PTFCA names 4 WPIAL athletes first-team all-state

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 | 2:15 PM

North Allegheny senior Ayden Owens was named first-team all-state in two events and second in another by the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association, but Dock Mennonite sprinter Austin Kratz edged him out for boys athlete of the year.

Owens, a Southern Cal recruit, earned first-team honors in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, events he won at the PIAA Class AAA championships last month.

He was among four WPIAL athletes who earned first-team honors from the PTFCA, joining Winchester Thurston's Tristan Forsythe in the boys 1,600 meters, Seneca Valley's Zach Gehm in the boys discus and Avonworth/Northgate's Hunter Robinson in the girls 400 meters.

All were state champions.

The PTFCA chose a first, second and third team, as well as honorable mention picks.

Owens and Robinson earned second-team honors in the long jump and 200 meters, respectively. Joining them on the second team were Oakland Catholic hurdler Jayla Ellis (100 hurdles), Butler distance runner Noah Beveridge (3,200) and Hopewell thrower Noah Drudy (javelin).

Third-team selections included Avonworth/Northgate's Hayden Robinson (100), West Allegheny's Maddie Salek (800), Elizabeth Forward's Brianna Spirnak (javelin) and North Allegheny's Casey Burton (long jump) among the girls. Beveridge (1,600) and Valley's Darius Johnson (high jump) earned third-team boys honors.

Berwick thrower Payden Montana earned girls athlete of the year.

Kratz, the boys athlete of the year, earned first-team honors in the 100 and 200 meters. His 400-meter relay team took second-team.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.