It was the Tom Jech show at the District 8 (Pittsburgh City League) Track and Field Championships at Oliver High School. The Allderdice junior won all four of his events, leading his team to a 144-135 victory over Schenley. Schenley held a 68-30 lead after Thursday's field events and continued to hold it until Jech's victory in the 3200 meters (left) pushed Allderdice into the lead. Jech also won the 800 meters, qualified for states with a win in the 1600 meters, and anchored the winning 4x400 meter relay.
In the sprints, Perry's Paul Favers and Peabody's Ned Reid won and qualified for states in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, respectively. Other winners included Allderdice's Troy Titus in the 110 meter high hurdles, Carrick's Tom Kierzkowski in the 400 meter dash, and Schenley's Marquel Jackson in the 300 meter hurdles. Schenley outkicked Allderdice in the 4x800 meter relay, and Perry outnosed Schenley in the 4x100 meter relay. Charley Monroe, another Allderdice junior, placed second in three events and also was on the winning 4x400 meter relay team.
At the field events, Schenley's Sam Angelo threw the winning distances in the discus and the shot put, Schenley's Anthony Boyd won the high jump, and South's Shawn Moran and Allderdice's Adam Golden won the long and triple jumps, respectively, the latter with a leap of 43-01.00. Earlier in the season, Schenley won both the boys' and girls' D8 Pittsburgh City League Relay Championships April 29 and 30.
On the girls' side, Schenley freshman Kaetyln Brown helped Schenley to capture the City crown 188-109 over Allderdice by qualifying for states in all four of her events. Most impressive was her upset of Westinghouse senior and City League record holder Yvonne Ferguson in the 400 meter dash (in 56.51, the second fastest time in southwest PA this season), and Brown helped Schenley's winning 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays to qualify for states as well. Ferguson and Brown both qualified for states in the 200 (left) meter dash as well, and Ferguson qualified by winning the 100 meter dash and placing second in the 400. Schenley teammate Britanny Banks rounded out the state qualifiers by finishing third in the 400 meter dash.
Allderdice's Molly Ainsman continued her career dominance of the distance events, defending her title in the 800 meters and winning the 1600 meters for the fourth straight year. Mara Horwitz of Schenley used a fantastic final lap to capture the 3200 meters. The Schenley girls dominated the hurdling events, with Ashley Smith winning both the 100 meter high hurdles and the 300 meter hurdles.
On Thursday, Schenley won four field events: Renee Johnson in the long jump, Courtney Bruce in the triple jump, Brittany Jackson in the discus, and Myrah Wilcox in the shot put. Diane Ghogomu of Allderdice, originally slated as an alternate, was a surprise winner of the high jump.
Newspaper articles about the championships:
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Schenley freshman pulls off upset, qualifies for PIAAs (May 11) -
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/s_133943.html
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Sprint champions highlight action as Schenley, Allderdice win titles (May 11) -
http://www.post-gazette.com/highschoolsports/20030511hscity0511p4.asp
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Schenley holds edge on Allderdice again (May 9) -
http://www.post-gazette.com/highschoolsports/20030509hstrackschol5p5.asp
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Alternate high jumper wins title (May 9) -
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_133612.html
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Allderdice's Ainsman perseveres through
injury (May 8) - http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_133320.html