North Allegheny runner Jack Bertram ready to shine

By: John Grupp
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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North Allegheny senior Jack Bertram spent the past two seasons chasing two of the best distance runners in WPIAL history.

But now he’s the one to catch.

After settling for third in the 3,200-meter run at the past two WPIAL Class 3A championships behind Butler’s Drew Griffith and Ringgold’s Ryan Pajak, Bertram is running faster than ever and eyeing the elusive district title.

“I’ve definitely been waiting for this year,” Bertram said. “In the past years, I’ve looked ahead of me, and I’ve just seen some amazing, talented runners. I just want to be one of those. I think I’m ready. We’ll see how things turn out.”

This certainly seems to be the right time for Bertram, who next season will join Griffith and Pajak at Notre Dame. Beside Bertram, only one of the top nine finishers from last year’s WPIAL 3,200 has returned (fifth-place Moon senior Tyler Giunipero), and Bertram finished nearly 31 seconds ahead of him.

In the 1,600, Bertram was the only underclassman in the top eight at last year’s PIAA finals. He finished fifth in the 1,600 and fourth in the 3,200 at states.

“He’s back and really raring to go,” NA coach John Neff said. “WPIALs and (states) is never an easy place to win, and there are a ton of good kids out there. It won’t be easy, but he’s in the best form I’ve ever seen. I’m very excited to see how it goes in the next couple of months.”

Bertram tuned up for the season by winning the indoor 3,000-meter state championship March 2 then competed at the prestigious New Balance Indoor Nationals in mid-March in Boston, where he ran personal bests in the mile (4:07) and the 2-mile (8:50).

More importantly, Bertram is fully healthy after dealing with joint pain during a disappointing conclusion to his high school cross country career. After placing second in the WPIAL and third in the state in 2022 and 2023, he hobbled home 82nd at last fall’s PIAA championships. But the issues that hindered him are in the past.

“I’m feeling so much better,” he said. “It’s just great to get back to normal training again.”

Bertram will be tested again at the Arcadia Invitational, regarded as one of the nation’s most competitive high school track meets, on April 11-12 in Arcadia, Calif. He placed 12th in the 3,200 last year with time of 8:56.99, a half-second shy of the NA school record (8:56.43 by Matt McGoey in 2015).

Bertram has plenty of help as the Tigers try to reclaim the WPIAL team title after placing third last season behind Butler and Norwin as the defending champion.

Seniors Grey Lohman (hurdles), Dylan Langdon (high jump) and Jack Yatchenko (shot put) and sophomore Brady Brinkley (400) are all returning WPIAL medalists. Senior runners Greg Abel (High Point), Zachary Nash (Duquesne) and Sebastian Klimchak and junior hurdler Sam Cohn are off to quick starts this season, and senior Conor McNeely, who Neff said “looks faster than ever,” won the 100 and 200 in the season-opening tri-meet with Shaler and North Hills.

“We’re pretty balanced right now,” said Neff, who has coached the NA boys to eight WPIAL team titles in his 21 seasons. “The depth is there. I feel really, really good about this squad.”

Bertram also is excited about NA’s chances. The Tigers were scheduled to host defending WPIAL Class 3A champion Butler on April 9 in a key Section 3-3A dual meet. North Allegheny is a combined 10-2 in section in the past two seasons, and both losses were to Griffith-led Butler.

“I think we are a lot stronger this year than last year,” Bertram said. “I think we can probably get the win at team WPIALs. We are looking really good right now. I think we have a bright future in front of us.”

Tags: North Allegheny