Hempfield’s Orie settles for bronze in shot put at PIAA championships

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, May 24, 2019 | 6:37 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

SHIPPENSBURG — Mackenna Orie wasn’t in a good mood Friday at the PIAA track and field championships at Seth Grove Stadium.

That’s because the Hempfield senior didn’t perform to her standards; a third-place medal in the Class AAA shot put wasn’t what she wanted.

“I have to get over it,” Orie said. “You can only stay mad for 20 minutes, and you have to move on. I have to start to focus on the discus on Saturday.”

Orie’s throw of 44 feet, 5 inches was beaten by Berks Catholic senior Keeley Suzenski (46-7 ½) and Council Rock South sophomore Siniru Iheoma (45-2 ½).

“It wasn’t my day at all. I choked,” said Orie, a DePaul commit. “I tensed every time on my finish with my left leg, which has been my problem all year, and it didn’t come to my advantage.

“I have to learn from my mistakes and build on it. I’m disappointed the way it ended during my senior year.”

Orie is seeded second to Iheoma in Saturday’s discus event.

Happy Panther

Franklin Regional sophomore Rayna Todero had a big grin on her face after she received her medal for finishing eighth in the Class AAA triple jump.

Her leap of 37 feet, 8 inches was a personal and school record.

“I didn’t perform well here last year,” Todero said. “It was an accomplishment to make it, but placing here this year feels a lot better. I know I’ll have to work even harder next year if I want to climb up the podium.”

Todero, who finished second at the WPIAL meet, was the top district finisher in the event Friday.

Her teammate, junior Jo-Michele Huczko, finished ninth in the pole vault after clearing 11-6.

Slowed by an injury

Earlier in the season, Monessen senior high jumper Darnel Howell cleared 6-8 in a meet at Southmoreland. During that same meet, he tweaked his knee while running the 400.

He hasn’t jumped as well since.

Howell placed seventh in the Class AA high jump Friday by clearing 6-2.

Former Scottie wins title

Nick Hyde threw discus for Southmoreland as a freshman.

But Hyde’s family moved to Somerset for a job opportunity for his dad, former Southmoreland baseball coach Brian Hyde.

Hyde, who placed second in the state in the shot put as a junior, claimed a gold medal at the state meet Friday with a throw of 65-6 ¼.

“I had my best series ever,” Hyde said. “I’ve been living in the shadow of (Knoch’s) Jordan Geist, and it was nice to finally get a win. I knew I hit my best throw, I just had to make sure I didn’t foul.”

Hyde will attend St. Francis (Pa.) in the fall.

Moving on

There were no running finals on Friday, just preliminary heats. There will be semifinals and finals on Saturday.

Westmoreland County runners who advanced to the finals or semifinals included Hempfield senior Jared Bannon (110 hurdles, 200 dash, AAA); Latrobe senior Zakharee Williams (400, AAA); Norwin senior Emily Brozeski (100 hurdles, AAA); Ligonier Valley senior Elliot Rost (100, 200, AA); Belle Vernon senior Hunter Martin (110 hurdles, AAA); Southmoreland sophomore Makayla Slack (100, AA); Latrobe junior Faith Mucci (100, 200, AAA); Derry junior Justin Huss (400, AA); Greensburg Central Catholic freshman Corinn Brewer (1,600, 800, AA); Latrobe’s boys 400-meter relay team; and Greensburg Salem senior Malia Anderson (800, AAA).

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.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Norwin