Fox Chapel runners compete for spots on relay teams

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Fox Chapel track and field coach Tom Moul enjoys the depth the Foxes have on their relay teams this season.

That is part of the reason the Last Chance meets will be so important for the Foxes. Not every athlete who will compete in those events will have the same goal in mind. Some of Fox Chapel’s runners will be seeking a better seed time, while others are trying to earn a spot on a relay team or punch their ticket to WPIALs.

“We take the kids that are close,” Moul said. “That’s the purpose of those meets. It’s one last opportunity to get close. Everyone has a different goal. We have a few kids on the cusp of qualifying for WPIALs, while we have a few that are trying to get into the fast heat.”

Fox Chapel has plenty of competition for spots on the boys and girls 3,200-meter relay teams. The Foxes will have Ethan Vaughan, David Black and Michael Costello in three spots, while Harrison Parker, Nolan Gwin and Nicky Clump will battle for the other spot.

On the girls side, Maya DiPasquale, Cecilia Ressler, Marin Airik, Sara Michalak and Ella Shevchuk will be in the mix for the 3,200.

Moul said it is nice to have competition on the relays.

“For sure, the kids work hard and would like to be on the relay teams,” Moul said.

Fox Chapel’s girls 400 relay is also hoping to improve its seed time. The Foxes have had some of the runners on that team limited by injury.

Alyssa Quackenbush, Taylor Wilkinson, Anna Kintner and Shevhuk run on the 400 relay team.

“It will take some good handoffs,” said Moul on what would help the group drop time. “Being healthy will also be important. The girls have been working hard in practice to get those handoffs to perfection.”

Quackenbush is also hoping to improve her times in the sprints at the Last Chance meets. Kintner would like to qualify for WPIALs in the triple jump and long jump.

Claire Conti has already qualified for WPIALs in the discus and the shot put. At the recent Pine-Richland Invitational, Conti finished second in the discus with a throw of 126 feet, 9 inches. She also placed fourth in the shot put (35-1).

“I know she’s happy with what she’s done recently,” Moul said. “She is peaking at the right time. She has had some really good throws of late. She is confident going into WPIALs and is ranked near the top in both of her events.”

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