Norwin track teams out to defend WPIAL team titles

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 11:01 AM

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Norwin is eyeing WPIAL championship repeats in boys and girls track and field.

The Knights pulled off a team title sweep last spring as the boys won for the first time since 1977 and the girls grabbed their first trophy since 2008.

The girls also won their first PIAA title. The girls cross country team also won WPIAL and PIAA championships, leaving a trail of lopsided scores.

The bevy of success gives the program confidence it can do it all again.

“I believe it helped a lot of our underclassman grow up pretty quickly because they were a huge part of the championship,” Norwin coach Tim Van Horn said. “They have used their experience to continue to show the newer athletes how to go about their business and redefine what the ‘norm’ is.

“I always believe that it is dangerous to predict anything, but we have a whole team that is working together and that believes in one another. The competition in practice carries over to what everyone else sees during the meets. As long as we keep putting in the work and believing in each other, we can compete with anyone.”

Boys

The boys distance group shows promise, while the Knights also look poised to produce points in sprints and hurdles, a dangerous marker of any good track team.

Van Horn said the scoring could be balanced.

“Every workout you can see the competitiveness come out in them and it will be exciting to watch them this season,” Van Horn said.

Van Horn also anticipates growth in his jumpers and throwers.

Top returning athletes include: Alexander Irwin, Ben McBride, Jeremiah Francis, Will Little, Alex Barrett, Tyler Beck, Owen Rankin, Evan Pfeifer, Anthony Cook, Joe Cramer, Tristan Josephic, Sauly Guyaux, Dane Petrarco, and Noah Carney.

Girls

While sprints, hurdles and jumps lost some key athletes to graduation, Norwin has the potential to fill those voids, while continuing to produce talent in distance, its premier area of skill.

“Our distance squad has shown just how good they can be, and they are continually dropping their times. It will be awesome to see how much they can all drop throughout the season, Van Horn said.

Top returning athletes include: Annie Czajkowski, Myla McCabe, Emily Dansak, Addison Farrah, Karina Karadus, Jillian Ryba, Gabby Watson, Marlee Holtman, Claire Sherman, Alex Oestreich, Ang Palmieri, Quinn Miller, Ashlynn Field, Katelyn Navara, and Kiley DeNoble.

“Our team goals are the same as they have been in the past,” Van Horn said. “The WPIAL continues to get even more competitive each year, and we know that some of the best teams are in our section. We will not be taking anyone lightly and know that accomplishments do not have any weight on the right now.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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