Girls team title caps super state meet for Quaker Valley track
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Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 11:19 PM
The Quaker Valley girls celebrate their Class 2A state team title during the PIAA Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Shippensburg University.
Quaker Valley’s Evie Rosselli takes second in the pole vault during the PIAA Class 2A Track and Field Championships May, 24, 2025 at Shippensburg University.
North Catholic’s Audra Lazzara takes second and Greensburg Central Catholic’s Sasha Hoffman seventh in the 100-meter hurdles during the PIAA Class 2A Track and Field Championships May, 24, 2025 at Shippensburg University.
Quaker Valley’s Cecilia Montagnese (right) finishes second in the 3,200-meter run during the PIAA Class 2A Track and Field Championships May, 24, 2025 at Shippensburg University.
Laurel’s Tori Atkins wins the 400 during the PIAA Class 2A Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Shippensburg University.
The Quaker Valley girls track team did not want to be outdone by the boys team and easily returned home from the PIAA Track and Field Championship with a first-place title.
The girls outscored Lewisburg, the Day 1 leader, 54-47.
Senior Jay Olawaiye led the way with the Class 2A triple jump title at Shippensburg’s Seth Grove Stadium.
Senior Cecilia Montagnese had another big day. She finished second in the 3,200 and fourth in the 800.
Olawaiye leaped 38 feet, 9 ¾ inches to claim the title.
“What a weekend for Quaker Valley track,” Olawaiye said. “I was surprised because I was seeded third, I got fifth here last year, and someone was seeded a lot higher than me. I did not expect this, but I pushed myself and I focused and made sure I stayed hydrated and I stayed motivated and I kept my head up and it worked.”
Olawaiye was in eighth place heading into the finals.
“I got to jump first, and it was my second jump that was the winner,” Olawaiye said. “I did not think it would hold up.”
Montagnese had a great weekend. She ended up with two silver medals, adding a second in the 3,200 on Day 2, and a fourth-place finish in the 800. She ran a 10:26.78 in the 3,200 and a 2:13.91 in the 800.
“I am super excited,” Montagnese said. “I did not make states last year, so it was exciting to pick up medals. It was actually nice to have someone out front leading the way. I am used to running by myself.”
Montagnese will be attending Villanova next fall.
Laurel senior Tori Atkins had a busy day. She won the 400, placed seventh in the 100 and sixth in the 200 and ran a leg on the 1,600-meter relay.
After winning the 400, an exhausted Atkins sat under a tent to relax.
Other state champions included Derry senior Sophia Mazzoni, who won her second PIAA javelin title, this time in Class 3A. Freeport senior Mackenzie Magness won the 2A pole vault and Laurel junior Alexis Geiwitz won the 2A shot put.
Mazzoni came into the competition seeded third behind two girls — Blue Mountain senior Makayla Keck and Perkiomen Valley junior Ava Flicker — who had thrown more than 160 feet.
But neither girl could stay with Mazzoni. Flicker finished fifth with a throw of 145-5 and Keck did not make the finals. Her best throw was 132-10.
“Being where I was placed, it definitely got my wheels turning,” Mazzoni said. “It gave me something to fight for, just having that determination and just knowing what I can do and trust the process.
“Knowing I had two girls in front of me, I wanted to set the tone and get a throw out there. I executed it well. I got a throw out there and I made them nervous.”
Mazzoni said she was glad to throw first, especially with the wind.
“The wind was there,” Mazzoni said. “It affected all of us. I wanted to set the tone. I did it well.”
The Auburn commit said she will miss nationals and head to college in late June.
North Catholic girls won the 400-meter relay with Audra Lazzara, Seave Cresta, Daphne Flerl and Anna Lazzara finishing in 48.06.
Geiwitz led the shot put from the start. Her longest throw of 41-2 came on her fifth attempt.
“It feels great,” Geiwitz said. “I was really hoping that when I came here I would be able to get that mark and would be able to keep it.”
A year ago, Magness found out just before the pole vault competition that her friend and cross country teammate Dylan Tarbi had passed away. Emotionally distraught, she finished ninth.
Saturday’s victory was dedicated to Tarbi, and Magness was holding a memorial photo of him as she received her gold medal in the Seth Grove Stadium infield.
“I told myself last year that I would come back to win it for him,” said Magness, a sophomore.
The key to the win was Magness’s clear of 12 feet on the first attempt. Two other vaulters, Evie Tosselli of Quaker Valley and Aleah Morgante of Grove City, also cleared 12-0, but had one and two misses, respectively.
“I knew going in today that first attempts were so important,” Magness said. “That’s what I was going to need to do to win it.”
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
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