WPIAL athletes shine at 1st Tri-State Coaches indoor meet

By: Michael Love
Sunday, January 5, 2020 | 1:34 PM

Temperatures outside were cold Saturday, but inside at the Edinboro’s Sports and Recreation Center, competition quickly heated up as some of the top track and field athletes in the region gathered for the season’s first Tri-State Track Coaches Association meet.

The meet involved participants from more than 60 schools, and the WPIAL was well represented.

Upper St. Clair senior Isaac Kane won the boys 200-meter dash (22.61 seconds) and 400 dash (50.64).

Butler was dominant in the boys relays with victories in the 1,600 relay (3:34.35), 3,200 relay (9:02.78) and distance medley relay (11:13.78).

Also picking up victories on the boys side were the Hempfield 800 relay (1:38.12), Indiana senior Kendall Branan in the 800 run (1:59.64), West Mifflin junior Dontae Lewis in the 60 hurdles (8.45), Butler senior Sami Taoufik in the high jump (6 feet, 8 inches), Shaler senior Cam Mbalo in the triple jump (46-1) and Hempfield senior Rylan Kauffman in the pole vault (14-0).

Joining Kane as a double-winner was North Allegheny senior Casey Burton. She took first in the 60 dash (7.97) and the long jump (18-4).

South Fayette won three girls events: junior Amy Allen in the 400 dash (1:00.11), freshman Grace Howard in the high jump (5-4) and the distance medley relay (14:10.18).

Butler also won three events on the girls side. The Golden Tornadoes won the 800 relay (1:50.85) and 1,600 relay (4:15.86), and junior Gabby Boden was triumphant in the 200 dash (26.81).

Two from Penn Hills took home victories as sophomore Miniya Pinnix and senior Kemi Balogun won the 800 run (2:29.87) and triple jump (34-10), respectively.

Also winning girls events were the Baldwin 3,200 relay (10:52.25), Pine-Richland junior Danielle Bryant in the 60 hurdles (9.31) and Shenango sophomore Emma Callahan in the shot put (44-10).

The second TSTCA indoor meet will be Saturday at Edinboro, with additional meets at Edinboro set for Jan. 18 and 24 and Feb. 8 and 15.

The TSTCA Indoor Championship will be at Edinboro on Feb. 22.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Baldwin, Butler, Hempfield, North Allegheny, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland, Shaler, Shenango, South Fayette, Upper St. Clair, West Mifflin