Penn Hills runner sticks with sport, emerges as captain, key relay contributor

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, January 7, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Maliah Powell agreed to go out for the Penn Hills track team as a freshman via peer pressure. Powell’s decision to stay when her two friends abandoned ship was voluntary.

Now a senior captain for the indoor track team, Powell decided to stick around after flourishing on the Indians’ 1,600 relay team. The season, weather permitting, was scheduled to start Jan. 6 at Edinboro University.

“My friends made me do it,” Powell said. “I’m the only one that kept going.”

Staying involved set up Powell for a successful career in the sport. As a junior, Powell helped Penn Hills’ 1,600 relay team — along with Janaya Coleman, Mylah Faulk and Milani Oliver — place third at the WPIAL Class 3A championships during the outdoor season.

The Indians’ relay team finished with a time of 4:02.38 at the WPIAL meet. For this indoor season, Powell was chosen as the team captain on the girls side.

“It means a lot to me,” Powell said. “I like having underclassmen looking up to me. I like setting an example. It helps boost my confidence.”

Penn Hills indoor track coach Lee Zelkowitz said he has a good group out for this season. The Indians will have a little over 30 athletes involved. Senior Cam Thomas will be back on the team and will be involved in the 60 and 200 dashes. He will also be a part of the 800 and 1,600 relays.

Achan Green and Paris Bey will compete in the hurdles. Zelkowitz also said that sophomore Tymere Alston will be someone to keep an eye on as a first-year participant.

“I look for him to develop into a good 400 or 800 runner,” Zelkowitz said. “He’s got good speed, endurance and is a good worker. He showed up for fall conditioning and has been doing well.”

On the girls’ side, Powell will be a part of the 1,600 relay and also will run in the 200 and 400. Mackenzie McIntyre will run in the 60 and help out in the relays. Jadyn Golden has stood out to Zelkowitz in the preseason as well.

“She looks like a different person this year,” Zelkowitz said. “She’s working really hard and seems to be enjoying it. She seems to have gotten that passion back for the sport.”

Powell is excited to have a new role on the relay team this year. She is going from the leadoff spot to the third position.

“The first leg was scary,” Powell said. “Everyone is relying on me to get off to a good start. In the third leg, I’m trying to clean up the two legs before me. The fourth leg is relying on me. I don’t want to let them down, so I have to run.”

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