A-K Valley athletes of the week: Knoch’s Ava Santora, Freeport’s Michael Braun

By: Bill Hartlep
Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 2:04 PM

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Ava Santora

School: Knoch

Class: Senior

Sport: Track and field

Report card: Santora picked up a pair of top-three finishes at the WPIAL track and field championships this week. She was the runner-up in the Class 2A 1,600-meter run (5 minutes, 16.16 seconds) and knocked nearly 2 seconds off her season best. She also placed third in the 3,200 (11:32.25), finishing more than 4 seconds better than her personal best. Santora, who was 47th at the PIAA cross country championships in the fall, also helped Knoch finish third at the WPIAL team championships earlier this spring.

How do you think you ran at the WPIAL championship meet?

Both events came out as a PR, so I’d say I ran pretty well. They were definitely tough races, but I felt great in both of them.

What was your strategy in each of the races?

For the mile, I took it less as a 1,600-meter race and more as four 400s, basically reps we do in practices. I took it lap by lap and trying to hit my times each lap. The 3,200 was more trying to keep my mind occupied from overthinking. Definitely conserve a little bit more. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the adrenaline at the start of the race and die off before your eight laps are over. I was trying keep my pace and run my own race and not go with other girls. It’s easy to go out too fast and mess yourself up in the second mile.

What are your goals for the PIAA championship meet in both events?

As a senior, just to go out with a bang. If I can go there and hit two more PRs before I graduate, I could call that a successful weekend.

What is the atmosphere like at Shippensburg?

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Track and cross country, there’s not much of a fan base or a student section. But at Shippensburg, the stands were packed like you were at a football game. That just gives you that much more adrenaline. It’s honestly an amazing experience to be there.

What was it like waiting out the rain on Wednesday?

It definitely took a little bit of a mental toll on us. It’s hard to be nervous all day for an event that ended up never happening. The same thing for my teammates. It was just hard to sit there and not know if you were going to race or not and then stay locked in and focus for a seven-hour delay. It was late at night, socks were wet, you were cold and tired, it was hard to say focused on the end goal that day.

What’s the longest distance you’ve run in a race or training?

The longest I’ve done is a half-marathon. I sort of did that for fun. I hopefully want to do a few marathons. But haven’t gotten the chance to because of track and cross country. It went pretty well. I didn’t train for it. I just kind of signed up for one last year to see how it was. Being a distance runner prepped me for running 13 miles without feeling much. It wasn’t that bad of a run. It was enjoyable and nice to not have to train for it.

Have you made any college plans?

I am committed to run cross country and track at Texas Christian. Before the running was even a factor, it was my dream school. I visited last summer and fell in love with the campus and the atmosphere around there. It seemed to have worked out. I reached out to the coach. It worked out in my favor. I’m going to be studying engineering.

Are you involved in any other activities at Knoch?

I’m pretty much in every club imaginable. I’m class president and then I’m in Spanish club, history club, photography club. I did stage crew for two years. And National Honor Society.

What’s your favorite restaurant in the area?

Rey Azteca (in Butler). That’s a solid go-to.

Who makes the best pizza?

Sir Pizza in Mars and Wexford.

What type of music do you listen to while running?

I like to stick with my thoughts.

What is something people might not know about you?

My actual name is Avangeline. The end part of the name, I’m named after my grandma (Eline).

Michael Braun

School: Freeport

Class: Junior

Sport: Track and field

Report card: Braun earned a pair of individual medals at the WPIAL track and field championships this week, taking second in the 3,200-meter run (9:27.58) and third in 1,600 (4:29.37). Mohawk’s Jaxon Schoedel won both events. Braun, who also was seventh at the WPIAL cross country championships and ninth at the state meet in the fall, will compete at the PIAA track and field championships next Friday and Saturday in Shippensburg. At last year’s PIAA track championships, he was 10th in the 3,200 after winning WPIAL title.

How do you think you ran at the WPIAL championship meet?

It felt pretty good in the mile. I did not feel nearly as good in the two mile, but I still managed to run a fairly good race in my opinion.

What was your strategy in the 3,200?

I was slightly at a disadvantage with the circumstances I had the last couple weeks. I wanted to try and set the pace and let the race take care of itself the last two, three laps. I had a little IT (iliotibial) band issue. It kind of altered my training the last week and a half. It’s been bothering me so I adapted my training.

What are your goals for the PIAA championship meet in both events?

I’d be very happy with winning either the mile or two mile or both. I’ll try to focus on a podium in either if not both events.

What is the PIAA meet environment like?

Last year was a little bit stressful, first time there. There’s a gazillion people. It’s a completely different environment than any other meet, other than our district meet. It’s just a really cool atmosphere.

What was it like waiting out the rain on Wednesday?

It was pretty frustrating. I just wanted to get the race done. It was pretty ideal temperature for a distance race. I was hoping we’d get to finish the races. I was mad they waited four hours to cancel it.

What is the most important part of the 3,200 meters?

For me, the first mile kind of takes care of itself. That second mile as a whole is important. You need to maintain pace through laps 5-6, and when you get to laps 7-8, you have to be able to close out strong.

What’s the longest distance you’ve run in a race or training?

The longest I’ve ran is 16.5 miles on a long run, which I did on accident. Usually I go 11-12 (miles). The longest I raced was a 5-mile race, which I did in Butler a couple years ago. (On the long training run,) I intended on only going 12. I wasn’t really paying attention to my watch and ended up going further than I wanted to. I went from Kittanning to Templeton up north and back.

Have you considered doing marathons?

I haven’t really looked into it much yet. Maybe later in life, I might want to do something like that. (I like) shorter distances and having races where I feel I’m racing rather than just trying to survive. It wouldn’t feel as much like a race to me.

Have you made any college plans?

I have a lot of interest in running at the next level, for sure. It would be a great way to stay active, stay fit and continue to see how fast I can go.

How long does a pair of running shoes last?

About 300 miles for trainers and about 150 for like race shoes. Usually, I go through two pairs of trainers per season.

What’s your favorite restaurant in the area?

The (Falsetti’s) Villa out in Cadogan, a couple minutes from my house.

Who makes the best pizza?

Tony’s Pizza in Sarver, right across from my school.

What type of music do you listen to while running?

Sometimes I listen to podcasts, either “Joe Rogan Experience” or “Sean Ryan Show.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully graduated from college, still maintaining running and starting a family.

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: Freeport, Knoch