Burrell girls settle for 2nd at WPIAL championship meet

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, May 7, 2018 | 11:57 PM

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As the defending WPIAL Class AA girls track and field champion, Burrell entered Monday's championship meet at Baldwin hoping to continue a trend among the winning squads that began in 2009.

That year, South Park won the team title and repeated in 2010.

Freeport won back-to-back crowns in 2011 and 2012, South Fayette was champion in 2013 and 2014, and Beaver triumphed in 2015 and 2016.

Burrell wanted to join that group after winning last year's first-place trophy.

But this year, Shenango had other plans.

The Wildcats topped the Bucs as well as Beaver and Mohawk in the four-team finals to win its first WPIAL team track championship.

The deciding final saw Shenango get past Burrell, 86.5 to 63.5.

“I knew there was going to be little room for error and that we would need to produce like we did last week at (the semifinals) to be in contention,” Burrell coach Steve White said.

“We gave it our best, but we just didn't have it today. The girls are disappointed, but with their efforts, they have nothing to hang their heads about.”

Burrell placed second, as it defeated Mohawk, 79-71, and Beaver, 82.5-67.5.

Beaver edged Mohawk, 76-74, to claim third.

“The talent on these four teams is amazing,” White said. “It's fun to watch. Obviously, I want to see our girls win every event, but it's also a joy to see such outstanding athletes getting after it all meet long.”

Shenango and Burrell had six overall firsts each in individual and relay events, and Beaver recorded four firsts, and Mohawk had two.

Kaylen Sharrow won twice for Burrell in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.

She took the 100 hurdles with a personal best in a photo finish over Shenango's Logan Ferrucci. The times were measured out to the thousandth place, and Sharrow edged Ferrucci 16.454 seconds to 16.456.

Her 300 time of 46.49 also was a personal best.

Faith Remich captured the 800 run in a personal-best time of 2 minutes, 28.83 seconds, and she teamed with Megan Malits and Ashley and Lauren Brown to finish first overall in the 3,200 relay (10:09.77). The time was a team best by 13 seconds.

Naomi Hanna was the best out of 12 in the shot put as she threw a distance of 35 feet, 3 inches, a personal best by almost a foot.

“We definitely knew coming in we were going to have a tough competition,” Hanna said. “We believe in each other, and we know there is a lot still ahead of us with WPIALs. There's still a fire in us. We're excited for next Thursday.”

Hanna Pastor threw the javelin 106-3 and won the event. Her top throw was a personal best by 5 feet.

Taylor Johnson added a second-place overall finish for Burrell as she was runner-up in the long jump (15-6.75).

White said a number of girls stepped up to help keep the team in contention for the title up until the final few events.

“Some days, some carry us in the distance and the throws, and other days it's the sprinters or other areas,” White said. “Today, we had six or seven personal bests. We just tip our cap to Shenango. They just had a better day than us.”

Riverside won the Class AA boys team title as it defeated Freedom, Mohawk and South Park to capture its second championship in a row and fifth overall.

In Class AAA, the North Allegheny boys won their 12th team title, and the Butler girls won their second in a row and 12th overall.

Athletes from all of the teams will return to Baldwin on May 17 for the WPIAL individual finals.

“We'll give the girls a little rest but probably will get back to it Wednesday to work on the individual goals for WPIALs,” White said. “We are looking forward to getting as many boys and girls to states as possible. There is a lot to still look forward to.”

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Burrell