string(196) "Desc: The Norwin boys track and field team's 1,600-meter relay team includes, from left, Ian Brown, Logan Huss, Brady Schmitt, Zeke Houser and Gianni Rizzo. Matt Federovich also runs on the relay."
string(37) "Capt: Paul Schofield | Tribune-Review"
string(29) "Title: gtr-Norwin4x400-033018"
string(6) "Cred: "
Paul Schofield | Tribune-Review
The Norwin boys track and field team's 1,600-meter relay team includes, from left, Ian Brown, Logan Huss, Brady Schmitt, Zeke Houser and Gianni Rizzo. Matt Federovich also runs on the relay.
string(265) "Desc: Norwin's Gianni Rizzo celebrates after running the anchor leg of the gold medal Class AAA 1,600 relay team at the PIAA track and field championships Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Shippensburg. His teammates were Josh Coleman, Kyle Turcovsky and Nicholas Coleman."
string(43) "Capt: Barry Reeger | For The Tribune-Review"
string(29) "Title: GTR-PIAAtrack18-052817"
string(6) "Cred: "
Barry Reeger | For The Tribune-Review
Norwin's Gianni Rizzo celebrates after running the anchor leg of the gold medal Class AAA 1,600 relay team at the PIAA track and field championships Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Shippensburg. His teammates were Josh Coleman, Kyle Turcovsky and Nicholas Coleman.
string(292) "Desc: Norwin's Julia Fasiczka and North Allegheny's Caroline Daggett compete against one another in the girls' 3200 meter relay during the 27th Hempfield Area Lady Spartan and 16th Greater Latrobe Wildcat Track and Field Invitational at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe, on Friday, April 13, 2018."
string(35) "Capt: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review"
string(30) "Title: gtr-weekinpics01-041618"
string(6) "Cred: "
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Julia Fasiczka and North Allegheny's Caroline Daggett compete against one another in the girls' 3200 meter relay during the 27th Hempfield Area Lady Spartan and 16th Greater Latrobe Wildcat Track and Field Invitational at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe, on Friday, April 13, 2018.
string(196) "Desc: The Norwin boys track and field team's 1,600-meter relay team includes, from left, Ian Brown, Logan Huss, Brady Schmitt, Zeke Houser and Gianni Rizzo. Matt Federovich also runs on the relay."
string(37) "Capt: Paul Schofield | Tribune-Review"
string(29) "Title: gtr-Norwin4x400-033018"
string(6) "Cred: "
Paul Schofield | Tribune-Review
The Norwin boys track and field team's 1,600-meter relay team includes, from left, Ian Brown, Logan Huss, Brady Schmitt, Zeke Houser and Gianni Rizzo. Matt Federovich also runs on the relay.
string(265) "Desc: Norwin's Gianni Rizzo celebrates after running the anchor leg of the gold medal Class AAA 1,600 relay team at the PIAA track and field championships Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Shippensburg. His teammates were Josh Coleman, Kyle Turcovsky and Nicholas Coleman."
string(43) "Capt: Barry Reeger | For The Tribune-Review"
string(29) "Title: GTR-PIAAtrack18-052817"
string(6) "Cred: "
Barry Reeger | For The Tribune-Review
Norwin's Gianni Rizzo celebrates after running the anchor leg of the gold medal Class AAA 1,600 relay team at the PIAA track and field championships Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Shippensburg. His teammates were Josh Coleman, Kyle Turcovsky and Nicholas Coleman.
string(292) "Desc: Norwin's Julia Fasiczka and North Allegheny's Caroline Daggett compete against one another in the girls' 3200 meter relay during the 27th Hempfield Area Lady Spartan and 16th Greater Latrobe Wildcat Track and Field Invitational at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe, on Friday, April 13, 2018."
string(35) "Capt: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review"
string(30) "Title: gtr-weekinpics01-041618"
string(6) "Cred: "
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Julia Fasiczka and North Allegheny's Caroline Daggett compete against one another in the girls' 3200 meter relay during the 27th Hempfield Area Lady Spartan and 16th Greater Latrobe Wildcat Track and Field Invitational at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe, on Friday, April 13, 2018.
While many eyes will be focused on certain individuals at the WPIAL Class AA and AAA track and field championships Thursday at Baldwin, some of the most exciting races will be the relays.
That's especially true for the Class AAA girls 400-meter relay races, where 10 teams have reached the state qualifying standard, but only eight — if they reach the state standard during the championships — can qualify for the PIAA championships May 25-26 at Shippensburg.
“It's going to be an exciting day,” Latrobe assistant coach Michelle Butler said. “The races are going to be tight.”
Avonworth/Northgate has the top time in the 400 relay (48.40) and Penn Hills (49.74) is the 10th team.
Penn Hills and Norwin (49.73) will compete in the second fastest heat and the other eight (Pine-Richland, Trinity, Mt. Lebanon, Canon-McMillan, North Allegheny, West Mifflin and Latrobe) in the fastest heat.
“I think being in the second heat could benefit us,” Norwin coach Brian Fleckenstein said. “We'll be in the middle lanes. We were ranked fourth going into the final meet of the season.”
Fleckenstein is eager to see how his team competes.
“I haven't made a decision on who will run in the relay,” Fleckenstein said. “We have options.”
The race he is looking forward to is the boys 1,600-meter relay, where his Knights are the returning WPIAL and PIAA champions.
Norwin has the top time of 3 minutes, 24.08 seconds, and West Mifflin, Gateway, Canon-McMillan and Latrobe are less than a half a second behind.
Junior Gianni Rizzo is the lone runner returning from the state champion relay team, but Fleckenstein likes the newcomers — freshman Ian Brown and sophomores Logan Huss and Brady Schmitt. Rizzo, Huss, Schmitt and sophomore Matt Federovich run the 400 relay.
“The four are running well and with confidence,” Fleckenstein said. “I like four runners who get the baton and will do whatever they can do to win. I'm looking forward to see how they run.”
Fleckenstein said the goal is to get all six relay teams to the state meet.
The Norwin girls 3,200 relay team of Emily Shaw, Courtney Kosanovic, Laurel Noe and Julia Fasiczka is seeded third behind Butler and Hampton.
So what makes a good relay team?
Latrobe's Butler said speed, explosiveness and the ability to give and receive a baton.
“Handoffs are so important, especially in the 400 relay,” Butler said. “They have to be perfect. A poor handoff can cost you a lot — a win and a chance to place.
“Also choosing the right order is important. As a coach, you have to decide who is a better corner run, who is better on the straightaways and who you might want running longer distance. I like to work the zones.”
