Baldwin Invitational - Meet Recap
Big throws rule the day
There was no shortage of depth in the throws virtually across the board in the throws.
In the girls' shot put, which saw five girls throw over 40 feet, Mackenna Orie of Hempfield Area came away with the win with a throw of 43-10, good enough for PA#4. Butler's Jena Reinheimer moved to PA#6 in the discus with a toss of 137-7 for the win. Consistency's been the name of the game for Elizabeth Forward's Brianna Spirnak, who threw 151-00 for the javelin win (her third throw within a foot of 150 this season). That's a PA#3 for Spirnak.
On the boys' side, Zach Gehm of Seneca Valley looks to be hitting his stride at the right time. The senior threw 182-08 to win the discus. That's a career best and PA#1, capping off a strong two weeks. Hopewell's Noah Drudy won the javelin with a throw of 194-03, just inches off his own PA#5 (193-11).
Owens, Trower, Helbling among multi-event winners
There were a number of double champs at Baldwin over the weekend.
Ayden Owens continued his dazzling senior wins, sweeping the hurdles -- something that he's become quite accustom to doing. The North Allegheny senior won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.04. Then he won the 300-meter hurdles in 37.33, a new career best, which betters his own PA#1 and moves him up to US#14.
Penn Hills' Alex Trower ran well in the 100 and 200, picking up wins in both events. He went 10.86 to win the 100 and then 22.01 to win the 200.
Rachel Helbling of South Fayette won the 200 meters (25.66) as well as the 400 meters (56.88). That 400 time puts her at PA#7. North Allegheny's Casey Burton won the 100 meters in 12.25, but her most impressive performance came in the long jump, which she won with a PA#4 leap of 18-10.
Fast times in the distance events
The distance events brought plenty of top-notch performances. Winchester Thurston's Tristan Forsythe went 4:16.24 to win the mile, the second fastest time in the state this season so far. In the 3,200 meters, Noah Beveridge of Butler took over the top place in the state, winning in 9:09.15.
Savannah Shaw of Upper Saint Clair dominated the girls' mile. Shaw improved upon her PA#2 time from the Penn Relays a week earlier, winning in 4:53.54, nearly ten seconds ahead of second place. Liz Simms of Butler won the 800 meters in 2:16.80. Hannah Schupansky of Oakland Catholic ran quick in the 3,200 meters for a second straight week. She ran a PA#2 10:44.55 for the win.
Other notable performances
- The Norwin duo of Jessica Kolesar (37-02.75) and Lexi Gray (37-00.5) took first and second in the girls' triple jump.
- Molly DeBone of Hempfield Area cleared 1106 to take the girls' pole vault.
- Penn Hills' Emmanuel Mitchell jumped 6-07.5 to win the boy's high jump, a PA#5 performance.
- Caleb Mabins of McDowell won the long jump with a leap of 22-05 in a competition that saw three others jump 22 feet or better.
- Waynesburg Central's Will Behm cleared 15-0 in the pole vault to move him up to PA#6 in one of the state's deepest events.