Quaker Valley brings back medals from state track meet

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, June 2, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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One Quaker Valley relay team placed third at the PIAA Class 2A track and field championships; another secured seventh.

The QV boys 3,200-meter relay team, consisting of juniors Clark LaLomia and Jackson Pethel, freshman Jonah Montagnese and sophomore River Capek, clicked for a time of 8:01.1 to take third place.

“The boys 4-by-800 relay was very exciting,” QV coach and math teacher Jared Jones said. “Three of the four boys on the relay (LaLomia, Pethel, Capek) returned from the medaling team from last season. The only newcomer was freshman Jonah Montagnese, replacing a senior from 2023, Luke Hotchkiss.

“We knew with three returning we had a great shot to compete at states and the boys did just that. All four boys ran great times on the relay to put themselves in that position. I’m very proud of their hard work for the past 12 months.”

Freshmen Kieran Cain and James Irwin, sophomore Tyler Bell and senior Oliver Graham served as QV alternates in the 3,200 relay.

“I would say I am pleased with our performance,” LaLomia said. “We dealt with illness after our WPIAL meet. Jackson and River got a cold, which they passed to me. I think Jonah started to feel some symptoms at states, too.

“I have very bad allergies along with asthma. When they all combine, it hits me really hard as was shown in my 1,600 where I had an asthma attack. So to come to states and run faster than our seed time and take home the bronze medal means a lot.”

LaLomia ran in the fourth position in the relay event, anchoring the efforts of Pethel, Montagnese and Capek.

“I think we have a lot of room to grow,” LaLomia said, “and I’m very excited to continue racing with my teammates. We’re all returning next year, which no other team on the podium can say.

“We have our goals set and we plan to come home with a state title next year.”

The QV boys retained their WPIAL championship this season in the 3,200 relay thanks to a time of 8:01.66 that narrowly edged Ellwood City (8:01.75) in a photo finish.

The QV girls 400-meter relay unit, comprised of juniors Vanessa Pickett and Kwilai Karto, sophomore Zora Washington and senior Ellie Cain, turned in a 50.11 performance at the state meet to finish in seventh place.

“The girls 4-by-100 relay has been exciting to watch all season,” said Jones, who was assisted by John Doucette, Ron Graf, Kari Miller, Laura Jones and Paul Szuba this year. “Going into prelims, we were sitting just outside the top eight to qualify for finals. The girls did an amazing job with a nearly flawless run Friday to finish with the third-fastest time (49.28) in Quaker Valley history.

“On Saturday, their time was a bit slower, but they ran well enough to finish seventh in the state, which was exciting to watch.”

Cain plans to continue her track career at Washington University in St. Louis.

“I have so many happy memories from my high school track career, and they will always be something I cherish,” Cain said. “I honestly couldn’t have asked for better coaches, and I owe them so much credit to my successes. I’m very lucky I was able to be part of such an amazing program and can’t wait to see the team’s future successes.

“I was really excited about our performance at the state meet. It was exciting to be able to medal. Vanessa, Zora and Kwilai really are amazing runners, and I was so happy to be able to have the opportunity to run on a relay with them.”

Another Quaker Valley highlight at the state meet held May 24-25 at Shippensburg University was the performance of sophomores Oumou “Mimi” Thiero and Mia Gartley in the girls high jump.

“Mimi and Mia competed in the first event of the meet, the girls high jump. This is one of the most challenging events in all of track and field,” Jones said. “I’m very proud of their performances, and so happy for both of them.”

Thiero cleared a height of 5 feet, 5 inches to earn third place. Gartley followed in fourth with a jump of 5-4.

“I’m really happy with how states ended,” Thiero said. “I can’t be mad about making the top three as a sophomore especially since I didn’t get a chance last year.

“I may be biased, but I don’t think there is another girls team in the state with as much depth as we have, especially seeing the number of girls we brought to WPIALs and states this year. I think they all performed amazingly, and they will continue to do the same next year.”

Gartley is a two-time WPIAL titlist in the high jump; Thiero ended up third in the WPIAL this spring.

“High jump is an event where everyone has good jump days and bad jump days,” Gartley said. “I think I performed well at states. Even though I didn’t get a new personal record, I was excited to match my personal best.

“It was a great experience at states. Overall, I’m happy with the outcome.”

Jay Olawaiye finished fifth in the PIAA girls triple jump with a leap of 38-5 while junior Davin “Macky” Gartley placed sixth in the boys 110 hurdles in 14.82.

“Jay’s performance in the triple jump was amazing. She tied her season-best mark,” said Jones, who also is a middle school football coach. “And Macky’s performance in the 110 hurdles was very exciting. I know Jay and Macky are already excited to start working to improve for their senior year.”

Gartley just missed out on a medal in the 300 hurdles with a ninth-place showing. He finished first and second, respectively, in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles at this year’s WPIAL finals and holds the school record in the longer event with a 38.99 time.

Olawaiye captured the top spot in this year’s WPIAL triple jump with a distance of 38-5 and holds the school record of 39-5.5. She was the WPIAL runner-up in 2023.

Other PIAA qualifiers for the QV girls team this spring included Karto (100, 100 hurdles), Cain (800), Currier (triple jump), freshman Evie Rosselli (pole vault) and junior Sarah Minard (pole vault).

The 1,600 relay team, consisting of Pickett, Cain, Currier and Karto, and 3,200 team — juniors Cecilia Montagnese and Emily Bablak, freshman Maggie Doz and senior Kate Hines — also advanced to the state meet.

“One pleasant surprise that won’t get much publicity is our girls 4-by-800 relay team,” Jones said. “They finished fourth in their heat with all four girls hitting personal bests in their individual splits.”

Montagnese, Pocasangre, Washington and Gatehouse served as 1,600 alternates. Currier, Cain, Gartley and Karto were the 3,200 alternates.

Other PIAA qualifiers for QV’s boys team included LaLomia (800, 1,600), Montagnese (1,600), junior Thomas Debelak (triple jump) and sophomore Aiden Dwyer (triple jump).

The 400 and 1,600 relay teams also qualified for the state meet.

The 400 relay team included the likes of Debelak, junior Winston Clifford, senior Izzy Emerson, Gartley, sophomores Jayden Juliano and Reese Fatur, Irwin and Cain.

The 1,600 relay unit consisted of Gartley, Irwin, Juliano and LaLomia. Capek, Pethel, Cain and Clifford were the alternates.

The Quakers took first place at WPIALs in the 1,600 relay with a time of 3:26.89.

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