Baldwin Invitational
Alan (as in Webb) and Dathan (as in Ritzenhein) reset the bar for American distance high schoolers. Now PA is listening, as Sam (as in Bair) (left during his record run in a photo by James K. Wood) and Dan (as in Mazzocco) (at indoor states) have the best 1600-3200 in the state in many years. Bair, of Shaler HS, who went 1:50.4 800 (US#2) on 4/19, followed that up at the "Best of the West" Baldwin Invitational 5/3, going 4:09.69 for 1600. That's the current US#1. Converted it's believed to be the 2nd fastest mile in western PA prep history (Jerry Ritchie, North Allegheny, 4:10.6. Bair's converted mile would be 4:11.09.) Mazzocco, of host Baldwin, simply obliterated the field in the 3200 with his 9:05.73, which is currently a top 10 US time (remember the resurgence in prep distance standards?). Oh, and Bair also anchored his team's winning 4x400 to a 3:24.21 win.
Not to be outdone, the scoring machine known as Sheena Gordon, McDowell, took matters on to her own feet, reeling off four wins, including two meet records. Her best performance had to be her US#3 effort of 42-03 in the Triple Jump. She also produced a 5-08 HJ, 18-02 LJ, and 14.43 100 Hurdles. In the distance races, Stephanie Madia of North Allegheny showed she is ready to defend her state AAA 1600 title before heading off to Notre Dame, holding off Jessica Perry of Peters Township, going 4:56.78 and US#8. Perry was also under 5:00, going 4:59.01. But she had another race, and whipped through the 3200 in a fast 10:53.53. Other notable performances included Melissa Sopher of Slippery Rock, who won the 300 Hurdles in 44.18. DeNia Matthews of Canon-McMillan was 2nd in 44.52. Great Valley took the turnpike west and also took three relays, the 4x100 in 50.01, the 4x400 in 3:59.8, and the 4x800 in 9:27.36. In the Javelin, Freedom's Ashley Kaufman continued her strong spring, winning with a throw of 144-04. Wilmington's Cassie Buckwalter took the Discus with a toss of 140-00. And Schenley's Carmen Bruce took the Shot, putting 43-01.25. Top PA vaulter Jocelyn Lindsay of Waynesburg cleared 11-02, a PA#2. Yvonne Ferguson of Westinghouse took the 200 and 400 in 25.34 and 56.75. Four girls finished under 2:20 in the 800 within a second of each other, with Upper St. Clair's Julie Cameron getting the nod in 2:19.16.