Sophia Mazzoni wins PIAA javelin title, bringing home Derry’s 1st girls state gold medal

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, May 24, 2024 | 7:19 PM

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SHIPPENSBURG — It didn’t take Derry junior Sophia Mazzoni long to win the Class 2A javelin at the PIAA track and field championships Friday.

And, yes, she had to do a little more than just show up and nail a normal throw.

She won the school’s first girls state title on her first throw of the competition, and it was a lot better than normal.

Mazzoni uncorked a personal-best toss of 161 feet, 10 inches on her first attempt. In an odd coincidence, the bib number issued to her for the meet was 161.

“She’ll have to request 180 next year,” Derry coach Mark Curcio joked. “I told you she was ready.”

Mazzoni was more than just ready. Her first five throws were better than second-place finisher Marley Croyle of West Branch (139-0).

After setting her PR, Mazzoni tried a little too hard to break it again.

“After the second throw (153-1), I lost it a little,” Mazzoni said. “I had no idea my number was 161 until someone pointed it out to me. I said, ‘Oh, 161, that’s what I need to get,’ and, believe it or not, I did.

“My first throw was probably the most exciting moment and knowing that I got it out there. It was a great environment in javelin. I had my family, friends and coaches out there.”

After the throw, she pumped her right fist in celebration. As she walked out to retrieve her javelin, she held up both arms to acknowledge her Derry fans.

While she couldn’t duplicate her first throw, no one could take away from her accomplishment.

“Being the first girl means a lot to me personally,” Mazzoni said. “Now I get to represent Derry and get our name out there.”

Derry is moving to Class 3A next season, and Mazzoni said she is looking forward to a new challenge.

“I know I have to continue to work harder,” she said. “I know the competition will be stronger, but that’s OK because I like competition and fighting for a spot.”

Mazzoni began the season by breaking her PR in the first meet. She consistently got better and hit her best throw at states.

“In the offseason, I worked my butt off,” Mazzoni said. “I played volleyball, I swam and I did indoor track. I did that for Derry. I was in the gym four times a week, and I focused on the little things and constantly getting things down.

“This is probably the most exciting season I’ve had. The numbers I was hitting and the support I got was great.”

So how do you celebrate?

“I’ll go hang out with my family and go to dinner with Jane (Huss),” Mazzoni said. “She has a ritual the night before a race, and we’ll probably get pasta.”

Other Westmoreland athletes to earn medals were Greensburg Central Catholic’s Eva Denis (sixth in the 2A long jump), Hempfield’s Peyton Murray (sixth in 3A shot put) and Hempfield’s Grace Iwig (tie for eighth in 3A pole vault).

“I’m not disappointed,” Murray said. “I finished second last year, but I had a better throw this year. I had a good week of practice, and I’m looking forward to Saturday.”

Murray and Penn-Trafford senior Matt Sarnowski, the top throwers in the state, will square off for the discus title.

Murray is the reigning champion, and Sarnowski won the WPIAL championship last week. Both have reached the mid 180s this season.

Runners who qualified for Saturday’s finals were Greensburg Central Catholic’s Sasha Hoffman (2A 100 hurdles), James Brewer (2A 330 hurdles) and Jerry Davis (2A 400).

River Valley, the Blairsville/Saltsburg merger, had a state champion. Senior Sara McConnell, who received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, won the 2A girls high jump. She cleared 5 feet, 7 inches.

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.