Group effort guides Quaker Valley boys, girls track teams to WPIAL titles

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, May 12, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Both Quaker Valley track and field teams ended their regular season as undefeated section champions.

Both topped that impressive feat May 7 by winning WPIAL Class 2A team titles at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium on the campus of Peters Township Middle School.

“The entire coaching staff and I are very proud of the character of both the boys and girls teams,” QV coach Jared Jones said earlier this season. “They are so talented, but also put in the work, support their teammates, respect their coaches and respect their opponents. They all cheer for their teammates at meets, but they are also respectful and build friendships with competitors from other schools.

“Both teams have progressed amazingly all season long. We had so many impressive (WPIAL) performances and personal-bests across the board. This is an amazing group of young student-athletes.”

For the QV girls, it is their third consecutive district championship and 10th in school history. The QV girls rank third all-time in WPIAL titles having won crowns in 1999, 2000, ‘01, ‘02, ‘04, ‘06, ‘07 and ‘22-‘24.

“It was a group effort, but what really got us going was winning the 3,200-meter relay. It was really surprising for us,” Jones said following the meet. “All the jumps went our way. It was amazing. There wasn’t one specific thing. Everyone performed well.”

Quaker Valley defeated Fort Cherry (79-71), Knoch (85-65) and Shenango (102-48) in the championship round to improve to 15-0 on the year.

The QV girls placed first in eight of the 18 events, including the first three events of the day.

Rose Pocasangre, a QV freshman, won both hurdling races, posting 16.83 (100 hurdles) and 49.05 (300 hurdles) times.

The Quakers grabbed an early lead by taking first place in the 3,200-meter relay in 10:02.34 thanks to the efforts of junior Cecilia Montagnese, freshman Maggie Doz, and seniors Kate Hines and Ellie Cain.

Juniors Kwilai Karto and Jay Olawaiye added victories in the 100-meter dash and triple jump. Karto crossed the finish line in 12.68; Olawaiye secured a distance of 38 feet, 1.5 inches.

Sophomores Mia Gartley and Oumou “Mimi” Thiero tied for the top spot in the high jump by clearing 5-4, and freshman Evie Rosselli tied for first in the pole vault by topping a height of 11-2.

QV’s 400-meter relayers rounded out the team’s formidable list of winning performances with a time of 50.10. Vanessa Pickett, a junior, Karto, sophomore Zora Washington and Olawaiye competed for the Quakers.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these girls on my team,” Gartley said. “They worked so hard throughout this season to defend our title. Towards the end of the meet, we weren’t 100% sure we would pull off a win, but we stayed positive and continued to cheer on our teammates in their events. Everyone on the team always uplifts each other and looks after each other.

“I would also like to thank all the coaches for putting in the time and effort to help (us) better ourselves.”

Olawaiye, Gartley and Karto also were titlists in the triple jump, high jump and 100 hurdles at last year’s WPIAL team finals, as were the 400 relayers.

The Quaker Valley boys team ended a 27-year wait between WPIAL championships, winning the Class 2A title over Greensburg Central Catholic (84-66), Ellwood City (112-38) and Hopewell (113-37).

It is the fourth district title for the QV boys which ties them with Freeport for the seventh-most in league history.

“The boys team is very strong,” Jones said. “They have worked and grown so much since last year.”

The Quakers placed second at WPIALs a year ago behind Greensburg Central Catholic.

“I am beyond excited with the boys win. For us to come so close last year definitely fueled the fire in us to come back this year stronger than ever,” QV junior Clark LaLomia said. “It’s a true testament to our resilience being able to come back this much better after losing so many great seniors last year.

“I feel the depth we have as a team is unmatched. We are so deep in every event which helped contribute greatly to our success. I especially want to (offer a) shoutout to our distance squad for their contributions to the team’s success. Being able to limit GCC to only three points in any event over 400 meters was huge, and it just feels great to know they are always backing me up in all of our races.

“Being able to run knowing they will take care us business with anyone behind me is huge confidence-wise.”

Much like the QV girls, the boys team improved to 15-0 by dominating the WPIAL action, winning 10 of the 18 events, including a sweep of the top three spots in the 800.

Juniors Davin “Macky” Gartley and LaLomia were double titlists for the Quakers.

Gartley finished first in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles with times of 15.33 and 38.99. He broke the team’s 300 hurdle record last set in 1982 by Bob Farrington.

“I’m very pleased with our performance,” Gartley said. “This was exciting but not surprising. Our coaches believed in us and we believed in us. I knew what we’re capable of doing, and I knew everyone on the team was going to execute.

“Some of us start our season in November and end it in May. This was just part of the journey. I’m looking forward to coming back next year with a majority of the same group to make something great happen. Also, this win isn’t possible without the best trainer in the state, Dereck Clark.”

LaLomia’s victories were achieved in the 800 in 2:02.16 and 1,600 in 4:30.11. LaLomia, sophomore River Capek and junior Jackson Pethel secured first, second and third in the 800.

Sophomore Jayden Juliano won the 400-meter run.

Gartley (110 hurdles) and LaLomia (800) also were WPIAL medalists at the 2023 team finals.

QV junior Thomas Debelak won this year’s triple jump; sophomore Aiden Dwyer tied for first in the high jump with QV junior Winston Clifford.

Freshman Jonah Montagnese, sophomore Tyler Bell and senior Ollie Graham were the top three runners in the 3,200; sophomores Nick Winnowski and Reese Fatur finished first in the javelin and discus.

The QV boys 1,600 relayers, consisting of Gartley, Capek, freshman James Irwin and LaLomia, rambled to first place in 3:27.13 — the third-fastest time in the state.

“I believe our boys team had a well-deserved WPIAL victory,” Capek said. “Our upperclassmen and alumni have been building a culture over these past few years that has really helped develop the track team. This culture is setting the standard for every athlete who comes through our program and is helping bring everyone together in a family.

“From our freshmen to our seniors and to our coaches, everyone on this team has worked incredibly hard to make this achievement possible.”

The QV boys and girls teams ran past South Park, Derry and East Allegheny in the WPIAL first round May 1 at South Park.

The Quakers’ previous WPIAL boys team championships came in the three-year span of 1995-97.

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