Something strange occured at the 13th annual Scott Frederick Mid-Mon Valley Track Classic at Ringgold High School.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Belle Vernon Area boys' track team did not win the title, as Ringgold claimed both the boys and girls titles by significant margins.
“Breaking their streak feels really, really good,” Ringgold coach Jennifer McMichael said. “We have a friendly rivalry (with BVA), so its a good feeling to finally knock them off. Its a good feeling and its a good confidence builder for our teams. We have so many young kids and I'm proud of how well they today and especially so in these terrible conditions.”
The Ringgold boys topped second-place BVA by a 125.5-96.5 score, snapping the Leps' nine-year winning streak. The Ram girls bested second-place Elizabeth Forward 124-96. Two hurdling records also fell in the cold and rainy conditions.
“Can't win 'em all,” BVA coach Chris Stasicha said. “We threw everything at them but the kitchen sink. I'm pleased though. Marcel McCaskill had a great meet and our throwers did well. This is one of the best throwing teams we've had in my ten years here. Obviously you want to win but best of luck to Ringgold. They were the better team today.”
Ringgold's Bailey Cooper broke the girls' 100 meter hurdle record with a time of 15.54 seconds, while Elizabeth Forward's Matt Bernadowski broke the boys' 110 hurdle record with a time of 14.16 seconds.
Cooper also won the girls' 400 meter dash (1:00.74), the girls' 200 meter dash (26.68 seconds) and was part of the winning 4x400 meter relay with Natalie Adams, Megan Megela and Kirsten McMichael that finished in 4:26.14 as the Lady Rams claimed 15 firsts overall.
Bernadowski also claimed the boys' 100 meter dash with a time of 11.22 seconds.
For the boys, Monessen was impressive, tying Elizabeth Forward for third with 75 points, followed by Brownsville (27), Bentworth (20), California (15), Beth-Center (11) and Charleroi (4).
On the girls' side, BVA finished in third with 81.5, followed by Brownsville (52), Beth-Center (39), Bentworth (30), California (21.5) and Charleroi (5).
Ringgold dominated the distance runs, with both their boys' and girls' teams winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter events.
“They are just so tough in the distance and middle distance runs for both teams,” Stasicha said. “We have a nice team with some quality athletes but Ringgold was just exceptional today.”
The Ringgold boys received firsts from Noah Smith in the 1,600 meter (4:44.45) and 3,200 meter (10:25.28), Skyler Scholl in the 800 meter (2:08.81), Tramyer Summers in the triple jump (41 feet 10 inches), Zach Wooley in the shot put (43 feet 6 inches) and their 3,200 meter relay team of Scholl, Luke Serra, Matt Cannon and Smith with a time of 8:38.34
In addition to Cooper's four firsts, the Lady Rams also received firsts from McMichael in the 1,600 meters (5:50.77) and 3,200 meters (12:24), Lucas in the 800 meters (2:29.36), Geralyn Caruso in the pole vault (9 feet) and the 3,200 meter relay team consisting of Lucas, Anika Hutton, Megela and McMichael with a time of 10:28.37.
BVA received firsts from Marcel McCaskill in the boys 400 meters (52.48 seconds) and Gianna Gaul in the girls' discus (117 feet, 9.5 inches).
In addition to Bernadowski's pair of wins, Elizabeth Forward also received firsts from Rachel Bakewell in the girls 100 meters (12.97 seconds), Pell Rachael in the girls 300 meter hurdles (49.26 seconds), Jasano Brooks in the boys long jump (19 feet 5 inches), Cody Pavlik in the boys pole vault (12 feet 7 inches) Andrea Paterra in the girls javelin (121 feet 6 inches), and the girls 400 meter relay of Rachel Collage, Seirra Dawson, Abby Sporio and Bakewell with a time of 51.67 seconds.
Monessen dominated the boys' sprints, receiving firsts from Andrey Bolton in the 200 meters (23.39 seconds), the 400 meter relay of David Diggs, JeVaughn Carlock, Bolton and Chaise Irwin (45.06 seconds) and the 1,600 meter relay of Carlock, Diggs, Raymond Sitton and Mallory Harrell (3:43.71). Sitton also won the 300 meter hurdles (41.31 seconds).
“The kids have really worked hard and they deserve it,” McMichael said. “I'm proud of our coaching staff as well. We have put a lot of work into this great team and the great feeder program and its nice to see the results. Hopefully we will make it our streak now.”
Donnie Tasser is a freelance writer.
