meet in the 800, would be the icing on the cake of an amazing high school career for her.”

Conaboy and Sloan placed third and seventh, respectively, in the 400. Ella Milliken, a junior, corralled sixth place in the discus event and was a participant in the shot put.

“All three girls have had solid springs and looked to continue them into the (postseason),” Jacobs said.

Other individual girls track competitors at Baldwin included freshmen Kenley Crawford (100, 200), Katelyn Coates (200) and Gillian Uhl (800); junior Talia Jackson (200), sophomores Catherine Carberry (1,600) and Makayla O’Neill (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles); senior Alexandra Burt (3,200); and freshmen Francesca Balkovec (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles) and Lily Yester (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles).

Two other field competitors were junior Addison Gurganus (long jump) and senior Julia Hoppe (pole vault).

For the Bethel Park boys, junior Clancy Orie was a near-miss medalist at the Baldwin Invite with a ninth-place showing in the shot put. Orie also competed in the discus event.

Other individual track competitors for the boys team included junior Fin O’Neill (400); freshmen Holden Bartoleit (400), James Murtaugh (800, 1,600) and Mitchell McGrail (800); sophomore Sam Hoppe (800, 1,600); seniors Caden Lodge (1,600, 3,200) and Mason Tims (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles); and junior Jackson Friday (300 hurdles).

In the field events, the Black Hawks were represented by juniors Martin Devin (high jump, long jump), Mason Neiport (javelin), Fred Mach (javelin), Denzel Meyers (shot put) and Max Sellati (shot put); senior Connor Karabinos (long jump); and sophomores Brady McCarthy (triple jump, pole vault) and Tommy Bova (javelin).

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