Norwin’s Melani Schmidt shines at WCCA track & field championship
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Thursday, April 25, 2024 | 10:12 PM
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Eva Davis edges Norwin’s Melani Schmidt in the girls 100 during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Penn-Trafford’s Jake McGhee goes to the outside to edge Norwin’s Luke Simpson, Kiski Area’s Justin Gross and Norwin’s Isaiah Francis in the boys 800 during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Norwin’s Nicholas Puskar wins the boys pole vault during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Penn-Trafford’s Logan Kerstetter wins the boys javelin throw during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Sasha Hoffman wins the girls 100-meter hurdles during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Derry’s Sophia Mazzoni win the girls javelin during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday.
Kiski Area’s Gianna DeVito takes second in the girls high jump during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Norwin’s Sauly Guyaux takes second in the boys javelin throw during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Latrobe’s Adam Piper edges Hempfield’s Caleb Prola in the boys 100 during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Hempfield’s Peyton Murray wins the boys discus throw during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Norwin’s Brandi Brozeski wins the girls high jump during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Norwin’s Ryan Schiller wins the boys 110 hurdles followed by Penn-Trafford’s Aidon Lett during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Hempfield’s Katherine Dolinski wins the girls shot put during the WCCA Tack and Field Championships on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Norwin junior Melani Schmidt had a great day at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association track and field championship Thursday at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium.
It was almost a fantastic day. She was .003 of second from winning four gold medals at the annual event. She won the 200- and 400-meter runs and anchored the winning 400 relay team. Schmidt’s times were 58.88 in the 400 and 25.11 in the 200.
She was edged by Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore Eva Denis in the 100. Officials had to go to the scoring camera to see who crossed the finish line first. Denis and Schmidt crossed the finish line in 12.44.
“I had a really good day actually,” Schmidt said. “I got a personal record in the 100 and 200. I lost by .003 in the 100. Eva pushed me in the 100, but the 200 and 400 weren’t as close. I got a huge PR in the 200.”
Schmidt was named the Track Most Valuable Player. Denis also won the long jump (17 feet, 101⁄2 inches).
“I’m looking to continue to improve,” Schmidt said. “I’m excited about my future.”
Other double winners were Hempfield senior thrower Peyton Murray, Greensburg Salem sophomore jumper Luke Rullo and Penn-Trafford senior distance runner Jake McGhee.
Murray won the discus (182-2) and shot put (57-7), Rullo won the long jump (21-1) and triple jump (42-53⁄4), and McGhee won the 1,600 (4:28.95) and 800 (2:00.70).
Murray was pleased with his performance. He said he felt his throws Thursday were better than his throws Saturday at Shippensburg.
“The goal was to win,” Murray said. “This is a tough place to throw at. I was hoping to throw 60 in the shot and the meet record in the discus. Sadly, I missed both. I was close in the discus. I’m happy how the day went.”
McGhee said he was glad he broke 4:30 in the 1,600, a personal record, and in the 800 he stayed consistent.
“Last year, I lost two close races,” McGhee said. “To come out and win was really special. I don’t want to say I had anger this year. I had more aggression. I wanted it a lot.”
Rullo didn’t get to compete as a freshman because of right shoulder surgery. So he was elated with his performance.
“It was a big step for me,” Rullo said. “I got a PR, so it was a big improvement. The season has gone up and down. This was a big step in the right direction.”
The Norwin boys and girls won the big-school team title, and the Greensburg Central Catholic boys and girls won the small-school title.
Kiski Area senior Eliza Miller had a good day. She won the 1,600, placed second in the 800 and finished sixth in the 300 hurdles.
“Overall, it was a good day,” Miller said. “I was lacking a little confidence, but (Thursday) will help me with that.”
Miller said her times were a little off because of her success during the swimming season.
“Now I’m back on track,” Miller said. “I’d like to break the school record in the 400. As for states, I’m not sure what races I will run.”
Derry junior Sophia Mazzoni just missed the meet record in winning the javelin. She also placed fourth in the shot put and fifth in the discus. Her winning throw in the javelin was 145-2. The meet record of 146-4 was set by Felicia Reid in 2010.
Other individual Norwin winners were Brandi Brozeski in the high jump, Ryan Schiller in the 110 hurdles, Nick Puskar in the pole vault and Tyler Beck in the 300 hurdles.
Puskar, who has cleared 15-1, attempted to break the meet and school record of 15-2 and just missed on his second attempt.
The Knights also swept all six relays. The 400 boys team set a meet record.
Hempfield winners included Grace Iwig in the pole vault, Katherine Dolinski in the shot put, Maddie Tulley in the discus, Allison DeMatt in the triple jump and Madison Altman in the 300 hurdles.
Also winning titles were Greensburg Central Catholic’s Sasha Hoffman in the 100 hurdles, Penn-Trafford’s Amelia Barilla in the 800, Franklin Regional’s Caroline Shirley in the 3,200, Franklin Regional’s Gunner Perez in the high jump, Latrobe’s Adam Piper in the 100, Greensburg Central Catholic’s Jerry Davis in the 400, Penn-Trafford’s Logan Kerstetter in the javelin, Latrobe’s Jacob Pittman in the 200 and Franklin Regional’s Nathan Kociela in the 3,200.
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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