WPIAL track notebook: Butler’s Drew Griffith, Ringgold’s Ryan Pajak break state 3,200 record

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 | 10:22 PM

Purchase Photo Options

It was quite a performance turned in by a trio of WPIAL runners Saturday at the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia, Calif.

Butler senior Drew Griffith finished third with a Pennsylvania-best 8:37.43 and Ringgold senior Ryan Pajak placed fourth with a time of 8:38.02 in the 3,200 race. North Allegheny junior Jack Bertram ran an 8:56.99.

They are the top three times in the state. Griffith and Pajak broke state records.

Other WPIAL individuals ranked No. 1 in the state include: Hempfield senior Peyton Murray (176-5) in the discus, Shady Side Academy’s Chelsea Hartman (10:47.24) in the 3,200 and Hempfield sophomore Maddie Tally (125-5) in the discus.

Big weekend

There will be 29 teams in the 32nd annual Lady Spartan/21st annual Wildcat Invitational at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium.

The teams include North Allegheny, Norwin, Morgantown, W.Va., Kiski Area and Franklin Regional.

The meet has been pushed back from Friday to Saturday.

The annual Tri-State Track Coaches Association Championship will be held Saturday at West Mifflin. More than 45 teams have entered.

The Bill Wilt Memorial United Invitational and Chartiers-Houston Invitational will be held Saturday.

Schrockman shines

Burgettstown senior Zack Schrockman had a good day at the South Hills Classic on Saturday. He won the 400-meter dash, won the high jump at 6-2, placed fifth in the long jump and seventh in the 200.

Baldwin senior Marcus Toto won the long and triple jumps, and Murray won the discus and shot put. Upper St. Clair sophomore Sadie Tomczyk won the 100 and 200.

WPIAL’s best

The best times and distances that have been reported to PennTrackXC MileSplit by April 10.

Boys

100: Scoop Smith, Woodland Hills, 10.91

200: Scoop Smith, Woodland Hills, 22.43

400: Kayden Lightner, North Hills, 50.39; Eryk Ralston, Franklin Regional, 50.42

800: Elijah Bechdel, Beaver, 1:59.37

1,600: Kayden Lightner, North Hills, 4:26.65

3,200: Drew Griffith, Butler, 8:37.43; Ryan Pajak, Ringgold, 8:38.02; Jack Bertram, North Allegheny, 8:56.99

110 hurdles: Achan Green, Penn Hills, 15.05

300 hurdles: Achan Green, Penn Hills, 40.10

Discus: Peyton Murray, Hempfield, 176-5

Shot put: Peyton Murray, Hempfield, 56-8

Javelin: Kush Criswell, Mt. Lebanon, 168-11

High jump: Emery Moye, Pine-Richland, 6-5

Long jump: Tucker Jeremias, Avonworth/Northgate, 22-4 ¼

Triple jump: Luke Cramer, Mt. Lebanon, 45-9 ¼

Pole vault: Zach Duckworth, North Allegheny, 13-6

Girls

100: Hayzes Robinson, Avonworth/Northgate, 12.47

200: Melani Schmidt, Norwin, 25.62

400: Isabella Costa, North Allegheny 58.78

800: Annie Czajkowski, Norwin, 2:21.65

1,600: Gracie Plastino, North Catholic, 5:08.08

3,200: Chelsea Hartman, Shady Side Academy, 10:47.24

100 hurdles: Delaney Schumaker, South Fayette, 15.33

300 hurdles: Madison Altman, Hempfield, 46.27

Discus: Maddie Talley, Hempfield, 125-5

Shot put: Sasha Garnett, Richland, 43-1

Javelin: Sophia Mazzoni, Derry, 156-10

High jump: Milena Sciullo, Grove City, 5-6

Long jump: Dashae Cochran, Winchester Thurston, 17-10 ½

Triple jump: Kara Fennell, Knoch, 37-1

Pole vault: Lindsay Breneman, North Allegheny, 11-0; Arden Tomley, Franklin Regional, 11-0; Aubrey Rock, Butler, 11-0; Nadia Constantakis, Pine-Richland, 11-0; Jaden Brambley, Laurel Highlands, 11-0 Mackenzie Magness, Freeport, 11-0; Grace Iwig, Hempfield, 11-0.

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.