The Bears’ Track and Field team kicked some serious butt last week at Butler High School’s 59th Annual Invitational. This meet is notoriously the biggest meet of the season, as 91 different high school teams from all over western Pennsylvania brought their top two performers in every event to compete. Even while facing some of the biggest schools of the region, the Bears put up a good fight. From state records to juggled batons, the Butler Invitational was a wild ride. Let’s see how the Bears did!
Out of all 91 different high schools, the Girls’ Track and Field team placed 5th overall. They were only beaten by Butler, Norwin, South Fayette, and North Allegheny. Considering these schools are some of the largest schools in western PA, the Girls’ track and field team did very well. They were by far the best school of its size in the tournament, beating out all other small and medium size high schools. On the other hand, the Boys track and field team placed well, placing 31st out of 91.
100m Dash:
In the 100m dash, representing Winchester Thurston were the sophomores Monroe Law and Sam Levis. In the prelims, Monroe Law finished with a time of 12.46s and Sam Levis finished with a time of 12.79s. These were personal records (PR) for both Sam and Monroe. Monroe placed 3rd in the prelims, advancing to the finals. In the finals she ran the 100m dash in 12.49s tying with Olivia Renk of South Fayette for second place. However, through looking at the images of the finish line, the judges decided that Renk beat Law by a hair. Monroe ended up placing 3rd in the 100m Dash, earning the Girls team 6 points!
100m High-Hurdles:
In the 100m high-hurdles, junior Hannah Hammons ran for the Bears. In the prelims, Hannah Hammons finished with a time of 21.09s. This was 0.03s off of their PR at the time.
200m Dash:
Sophomores Monroe Law and Anthony Pipkin, junior Matt Southers, and senior Charlotte Brake-Hoffman crushed it in the 200m dash with three PRs and two medals. Monroe Law finished with a time of 26.04s and placed 5th. This earned the Girls team 4 points and is Monroe’s PR. Charlotte Brake-Hoffman ran the 200 in 26.66s and placed 6th. This earned the Girls team 3 points. Anthony Pipkin finished in 26.38s, and Matt Southers finished in 26.57s. These were both PRs for Anthony and Matt.
300m Intermediate-Hurdles:
Seniors, Kamili Wiley and Tia Chitty ran the 300m intermediate-hurdles. Kamili finished with a time of 51.15s and Tia Finished with a time of 52.77.
400m Dash:
The Bears dominated the 400m dash with three medals and two PRs between the four competitors. Sophomore DaShae Cochran, juniors Michael Miller and Pete Heintzleman, and senior Charlotte Brake-Hoffman all ran the 400. DaShae ran a time of 59.58s, which was a PR and earned her 5th place. This gave the Girls team 4 points. Charlotte ran the 400 with a time of 1:00.27 and placed 7th, earning the Girls team 2 more points. Michael Miller ran his 400 in 51.30s and placed 4th overall. This was a new PR for Michael and earned the Boys team 5 points. Pete ran the 400 with a time of 53.4 seconds.
800m Run:
Juniors Sarah Nixon, Pete Heintzleman, and Baba Sylla all ran the half-mile race. Sarah Nixon finished with a time of 2:25.72. Pete and Michael both got new PRs. Pete finished with a time of 2:00.69, and Baba finished with a time of 2:06.23.
1600m Run:
Not only did the mile-long race earn the Bears three new PRs, but had a very exciting boys heat. Sophomore Abby Weinstein got her new PR with the time of 5:28.06, and junior Delia Brown got her new PR with the time of 5:55.08. Freshman Jack Iyer ran his PR with a time of 4:54.53. Big barriers were crossed. Abby ran sub-5:30, Delia ran sub-6:00, and Jack ran sub-5:00.
However the biggest barrier that was crossed was by Butler’s own Drew Griffith. If you are a part of the high school running world, Drew Griffith’s name will be really familiar. The multi-time WPIAL and PA State champion, as well as being the top ranked boy runner in the country, recently broke the national record for the high school boy’s 2-mile run where he ran two miles in 8:34.91. At the Butler Invitational, he attempted to run a sub- 4 minute mile. With this excitement, everyone rushed to the field in the middle of the track.
As the announcers reported his splits at every 100 meters, swarms of people rushed from straightaway to straightaway to cheer for him as he ran by. Everyone was hoping he would break the record. As he ran the last 100 meters, the clock was ticking and approaching the 4 minute mark. Drew crossed the finish line with a time of 3:59.81. He ran the 1600 in less than 4 minutes, however the mile is a couple feet longer than 1600m, so he didn’t end up running a sub- 4-minute mile. However, Griffith ran the fastest 1600m out of all high school boys in the country, and he holds the State Record for the 1600 in PA, as well as having run the 13th fastest mile of high school boys of all time. Having witnessed someone run so fast, and seeing someone break so many records was very fun to experience, especially because everyone was cheering him on.
3200m Run:
8 laps was nothing for Indie Pascal, Charlie Routledge, and Jack Iyer. Freshman Indie Pascal ran the 3200m with a time of 12:59.58, which was only a couple seconds off of her PR. Freshman Jack Iyer ran the 3200m in 10:31.29, which was also only a couple seconds off of his PR. Junior Charlie Routledge, however, earned a speedy PR at this meet, with a time of 9:37:85.
4x100m Relay:
Freshman Alexis Bansah and Aleah Cooper, and sophomores DaShae Cochran and Monroe Law were the Girls 4x100m relay team. They placed 4th with a time of 50.38s, and earned the Girls team another 5 points. Sophomores Anthony Pipkin and Elijah Bullock, junior Matt Southers, and senior Torey Bullock all ran the 4×100 relay and had a time of 49.51s.
4x400m Relay:
Sophomore DaShae Cochran, junior Sarah Nixon, and seniors Tia Chitty and Kamili Wiley ran the 4x400m relay to earn 8th place overall. With a time of 4:14.20, they earned another point for the Girls team. For the boys, sophomore Michael Hammerling, and juniors Baba Sylla, Pete Heintleman, and Michael Miller ran the 4x400m relay for a time of 3:36.35.
4x800m Relay:
Freshman Indie Pascal, sophomore Abby Weinstein, and juniors Delia Brown and Sarah Nixon were the speedy four that led the 4x800m team to a new PR at this meet. With a time of 10:11.23, the team placed 9th overall (so close to a medal!!!).
Long Jump:
Sophomores Anthony Pipkin, DaShae Cochran, and Monroe Law represented the Bears in Long Jump. Anthony Pipkin jumped 16’1”. DaShae Cochran jumped 17 ‘4.50” and tied for 3rd place, earning the Girls team 5.5 points. Monroe Law jumped a new PR of 17’0”, and placed 7th. She earned the Girls team 2 points with that jump.
Triple Jump:
Freshman Alexis Bansah and senior Kamili Wiley jumped for the Bears in the Triple Jump event. Alexis Bansah placed 8th with her best jump of 34’6”, and earned the Girls team 1 point. Kamili Wiley jumped 32’9”.
Discus:
The Bears only competed in one throwing event at the meet. Sophomore Ryleigh Tardy and junior Hannah Hammons carried the Bears in discus. Ryleigh threw 79’9”, which was a new PR for her. Hannah Hammons threw 67’9”.
Give it up to the Bears for giving it their all and having these great results! Let’s see how they perform next week at their section championships!
