‘Last Chance’ to qualify for WPIAL track and field championships

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 | 7:43 PM

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With the WPIAL track and field championships set for Wednesday at Slippery Rock University, athletes have one last opportunity to qualify.

There are at least three “Last Chance meets” that will be held over the next two days. Norwin and Pine-Richland will host two events Thursday, and West Mifflin will host Friday.

To qualify for the championship, Class 3A athletes must be in the top 24 of times, distance and heights. Class 2A must be in the top 16.

Even though Hempfield senior Peyton Murray has the top throw in the discus in the state and top shot put throw in the WPIAL, he still plans on participating.

“I don’t want to go a week without competing,” Murray said. “I want to stay sharp.”

Murray is the reigning PIAA discus champion.

Brozeski has big night

Norwin junior Brandi Brozeski celebrated a big achievement at the 50th Baldwin Invitational on May 3.

Brozeski not only broke her personal record in the 100-meter hurdles, upsetting South Fayette’s Delaney Schumaker to win the race in a time of 15.0 seconds, she actually broke her personal record (15.54) twice, running a 15.30 in the prelims.

“This feels so rewarding from all my work throughout the season,” Brozeski said. “My sister, Emily, has the school record of 14.89, and I’d like to break that before I graduate.”

Brozeski is focused on the WPIAL championship after helping the Norwin girls to a second-place finish in the Class 3A team championship.

She has the third-fastest time in the WPIAL.

Hempfield shines at Baldwin

For the Hempfield 1,600 boys relay team of Caleb Prola, Aleksis Ratenieks, Adam Frankhauser and Harrison Methven, the wait was worth it.

The four won the final race of the day at the Baldwin Invitational.

Prola set the school record in the 100 (10.91) by placing fourth, and he placed third in the 200.

The girls 1,600 relay team placed second. That foursome included Alexa Gray, Peyton Leduc, Madison Altman and Abby Dunlap. Altman finished fifth in the 300 hurdles.

Senior Margerette Dougherty won the javelin with a throw of 121-6, and sophomore Maddie Tully placed second in the discus.

Norwin runners go 1-2

Norwin junior Luke Simpson and junior Enzo Jiancristoforo finished first and second in the 1,600 at the Baldwin Invitational.

Simpson’s time was 4:26.68.

Freshman Tyler Beck didn’t let a little rain slow him down in the 300 hurdles. He ran 39.66 and finished second. Sophomore Jeremiah Francis placed fifth in a time of 40.20.

Southmoreland senior Adam Halinka finished third in the 300 hurdles in a time of 39.90.

Junior Nicholas Puskar won the pole vault.

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.