WEST MIFFLIN — In 2009, the Freeport boys track and field team could only watch as Riverside was crowned the WPIAL Class AA champion.

On Thursday, it was the Yellowjackets' time to return the favor.

Freeport captured 11 of 18 events in defeating Riverside 95-55, South Park 99-51 and Freedom 102-48 to claim the team championship trophy at West Mifflin High.

The Freeport girls also came up big, finishing in second place. Excluding the pole vault results, which ran late, Freeport defeated Shady Side Academy 84-57, Southmoreland 74-67 and fell to champion South Park 95-46.

The victory was the boys' first title since back-to-back championships in 2002-03.

"We were runners-up last year and we came back," said Freeport coach Bill Dillen. "This team is really balanced like the 2002 and 2003 teams. That's what you need to win it."

Despite the impressive scores, Dillen wanted to keep things on an even keel before the results were official.

"One of the other coaches told me we beat them," Dillen noted. "I had a feeling at the time, from the feedback we were getting and the results, that we were doing well."

"Losing last year, that motivated us a lot," said senior Darius Frantz. "We came in knowing we were not going to lose. We knew if we performed the way we could, we would win."

The Yellowjackets secured all three relays while Frantz (high and long jumps), Marcel Ittner (100, 200) and Nick Gentile (800, 1,600) were double individual winners.

Ittner was part of the winning 400 relay and Gentile ran in the winning 1,600 relay and was runner-up in the 400.

Ittner, who had issues with his knee in 2009 and missed the team finals, came back strong, as did Frantz, who was also slowed by injuries a year ago.

"That was rough last year, but this year was even better," said senior Alex Isenberg, who won the triple jump, was third in the 800 and was a member of the winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays.

"We beat Riverside, so that was a little payback," he added.

While the first-place finishes keyed the win, not overlooked was the overall second-, third- fourth- and fifth-place finishes that all add up.

"The whole group did great," said Dillen.

In the girls final, the Yellowjackets turned in some valiant performances, particularly for a young squad on a big stage.

"I'm real proud of the girls," said Dillen. "Our two hurdlers came through and did a nice job, and our sprinters placed high."

Katie Pullano won the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.95 seconds while Lynsey Gugino won the 300 hurdles at 49.6.

The Yellowjackets' other champion came in the 1,600 relay (4:13.03).

Second-place finishers for the Freeport girls were Aly Moore in the 100 and in the 400 relay, Chelsea Chaffman in the 200 and Harley Westerman

Bronte Soul placed third in the long and triple jumps.

Perhaps the Yellowjackets girls team can follow the same formula as the boys, who used last year as a learning experience.

"Our boys team started out really well today," said Dillen. "Our kids know what to do since they've been through this."

For that, Dillen is giving the team the day off today before they begin to prepare for the WPIAL individual finals Thursday at Baldwin.

For one day, it was the Yellowjackets who walked away the big winners with two trophies, including one championship.

"This is great for the whole school," said Frantz, who was a part of three section-winning squads this year as well as a WPIAL championship.

"I can't explain the feeling. First football, then basketball and now track. To represent Freeport feels good."