Ten Repeat Champions Highlight WPIAL Girls’ Track & Field Individual Championships

Friday, May 19, 2023

Slippery Rock, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) held its Girls’ Track & Field Individual Championships in the 2A and 3A classifications on Wednesday at William C. Lennox Track on the campus of Slippery Rock University. There were five repeat champions across seven events in both the 2A and 3A classifications.

In 3A, Canon-McMillan junior Rose Kuchera defended her gold medals in the 100-meter hurdles and triple jump, Hempfield Area senior Elizabeth Tapper won the discus and shot put for the second straight year, Upper St. Clair senior Dani Prunzik became a three-time champion in the 100-meter dash, and South Fayette senior Grace Howard repeated in the high jump. In the 4×400-meter relay, North Allegheny finished first for the second consecutive year.

The 2A classification featured two repeat double champions in Laurel sophomore Tori Atkins (200-meter dash, 400-meter dash) and Brownville senior Jolena Quarzo (1,600-meter run, 3,200-meter run). Quarzo is a three-time champion in the 3,200-meter run, and Quaker Valley senior Nora Johns earned her third gold medal in the 300-meter hurdles. In the relays, Winchester Thurston won the 4×400-meter relay for the second straight year, and Quaker Valley was again the winner of the 4×800-meter relay.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Girls’ Track & Field Championships will be held on May 26-27 at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.

3A RECAP [Results]
The 3A classification of the WPIAL Girls’ Track & Field Individual Championships featured a new three-time champion, a student-athlete who took home four gold medals, four multi-event winners, and five repeat gold medalists.

Upper St. Clair senior Dani Prunzik fits into two of the aforementioned categories, as she is now one of 66 student-athletes since 1980 to win three titles in a single event and won two separate events on the day. Prunzik captured her third gold medal in the 100-meter dash, topping Franklin Regional freshman Monroe Law (11.91) and South Fayette junior Olivia Renk (12.09) with a time of 11.70 seconds. That time is a new WPIAL record for the 3A classification, as it was 0.07 seconds quicker than the time of 11.77 seconds from Laurel Highlands’ Breehana Jacobs in 2005. Prunzik, Law, and Renk also appeared on the podium after the 200-meter dash, with Prunzik’s time of 24.53 seconds edging Law (24.54) and Renk (25.06).

Canon-McMillan junior Rose Kuchera went four-for-four on gold medals, defending her 100-meter hurdles and triple jump championships, while adding titles in the long jump and the 4×100-meter relay. She posted a time of 14.90 seconds in the hurdles, topping Mt. Lebanon junior Megan Cain (15.32) and Fox Chapel junior Anna Troutman (15.42). In the triple jump, Kuchera was marked at 40 feet even to edge out Butler senior Megan Baggetta (39-02.50) and her classmate Elisabeth Franczyk (36-08.50), while her long jump mark of 18 feet, nine inches bested North Catholic junior Aniela Balog (17-08.00) and North Allegheny sophomore Isabella Costa (17-07.50). The junior ran the second leg of the 4×100-meter relay, as Canon-McMillan finished with a time of 48.00 seconds to beat Upper St. Clair (48.67) and Mt. Lebanon (49.02).

Hempfield Area senior Elizabeth Tapper defended her titles in the discus and shot put. Tapper’s discus toss of 152 feet, eight inches was the classification’s best by over 23 feet, with Montour junior Marlo Cyanovich (129-02.00) and Laurel Highlands senior Mia Pierce (127-09.00) coming in behind her. In the shot put, the senior posted a mark of 46 feet, 1.75 inches to defeat Canon-McMillan junior Maggie Clair (38-07.00) and Norwin senior Savannah Schneck (37-02.75).

South Fayette senior Grace Howard won her second consecutive gold medal in the high jump, clearing the bar at five feet, five inches. She was joined on the podium by Pine-Richland senior Sonja Stugart (5-03.00) and Butler junior Grace Nichols (5-03.00).

In the 4×400-meter relay, the team of senior Chloe Reed, freshman Mackenzie Winning, freshman Maya Currie, and sophomore Isabella Costa gave North Allegheny its second straight title in the event with a time of 3:59.19. The Tigers beat out Bethel Park (4:02.08) and Penn Hills (4:02.38) to take the gold.

Mt. Lebanon junior Logan St. John Kletter swept the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs. In the mile, she finished with a time of 4:47.09 to best Pine-Richland senior Natalie McLean (4:51.24) and North Allegheny sophomore Wren Kucler (4:53.39). Later in the day, she completed the 3,200-meter run in 10:34.49 to edge out Kucler (10:37.43) and Montour senior Harley Kletz (10:38.97).

North Allegheny sophomore Isabella Costa was the champion in the 400-meter dash, finishing with a time of 57.30 seconds to beat out Bethel Park junior Artemis Conaboy (57.87) and Ringgold junior Angelina Massey (57.92).

In the 800-meter run, Kiski Area junior Eliza Miller earned gold after crossing the line in 2:14.71. She was joined by Bethel Park junior Jenna Lang (2:16.14) and Hempfield Area senior Cydney Blahovec (2:16.76) in the top three.

Norwin senior Bella Brozeski claimed the 300-meter hurdles title with a time of 45.56 seconds, edging out South Fayette freshman Delaney Schumaker (45.75). Canon-McMillan junior Elisabeth Franczyk finished third with a time of 46.09 seconds.

