Nicole Scherer (Burrell) / Photo by Phil Grove
TSTCA Outdoor Championship - Meet Preview
Expect some big performances at Saturday's TSTCA as some top western PA teams will square off at West Mifflin. Here's a look at the action we're watching for:
GIRLS' PREVIEW
Burrell's Nicole Scherer will open up her senior season on the outdoor track on Saturday. Scherer is entered in the 100 and 200 meters. Look for some fast times out of Scherer in her final season. Mount Lebanaon's Molly Mangan will look to challenge her in the 100 meters, while Butler's Alexis Leech and South Fayette's Rachel Helbling are also entered in the 200 meters. Scherer is also entered in the 400 meters earlier in the day, where Leech is the top seed. Helbling is also in the 400.
Jayla Ellis will make her outdoor debut in an Oakland Catholic uniform. Ellis made a big impression as a freshman on Penn Hills last year. Now the sophomore will look to follow it up with a big spring. She's entered in the 100 meter hurdles and the 300 meter hurdles.
In the 1600 meters, Oakland Catholic's Lauren Finikiotis will race Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's Rylee Kopchak, Butler's Maggie Welty, and Vincentian Academy's Marianne Abdalah in what should be a fast race. Finikiotis, Kopchak, and Abdalah will all return for the 3200 meters. Butler's Liz Simms, Peters Township's Laura Ehrenberger, and Thomas Jefferson's Kayla Polakovic are among the top seeds in the 800 meters.
Laurel Highlands' Casey Phelan is the top seed in the girls' pole vault, and Butler's Taylor Weaver is also in the field. Oakland Catholic's Ellis is the top seed in the long jump, but South Fayette's Coutney Phoennik will look to challenge her. Phoennik is the top seed in the triple jump.
In the throws, watch for Burrell's Elizabeth Weimer. Weimer is seeded first in both the discus and the shot put. Butler's Jena Reinheimer, Gateway's Kristen Greggerson, and Baldwin's Jasmine Wicks will be among her competition in those events, and we should expect to see some big throws.
Harvey Kane (Upper Saint Clair) / Photo by Ethan Rissell
BOYS' PREVIEW
Shenango's Dom Data will look to start his season off on the right foot in the sprints. Data is one of the top seeds in both the 100 and 200 meters. In the 400 meters, watch for Penn Hills' Brennon Hill, while Gateway's Damion Reed is favored in the 300 meter hurdles.
The 1600 meters looks stacked. Butler's Noah Beveridge, South Fayette's Sam Snodgrass, and Penn Hills' Isaiah Bailey are in the field. Snodgrass ran a PA#1 in the 3200 meters last week at Mount Lebanon. Bailey will then come back in his main event, the 800 meters, later in the meet. Winchester Thurston's Shaun Hay is the top seed in the 3200 meters.
Indoor long jump state champ Harvey Kane is entered in the long jump. He'll be looking to start his senior season off on the right foot. In the triple jump, look for a big day from Penn Hills' Jaden Rouse.
Fresh off a big meet at Mount Leb, South Fayette's Sam Mastro will look to keep it rolling into Saturday. Mastro (PA#8 in the shot and PA#5 in the discus), will be favored in two throws events this weekend.