Butler Invitational
Archbishop Kennedy legend Paul Vandergrift had an incredible senior year in 1987, setting two state outdoor records that still stand - 4:03.3 in the 1600 and 1:48.8 in the 800. Both will be under assault by Shaler junior sensation Sam Bair in the coming months and through 2003. On Friday night, Bair simply broke through the middle distance void to run an incredible 1:50.4 off a 55 400. He then came back to anchor Shaler to a 3:25.63 come-from-behind win in the 1600 relay, closing in 48-high. Last season he won the state AAA title with a 4:14.36 1600, then shaved .2 off that this past indoor season. Since both events require prelims at States, he'll have some choices to make. Ryan Sherwood of McDowell, continued his good early season, going 210-04 to take the Javelin. The other distance events were strong, as Dan Mazzocco of Baldwin won the 1600 in 4:21.5, and Bair's teammate, Josh Dluhos, won the 3200 in 9:29.0. Baldwin won the team competition by 14 over Shaler. For the girls, it was once again the Sheena Gordon show. The McDowell senior recorded season best in the 100 Hurdles (14.37), and the Triple Jump (40-06), and also won the High Jump with a 5-07 leap, and the Long Jump, going 17-0. Freedom's Ashley Kauffman recorded a state best 144-0-4 Javelin thrown. North Allegheny's Stephanie Madia won both the 1600 (5:06.44) and the 3200 (11:19.44) to lead her team to the win over defending state champs McDowell by 10 points.