In the 4×800-meter relay, Hampton’s quartet of freshman Marissa Bigante, sophomore Kevyn Fish, and seniors Teresa Grimm and Ava Vitiello won with a time of 9:35.53. Norwin finished second with a time of 9:37.35, while Peters Township’s mark of 9:37.96 was good for third.

West Allegheny senior Kaitlyn Eger cleared 12 feet even in the pole vault to capture the gold medal. Laurel Highlands sophomore Jaden Brambley (11-09.00) finished second and North Allegheny freshman Lindsay Breneman (11-09.00) place third.

North Allegheny senior Alaina Fantaski registered a toss of 137 feet, nine inches in the javelin to win the event, beating out South Fayette senior Erica King (133-01.00) and Shaler freshman Jayla Antomachi (130-00.00).

2A RECAP [Results]
There were two student-athletes in the 2A classification that won their third gold medals in an event, as well as two multi-event champions, and five student-athletes that defended their titles from a year before.

Brownsville senior Jolena Quarzo captured her third 3,200-meter run championship and second 1,600-meter run title. Quarzo finished the 3,200-meter with a time of 10:55.07 to top Shady Side Academy junior Chelsea Hartman (11:31.90) and Riverside junior Lexi Fluharty (11:35.66). In the 1,600-meter, she crossed the line in 5:05.28 to beat Eden Christian Academy sophomore Hope Haring (5:14.96) and Hartman (5:16.67).

Quaker Valley senior Nora Johns earned her third consecutive 300-meter hurdles title, finishing with a time of 46.58 seconds. Winchester Thurston took second and third with junior Octavia Chitty (47.27) and senior Cyd Kennard (47.41).

Laurel sophomore Tori Atkins claimed consecutive championships in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. In the 200, Atkins’s time of 24.89 seconds bested Avonworth/Northgate junior Hayzes Robinson (25.64) and Hopewell senior Lauryn Speicher (25.84). Atkins claimed gold in the 400 with a time of 57.28 seconds, topping Hopewell senior Emma Palmieri (59.59) and Burgettstown sophomore Peyton Mormon (59.65).

Winchester Thurston won its second straight 4×400-meter relay, finishing in 4:04.11 with the team of freshman DaShae Cochran, junior Octavia Chitty, senior Cyd Kennard, and junior Charlotte-Brake Hoffman. Avonworth/Northgate (4:11.21) placed second and Hopewell (4:13.59) took home third.

Quaker Valley earned gold in the 4×800-meter relay for the second straight season, as the quartet of juniors Kate Hines, Lizzie Szuba, Ellie Cain, and sophomore Cecilia Montagnese crossed the line in 9:47.17 to beat Shady Side Academy (9:57.05) and Winchester Thurston (9:59.35).

Avonworth/Northgate junior Hayzes Robinson won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.01 seconds, edging out Laurel sophomore Tori Atkins (12.20) and Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore Evan Denis (12.32).

In the 800-meter run, Eden Christian Academy sophomore Hope Haring was the champion with a time of 2:20.33. She topped Trinity Christian sophomore Eilidh Edgar (2:21.83) and Quaker Valley junior Ellie Cain (2:22.69) for the title.

South Park senior Joyce Martin won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.03 seconds, beating Quaker Valley sophomore Kwilai Karto (15.96) and Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore Sasha Hoffman (15.98).

The team of senior Mackenzie Huet, sophomore Jordynn Carter, sophomore Clare Ruffing, and senior Ashley Lippold brought Carlynton the 4×100-meter relay title with a time of 49.23 seconds. The four beat out Hopewell (49.62) and South Park (49.86) for the crown.

In the long jump, Eden Christian Academy sophomore Lara DeFazio claimed gold with a leap of 17 feet, three inches. Carlynton sophomore Clare Ruffing (17-02.50) placed second and Winchester Thurston freshman DaShae Cochran (17-02.50) finished third.

Keystone Oaks senior Sydney Taylor won the triple jump after hitting a mark of 36 feet, 10.5 inches, edging out Quaker Valley sophomore Jay Olawaiye (36-09.50) and Carlynton sophomore Jordynn Carter (36-08.00).

In the high jump, Quaker Valley freshman Mia Gartley won the title as she, Ellwood City sophomore Delaney Sturgeon, and Apollo-Ridge junior Sophia Yard cleared five feet, two inches.

Beaver junior Elizabeth Michael won the pole vault by clearing 10 feet, six inches, topping Shenango sophomore Rachel Callahan (10-00.00) and Apollo-Ridge senior Jessica Ross (10-00.00).

Beaver Falls junior Mikayla Anderson claimed the shot put title with a throw of 38 feet, seven inches. Winchester Thurston junior Eris Pil (38-01.50) finished second and Shenango junior Maria Bryant (37-02.25) placed third.

In the discus, Freeport senior Reese Skiba’s throw of 120 feet, two inches claimed the title, as she bested Mt. Pleasant senior Tiffany Zelmore (117-01.00) and Riverview senior Alexandra Bibza (116-03.00).

Derry sophomore Sophia Mazzoni took home the javelin title with a throw of 140 feet, five inches. Burgettstown senior Eden Rush (121-05.00) finished second and Laurel senior Regan Atkins (119-02.00) placed third.

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