ADAMS TWP — Seneca Valley's boys track and field team left a deep imprint at Friday's Mars Invitational.

Not only did the Raiders win four events, they broke two records as the 4x800 relay team of Luke Bellack, Alex Dixon, Seth Ketler and Sam Owori teamed to run a time of 7 minutes, 57.28 seconds.

Junior Zach Gehm obliterated the previous standard in the discus, managing a throw of 180 feet, 3 inches.

SV's other wins came from Jack Cook in the javelin (160-8) and Matt Sloan in the high jump (6-0).

The 3,200 relay team entered the meet with confidence, but setting the record was icing on the cake.

“We knew what the record was (8:04.49) coming in,” said SV distance coach Justin Dosch, “but it was not our top priority. We just wanted to come in and lay down a good time.”

The Raiders did that and then some. Their effort beat runner-up Mars by nearly 22 seconds and is 6.15 seconds shy of the school record.

“We wanted a 7:55 or 7:56, but we're happy with how we did,” said Owori.

The foursome has been running the event since the first section meet of the season against North Allegheny.

“We knew no team would be able to stay with us today and we'd be running against the clock,” said Dixon, who ran the third leg before handing the baton to Owori.

“Fortunately for us, all four of the guys are close (in time),” said Dosch, “but every kid is a bit different mentally. All four guys are obviously part of a win or a loss, but you need to have an anchor who is able to handle the pressure. Sam has ice water running through his veins.”

Gehm's best throw in the discus topped the previous meet record (172-8 by Fox Chapel's Matt Kann in 2009) by over seven feet.

“I had four throws today,” said Gehm. “My first went for 160 and I fouled on the second. It was my third throw that went 180. I tried to get my arm up really high and it (discus) just went flying through the air.

“I'd like to get to 185 by the end of the season.”

Cook had never competed in track and field before this season, but it didn't take him long to find his niche.

“I started out trying the sprints and high jump, but always knew I'd probably end up throwing the javelin,” he said. “I had no idea what (distance) I'd throw. But right now I'm ranked in the top eight in the WPIAL (167-8) and I'm hoping to get to states.”

With all of the success his teammates were having, Sloan figured he'd join in the fun.

“You want to keep that momentum going for the team,” he said. “Six feet (in the high jump) ties my personal best.”

The Raiders finished with 71 points in the team standings, second behind champion Hickory's 85.

Like the boys, SV's girls got off to a fast start ... literally.

The quartet of Lauren Breski, Emma Lizewski, Julie Milton and Lizzy White won the 4x800 relay with a time of 9:47.71.

“We wanted to break 9:50 today and we did,” said Milton.

“We started the season at 10:20 and have steadily brought the time down,” said Dosch. “We have a ways to go, but we're getting there.”

The Raiders, who placed second to Hickory as a team, also picked up a win in the field as senior Erin Danik won the javelin with a heave of 129-8.

“I've been throwing since my eighth-grade year, but it wasn't until near the end of last year that I realized the javelin was my best event. That's when I started really focusing on it.”

<i>Following are results from the Mars Track and Field Invitational, held Friday at the Mars Athletic Complex. Meet records are noted (*).</i>Boys3,200 relay: Seneca Valley (Luke Bellack, Alex Dixon, Seth Ketler, Sam Owori) 7:57.28*; 110 hurdles: Caleb Gagliardi (Hickory) 15.58; 100 dash: Dozie Ezi-Ashi (Hickory) 11.23; 1,600 run: Jacob Schulte (Bishop McCort) 4:26.03; 400 run: William Grober (Hickory) 50.57; 400 relay: Hickory 43.09; 300 hurdles: Luke Meckler (Pine-Richland) 40.07; 800 run: Derek Jones (Cathedral Prep) 1:56.49; 200 dash: Dozie Ezi-Ashi (Hickory) 22.76; 3,200 run: Zach Leachman (Mars) 9:45.69; 1,600 relay: Mars (Chris Check, Trent Williams, Justin Petrilena, Jimmy Hibbard) 3:29.02Shot put: Tyler Bishop (Hickory) 53-0.75; Discus: Zach Gehm (Seneca Valley) 180-3*; Javelin: Jack Cook (Seneca Valley) 160-8; High jump: Matt Sloan (Seneca Valley) 6-0; Long jump: Zack Randolph (Pine-Richland) 21-10; Triple jump: Zack Randolph (Pine-Richland) 42-8.5; Pole vault: Luke Franc (North Hills) 12-3Girls3,200 relay: Seneca Valley (Lauren Breski, Emma Lizewski, Julie Milton, Lizzy White) 9:47.71; 100 hurdles: Amberly Valeriano (North Hills) 15.05; 100 dash: Style Henry (Villa Maria Academy) 12.74; 1,600 run: Lauren Finikiotis (Oakland Catholic) 5:03.96; 400 run: Hunter Robinson (Avonworth/Northgate) 55.96*; 400 relay: Hickory 49.44*; 300 hurdles: Heather Grober (Hickory) 45.62; 800 run: Amanda Kalin (Pine-Richland) 2:17.02; 200 dash: Hunter Robinson (Avonworth/Northgate) 24.55; 3,200 run: Marianne Abdalah (Vincentian Academy) 11:01.44; 1,600 relay: Hickory 4:02.94Shot put: Tori McKinley (Hickory) 47-4; Discus: Tori McKinley (Hickory) 146-5*; Javelin: Erin Danik (Seneca Valley) 129-8; High jump: Cecily Greggs (Lakeview) 5-2.25; Long jump: Amberly Valeriano (North Hills) 17-4; Triple jump: Macy McCall (Slippery Rock) 35-1.75; Pole vault: Taylor Maxwell (Lakeview) 9-9