Injury limits Butler senior Renwick
BUTLER TWP — The idea of the WPIAL Track and Field WPIAL Qualifier is to do just enough to reach the WPIAL Championships.
But what if you don't get much of a chance?
For Butler senior Logan Renwick, this was supposed to be his final go-round, a big year to cap off his amazing high school career.
Renwick won two WPIAL events and finished second in two others in 2009, but a pulled right hamstring in the first week of practice this year sidelined him for the first few weeks.
But he worked his way back and was poised to continue his great efforts.
On Tuesday, however, Renwick pulled his left hamstring on his third attempt in the long jump, his first event of the day.
He did well enough to place fourth, which allowed him to advance to the WPIAL finals May 20 at Baldwin, but couldn't compete in any other events.
"We'll see how he is (today)," said Butler coach Rick Schontz. "I feel really bad for him. He's worked so hard to get to this meet."
The cold weather didn't make things easier, so great times and distances weren't expected. Neither was seeing one of the WPIAL's top athletes getting injured.
"We're very concerned for Logan," Seneca Valley coach Ray Peaco said. "That's so sad. He's too talented a runner. You come out in May and it's cold, and that can happen."
Still, teams from Butler, Seneca Valley, Knoch and Mars all turned in good performances in Tuesday's qualifier.
"There were no super times or distances, but this meet is about getting through," Peaco said.
In the boys meet, seven of the 18 events had a Butler County winner: Butler's Evan Gomez (800) and the 3,200 relay, Seneca Valley's P.J. Blinn (100), Tom Kocher (high jump), Dillion Bilka (pole vault) and the 1,600 meter relay and Mars' Mark Funderlich (400).
Knoch also had a strong showing, as all three relays qualified in the boys meet.
"We always try to get all three relay teams, both boys and girls, down to Baldwin," said Knoch boys coach Wess Brahler. "We do a pretty good job. doing it. We may not have a No. 1 horse, but I like the four horses we bring."
In the girls meet, 12 winners of the 18 events came from Butler County schools, including nine of 11 in the track events.
Knoch's Regina Robb led the way with victories in both hurdles events (15.7 seconds in the 100, 46.4 in the 300) and was a member of the winning 1,600 relay (4:04.7).She was joined in that relay by freshman Samantha Logan, who won the 400 (59.6).Another freshman, Butler's Ava Bonetti, won the discus (108 feet, 3 inches) and was joined by Paige Rittelmann in the high jump (5-4) and Bri Lumley in the shot put (37-9½).Jasmine Bailey won the 200 (26.8), Tara Lowe took the 100 (12.8) and the duo helped the 400 relay to a victory as well (50.5)."Our girls did really well," said Butler coach Annessa Schnur. "We had some big throws and a lot of (personal records), including a couple of freshmen."What I was worried about today was the weather and someone getting injured, and you saw that with Logan. ... Our girls made it through and they're ready to go," she added.Seneca Valley's Erin Lopresti rounded out the list of county winners, capturing the 800 in 2:18.1."There's a sparkle in her eye," Peaco said. "I would not want to race her right now."<B>Notes:</B> The Butler girls team will compete in the WPIAL team finals Thursday at West Mifflin.
