Butler Invitational - Meet Preview
Girls' Preview
TRACK
Hunter Robinson and Hayden Robinson of Avonworth/Northgate will look for strong starts to their spring seasons. The sisters will make their invitational debuts on Friday at Butler. Hunter is entered as the top seed in the 100, 200, and 400, while Hayden is entered in the 100 and 200. Hunter is the defending AAA state champ in the 100 and 200 and was runner-up in the 400. These two don't compete indoors and Hayden was injured for much of last season.
Others to watch in the sprints include Jessica Kolesar of Norwin (200 meters), Morgan Donatelli of Hickory (400 meters), and Maddie Tonini of Butler (400 meters).
The 1,600 meters is loaded with talent. North Allegheny's Clara Savchik will square off with West Virginia's Madison Trippett, Gianna Labbiento of Sharon, Rylee Kopchak of Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Maggie Welty of Butler, and Caelan Miller of Fox Chapel. Trippett is back in the 800 meters, but she'll be challenged by PA state leader Liz Simms of Butler and Malia Anderson of Greensburg Salem. Savchik then comes back for the 3,200 meters, which will also feature Labbiento and Kopchak.
Jayla Ellis of Oakland Catholic is the top seed in the 100 hurdles, though Amberly Valeriano of North Hills should offer a good challenge in that race. Chesna Tomko of Butler and Emily Brozeski of Norwin are among the top seeds in an open 300-meter hurdle field.
FIELD
Lillian Hill of North East will aim for a strong start to her season in the javelin. She threw 144 feet last year and will look to build on that starting Friday. In the shot put and discus, watch for a good matchup between Punxsutawney Area's Sam Dyson and Butler's Jena Reinheimer, a pair of state medal hopefuls.
In the long jump, we'll see Ellis and Valeriano go head-to-head again, but Kolesar and North Allegheny's Casey Burton are also entered, making this an event to watch for. Moniteau's Kendall Grossman is the top seed in the pole vault.
The girls high jump will be a good one between Brozeski, Knoch's Hannah Rowe, and Lakeview's Cecily Greggs. Franzi Nace of Quaker Valley (second in AA at states last year) is the one to beat in the triple jump.
Boys' Preview
TRACK
North Allegheny's Ayden Owens started his season off on a good foot at last week's meet at Latrobe. Now the senior will head to Butler, seeking wins in a variety of events once again. Owens is entered in the 110-meter hurdles, where he'll look to go sub-14 (he's currently PA#2 behind Kyle Garland). He's also the top seed in the 200 meters and the long jump.
Looking to give him a good race in the 200 meters will be Penn Hills' Alex Trower (PA#2). He ran well at TSTCAs, winning the 100 and 200 last week. He's also PA#4 in the 100, so look for him to go for a big day at Butler. In the 400 meters, look for Grove City's Molek Walker and West Mifflin's Ziggy Patterson, a pair of talented quarter milers that will chase sub-50 or better this weekend.
Like the girls, the 1,600 meters is stacked with talent. Butler's Noah Beveridge is the top seed, but Seneca Valley's Sam Owori, Grove City's Jonah Powell, and the Greensburg Salem duo of Cameron Binda and Mark Brown are also in this field that will chase the state lead.
In the 800 meters, Seneca Valley's Seth Ketler, Indiana Area's Kendall Branan, and Franklin Regional's Matt Busche are among the names to watch. In the 3,200 meters, Binda, North Allegheny's Daniel McGoey, and Mars Area's Zachary Leachman make up a deep field of talent 2-milers.
FIELD
PA#1 Sam Mastro of South Fayette will look for more this Friday in the discus. He threw 166 feet last week and will look to build on that state-leading effort. But also in the field is top returner Zach Gehm of Seneca Valley, who will be worth watching for. In the shot put, Mastro will shoot for the win there, but Gehm and Penn Trafford's Cam Elma are also in the field.
Emmanuel Mitchell of Penn Hills is one of five boys who enter the weekend tied at PA#6 in the high jump. He'll be the top seed entering Friday, looking to improve on his 6-05 from this past weekend. In the pole vault, Butler's Jack Codispot (PA#5) will go for the win, but NA's Jono Pelusi and Liam Nobbs will offer a good challenge.