Baldwin’s Bristow, O’Malley make school history in shot put

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, May 25, 2018 | 10:54 PM

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Baldwin track and field history was made at the WPIAL Class AAA championships.

For the first time in the long history of the successful track and field program, Baldwin won both shot put events.

Senior Laurel Bristow and junior Bailey O'Malley captured the girls and boys shot put titles at the WPIAL finals May 17 at Baldwin Stadium.

“We did have a first in school history,” said coach Ed Helbig of the performance by Bristow and O'Malley. “Mike Wallace and Keith Huebner, their coaches, have been working with them since November, the beginning of the indoor season. All their hard work paid off.

“It's hard enough to place in the WPIAL championship meet, but to have the men's and women's champion in an event, well, that's special. That will be pretty nice to have on the honor roll for future athletes to see.”

Bristow registered a toss of 41 feet, 11 inches, while O'Malley uncorked a heave of 54-4.

“I was ecstatic when I threw a personal best of 41-11 at the meet; I could not believe I was a WPIAL champion,” Bristow said. “This has been my goal since I was a freshman, and it is very rewarding to see all my hard work pay off.”

O'Malley defeated Seneca Valley senior Zach Gehm (53-6.75); Bristow outthrew Hempfield junior Mackenna Orie (40-3.75).

“It feels great to finally win this meet,” O'Malley said. “After placing seventh last year, I made it my goal to get first at the 2018 WPIAL championship meet.

“The meet went very well for me because I was able to hit a new PR. I also narrowly fouled 57- and 58-feet throws, which provides me with confidence.”

Bristow, who will continue her athletic career at Akron, was one of the leading competitors at the WPIAL meet, finishing as a triple medalist. Along with winning the shot put, she placed second in the javelin (131-9) and third in the discus (119-9).

“Laurel has been competing in all three events all year,” Helbig said. “Her coaches, Keith Huebner, Tom Damiani, along with Mike Wallace, spent a lot of time with her to make sure she was ready for each of the events. Needless to say, she impressed her future coach from the University of Akron, where she will be this fall.”

Bristow saved her best for her last home meet at Baldwin Stadium.

“Winning three medals at WPIALs, all in the top three, is something that Baldwin has never had (accomplished) by one athlete, and I'm glad I competed my best for my last home meet,” Bristow said. “I want to give a big thanks to my coaches. Coach Keith for staying late at practices until I get that perfect throw to end on, and motivating me through all of my events. Coach Wallace for staying patient with me until I finally got my footwork right. And finally, Coach Damiani for always making me take those extra throws and giving me advice on and off of the field.”

Baldwin's girls team had another triple medalist in senior Alina Stahl, who took sixth place in the 400 (59.57), and eighth place in the 200 (26.23) and long jump (17-9.5).

“I did not perform as well as I was hoping I think due to running both the 200 and 400 and (competing in) the long jump.” Stahl said. “I feel I should have picked one running event and focused more on jumping. However, I am happy I did all three considering it was my senior year.”

Stahl has earned nine WPIAL medals in her distinguished high school athletic career.

“Alina has been a force in track and field since she started as a freshman,” Helbig said. “She has been juggling two sports in the spring with club soccer and track and field, and has been successful in both sports. She has also left her mark on track and field, and is ranked very high on the Baldwin honor role in six events (100, 200, 400, long jump, 400 relay, 1,600 relay).”

A four-year competitor in soccer, outdoor track and indoor track, Stahl will continue her athletic career in the West Virginia women's soccer program.

Junior distance runner Macy Hale also was a medal winner at the WPIAL meet, securing fifth place in the 1,600 (5:09.99). Hale also garnered ninth place in the 800 (2:22.16).

For the Baldwin boys team, O'Malley's twin brother, Brendan, ended up second in the long jump with a leap of 22-7.5; and seniors Nick Lachut and Logan Richards placed fourth in the pole vault (13-9) and javelin (177-6).

Baldwin's final medalist was the boys 1,600 relay unit, which corralled eighth place with a season-best time of 3:27.86. The Highlanders' relayers consisted of senior Mike Starzynski, Brendan O'Malley, junior John Ziegler and Lachut.

Bristow (shot put, discus, javelin), Bailey O'Malley (shot put), Stahl (long jump), Hale (1,600), Brendan O'Malley (long jump), Lachut (pole vault) and Richards (javelin) all qualified for the PIAA Class AAA finals at Shippensburg University.

“All had great performances in the WPIAL championship meet,” Helbig said.

Other WPIAL finalists from Baldwin were Brendan O'Malley (200), sophomores Angelo Priore (100) and Ted Boehm (3,200), and senior Sedrick Riddick (triple jump). Priore just missed the finals in the 100 by .01.

Baldwin's boys 400 and 3,200 relayers, and the girls 1,600 and 3,200 relayers, also competed at the WPIAL meet.

The girls 1,600 relayers — freshman Mariah Jones, sophomore Victoria Tamborino, Stahl and Hale — posted their best time of the year; as did the boys 400 relayers — Lachut, Priore, sophomore Nasser Penn and freshman Jerran Kelly.

Baldwin's 3,200 relay unit consisted of Hale, junior Kerri Herron, sophomore Makenzie Shandor and freshman Gina Bolla; and Ziegler, Boehm, and sophomores Jared Koenig and Caden Harsh.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin