A-K Valley athletes of the week: Fox Chapel’s Mason Miles, Plum’s Gabrielle Layne

By: Bill Hartlep
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | 5:31 PM

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Gabrielle Layne

School: Plum

Class: Junior

Sport: Track and field

Report card: Plum junior Gabrielle Layne won the 200-meter dash in 25.56 seconds Friday at the Pine-Richland Invitational. She also placed third in the 100 (12.56). One of the WPIAL’s top sprinters, she finished fifth in the 100 and eighth in the 200 at the WPIAL Class 3A championships last spring and earned a trip to the PIAA meet.

How did you run at the Pine-Richland Invitational on Friday?

I think I ran good, especially my 200. It was a new PR for me. My 100, I had a rough start. I did almost trip, but I did bring it back at the end of the race. So I’m proud of that one too. Our 4-by-1, we PR’d, and we gave our best effort in the 4-by-4 so I’m proud of that too.

How did it feel to win the 200?

I was very shocked because I did have a little groin injury happening these past two weeks. I’ve been treating it with my trainer. I didn’t think I would do that well. I knew as soon as I came off the turn that I was gonna PR.

What are your goals for the WPIAL championships?

One of my goals is to break the school record in the 200 (25.48). I ran a 25.56 (Friday) so I plan to break the school record at WPIALs and also make states. Earlier today we saw the standards for states, and it’s 25.70. I think I’ll be able to make the standard for states. As for the 100, my coaches believe I’m more of a 200 and 400 runner, but I think I can make states in the 100. My goal for WPIALs is to be in the top three or four for the 100 and 200 as well.

What is the most important thing to having a good race in the 100?

My start for sure. I do have top end speed, but I believe the start is what makes you win the race. I‘ve been working for two years now with different coaches to work on my start. I don’t have a good reaction time to the gun so I’ve been doing whatever I could to work on my start.

What about the 200?

I would say the curve, building a stagger is the most important. Once you have the stagger going and in the front on curve, you just have to rely on keeping that pace to the finish.

What is the key part to the relays?

You have to depend on each other. It’s not just one select person. Handoffs are a big thing. You can have one zone having a terrible handoff, the other doing good and you might not win. All of you matter, so it’s hard when it comes to winning something.

How did you get started in track and field?

I was around 6 years old. I was at my sister’s track meet. I didn’t know much about it, but I went to a lot of her meets. Her coach had a summer track team, and I asked if I could run for his team.

Have you tried any other non-running events?

When I was around 9 years old, I was at a championship in New Jersey and my coach put me in long jump and I placed sixth. It was a really big accomplishment because I had never done that before.

Do you hope to continue running in college?

I want to run in college and possibly go pro if I can. Those are my main goals. Penn State is my No. 1, and second would be Pitt and Villanova.

What do you do during down time at meets and invitationals?

Rest. Rest is a big thing for me. Usually, other teammates are hanging out. I have to rest. I’ll either lay down or find a spot in the tent and go on my phone.

What’s your favorite subject in school?

Math. I know some people don’t like equations and things, but I think it’s fun. I like doing things constantly.

What is the best restaurant in Plum?

Somma Pizza.

What’s your favorite home-cooked meal?

Stuffed shells.

What’s the last movie you saw in a theater?

“Talk to Me.”

What is something people might not know about you?

I’m very shy, a very introverted person.

Mason Miles

School: Fox Chapel

Class: Senior

Sport: Track and field

Report card: Fox Chapel senior Mason Miles claimed a pair of gold medals Friday at the Pine-Richland Invitational, winning the shot put with a throw of 52 feet, 9 inches and discus (147-1). Miles, who was fourth in discus earlier this season at the Butler Invitational, was fifth in the shot put at the WPIAL championships last spring. Also a football player for the Foxes, he placed fourth in the shot put at the indoor state meet with a school record toss of 56-3.5.

How did you feel about your performance Friday at the Pine-Richland Invitational?

I think I did good. I wanted a PR in discus because I’ve been doing really good in practices. When it comes to shot put, it was a pretty good performance because I’ve been throwing low but it was good.

Were those your best marks of the season?

In shot, that was my best outdoor mark of the season.

What are your goals for the WPIAL championships?

The goal is to be top four and throw 52 and up (in shot put). I have hopes for discus as well. I want to hit the qualifying mark (153-0). There’s a lot of heavy hitters in discus.

What’s the most important part of the shot put?

The most important part has to be technique. It doesn’t really matter how strong you are. You have to be strong, but I’ve seen people who I can lift 50 pounds more than throw further than me. It’s more about technique and speed really. If you have good technique and get around good, keep the tension in the throw you will get a good one out there.

How about the discus?

It’s the same for discus. In shot, you can get away with muscling the shot. In discus it’s all about technique. Anything can go wrong. If you mess up a little thing in discus, it can be a 20 feet difference from what you usually throw. The release alone, if I get a bad release that’s a 20 feet difference from what I’m throwing on a good day.

What do you do during down time at meets and invitationals?

I usually watch the events and competitors in other flights. I like to talk to the other competitors that I’ve known since freshman year.

Have you made plans for next fall?

I’m planning to go to college to throw. I haven’t signed a national letter of intent yet.

What do you plan to study?

Agriculture business. Agriculture has to do with nutrition, and after college I want to make a training program where athletes can work out, get diet plans, learn new things. It’s mainly for track athletes, throwers like myself. I don’t know much about nutrition so that’s a big key to being a good athlete. It can mean a lot if you know those type of things.

What’s your favorite subject in school?

History. I like learning new things when it comes to things form back in time. I don’t like political history. I like the WWI and WWII and stuff like that.

What is the best restaurant in Fox Chapel?

Nox’s Tavern.

What’s your favorite home-cooked meal?

Probably meatloaf.

What’s the last movie you saw in a theater?

“Equalizer 3.”

What is something people might not know about you?

I’m very big into music. I like a lot of oldies. A lot of people hate on me for it.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Fox Chapel, Plum