Penn Hills’ Trower shines during indoor track season

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, February 23, 2018 | 11:57 PM

After transferring to Central Catholic for his junior season, senior Alex Trower returned to Penn Hills and has made an immediate impact during the indoor track and field season.

Trower qualified for the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association state indoor championships in the 60-meter and 200-meter dash events.

The sprinter ran personal bests in both at the Tri-State Track Coaches Association indoor championship at Edinboro on Feb. 17.

“Alex and his brother, Wes, are two of the hardest workers on the team. They are both very coachable. Their expectations are really high. I think he's going to really light it up during the outdoor season,” coach Lee Zelkowitz said.

Trower finished third in the 60-meter with a time of 7.06 seconds, behind Bethel Park's James Krandel (6.91) and Hempfield's Eudel Moreta (6.99).

In the 200, Trower finished in second with the time of 22.20, which was behind North Allegheny's Ayden Owens, who finished in 21.77.

The timing seems to be perfect for Trower as the Indians transition from the indoor season to the outdoor season.

“I know my outdoor 200 is usually a second faster than my indoor 200. (The) 60 isn't really my race. I'm a 100 guy because of my top-end speed. I'm excited to see what I can do outdoors,” Trower said.

Senior Emmanuel Mitchell (high jump) and junior Lillia Allen (shot put) also qualified for the indoor state meet, which was held Saturday, after deadline for this edition.

Allen, who has an indoor best of 41 feet, 6 inches this season, finished second in the shot put with a throw of 40-2 at the TSTCA indoor championships.

“It could've been better. It's indoor. A lot of people don't do well in indoor because outdoor is an open space and not secluded,” Allen said.

“The indoor season warms me up, pumps me up and gets me ready for the type of competition I can expect.”

Allen finished behind Hempfield's Mackenzie Orie, who finished at 40-3.5. Last season, Allen threw her personal best, 43-1, at WPIALs.

“We are really good friends so I was pumping her on to beat me. She ended up beating me by one and half inches. I wasn't really mad. I'm actually really happy for her because she has been striving to hit that for a long time,” Allen said.

Mitchell, who didn't participate in the TSTCA indoor championships, qualified in the high jump for the state meet with a jump of 6-5 on Feb. 10.

During the outdoor season last year, Mitchell finished at 6-6 in the high jump at WPIALs.

Senior Jaden Rouse, who continues to deal with hip soreness, won the triple jump at the TSTCA indoor championships as he finished at 43-3.5.

Even though Rouse reached the qualifying standard and won the event, Rouse didn't finish with one of the top 16 jumps in the state.

Rouse, who has committed to Bucknell for track and field, finished in sixth place (43-9.25) in the triple jump at WPIALs.

Even though Rouse didn't qualify for the state meet, Zelkowitz was pleased and wasn't shocked by who qualified for the Indians.

“At the beginning of the season, I wanted them to perform their best this season,” the coach said. “I wanted the ones that had a chance to medal to medal. We want to leave on a good note and get us in good shape for the outdoor season.”

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Penn Hills