Tornado blow past Indians

By SAM TALLARICO Eagle Staff Writer

April 02, 2008 Last Updated: April 02, 2008 02:43 PM High School

BUTLER TWP — The Butler and North Hills track teams squared off Tuesday, but the wind tried to force itself into the meet as well.

Despite the blustery conditions, both Tornado squads pushed past the breeze for a 105-45 triumph in the boys meet and 85½-64½ victory in the girls meet.

"The bottom line is you want to improve with every meet," said Butler boys coach Rick Schontz, "but it's a competition. You also want to beat the other guy."

The Butler boys rode the wave of the field events, capturing all seven.

Logan Renwick led the way with wins in the triple jump (43 feet, 5½ inches) and the high jump (5-10), as well as the 110 hurdles (15.6 seconds). He was second in the long jump (20-6C\v).

Mike Martin won the long jump and 300 hurdles, while Dylan O'Donnell, Jordan Emrick, Mike Schontz and Eric Braun won the shot put, discus, javelin and pole vault, respectively.

Mason McLaughlin won the 100 and helped the 400 and 1,600 relays to victory.

The Indians did show their balance on the track, opening the meet by edging the Tornado by one-tenth of a second in the 3,200 relay (8:34.0) as well as the 200, 1,600 and 3,200 runs.

"What I liked was Ben Porter came back after the (3,200 relay)," said Schontz. "He didn't run exceptionally well, but he came back and won the 800."

Schontz said the Indians proved to be an interesting early test for the Tornado.

"North Hills was kind of hard to gauge," said Schontz. "They scored 111 points in their first meet and I knew they had some good athletes.

"I thought our team performance was better than it was against Knoch (last week)," Schontz added.

In the girls meet, the Tornado won 10 of the 18 events.

Amanda Malecky was the Tornado's lone double individual winner, claiming the 400 (1:03.9) and the 800 (2:38.0), as well as anchoring the winning 3,200 relay (10:31.8) and 1,600 relay (4:30.7).

"She won all four of her events," said Butler girls coach Rod Harris. "She's been healthy so far, knock on wood."

Maria Gracik won the javelin for the second consecutive meet, as did Katherine Sylvia in the discus (103-0), Olivia Bresnahan in the high jump (5-2) and Skye Sankey in the pole vault (10-0).

"We're starting to show some good consistency,"Harris noted.

With the gusting winds, Harris told his athletes to take advantage of the wind when they could.

"Use the wind when it's at your back (which was on the back straightaway)," said Harris. "Open your stride and save something when you come into the wind.

"There was a big-time drop in the temperature, probably about 20 degrees, and we knew North Hills was a big challenge. We showed what we have to do. We have Seneca Valley and Shaler coming up and we have to be on our game,"Harris added.

BoysButler 105, North Hills 453,200-meter relay: North Hills (Dan Carey, Brown, Brian Dullick, Juvis Silenieks) 8:34.0;

110-meter hurdles: Logan Renwick (B) 15.6;

100-meter dash: Mason McLaughlin (B) 11.7;

1,600-meter run: Mike Vlah (NH) 4:37.0;

400-meter dash: Eli Christy (B) 53.8;

400 meter relay: Butler (Darius Hightower, Mason McLaughlin, Nate McCandless, John McAvoy) 45.1;

300-meter hurdles: Mike Martin (B) 41.8;

800-meter run: Ben Porter (B) 2:11.3;

200-meter dash: Lloyd Phillips (NH) 23.4;

3,200-meter run: Juvis Silenieks (NH) 10:04.9;

1,600-meter relay: Butler (Tony Fudoli, Jeremy Taylor, Eli Christy, Mason McLaughlin) 3:49.1

High jump: Logan Renwick (B) 5-10;