Split end

By Sam Tallarico Eagle Staff Writer

April 18, 2012 Last Updated: April 18, 2012 04:01 PM High School

Travis Reed throws the discus during a winning effort Tuesday against Seneca Valley. He also took first in shot put, but the Tornado boys were defeated by the Raiders.

BUTLER TWP — There's something to be said for riding the hot hand.

On Tuesday, Seneca Valley's Oliver Philogene and Butler's Jasmine Bailey filled those roles.

Philogene had a hand in four winning events — the 400 (52.37), 800 (2:11.55) and as a part of the winning 1,600 (3:36.5) and 3,200 relays (8:26.41) — as the Raiders boys team downed Butler, 89Z\x-60½.

Likewise, Bailey won four events — the 100 (12.57), 200 (26.32), 400 (58.91) and the 400 relay (50.72) along with Paige Allen, Kristen Knass and Kennedy Evans — in Butler's 117-43 victory.

“Oliver had the four first places. He's just a horse,” Raiders coach Ray Peaco said. “There were a lot of good performances. We feel we have a strong boys team. This is a tough section.”

The Raiders won 10 of the 11 running events — dropping only the 300 hurdles to Butler's Carlos Sanchez — which helped offset the Tornado's (2-2) 40½-22½ advantage in the field events.

“I thought it could be a real dogfight,” Butler boys coach Rick Schontz said. “Seneca Valley performed a little better. Congratulations to them on a job well done.

“It's that time of season. That's why we love it. Track is in the air,” Schontz added.

Peaco was impressed with the Raiders sweeping the 800 with Philogene, Brett Foster and Madison Goodman.

Also, Aaron Schmelzer edged Sanchez in the 110 hurdles (16.99 to 17.0), which may have had a rippling effect for the Raiders.

“He came through in the hurdles,” Peaco noted. “It was bang-bang. I thought we could lose there 8-1 and instead we won 6-3. That shows guts and character. That got him fired up, which got me fired up and the kids saw that and it fired up the other kids.”

Aside from Philogene, the meet's only other double individual winner was the Tornado's Travis Reed, who won the shot put (47-2½) and discus (146-3).

In the girls meet, Bailey continued to impress in her senior campaign

“Jasmine won four events and I thought it was important for her to come out and go under 59 seconds in the 400, especially for this time of year,” Butler coach Annessa Steele said.

Bailey was coming off a strong Butler Invitational performance Friday which she earn four medals by placing in the top four in each event.

And without hurdler-sprinter Lexis Frost in Tuesday's meet, in hopes of resting a hamstring injury, Bailey's performance proved to be a key.

So too, was Nicole Andler's win in the 100 hurdles (16.29) while Evans also had wins in the 300 hurdles (49.18) and long jump (16-3C\v) and Ava Bonetti in the shot put (34-10) and discus (107-8) events.

“I actually thought the meet would be closer than this,” Steele said. “The good thing is with our training, things are falling into place.

“I was excited the whole way through the scorecard,” Steele added.

The Raiders' lone two wins on the track came in the opening 3,200 relay and closing 1,600 relay.

“The 4x800 relay (Shelby Resch, Taryn Latsko, Becky Paine and Natalie Richard) started well,” Peaco said. “That was fun.

“We just weren't strong enough in the sprints. ... We had some nice second and thirds, but we weren't able to get the firsts,” Peaco added.

Jayme Rutkowski won the javelin (134-8) and Rachel McAndrew (34-7Z\x) the triple jump to account for the Raiders' only other wins.

“Butler is a very strong program and we had a couple of girls banged up and weren't here,” Peaco said. “That wouldn't have made a difference.”

The win improved the Butler girls to 3-1 with a meet at North Hills Friday.

“That's really a big day,” Steele said. “After this meet, we'll take a couple of days to regroup. The girls are really excited.”

Notes: The Raiders will face North Allegheny at Fox Chapel Friday. ... The Tornado honored their seniors in a ceremony after the meet.

BoysSeneca Valley 89

.5, Butler 60.5Track Events3,200-meter relay: Seneca Valley 8:26.41;

110 hurdles: Aaron Schmelzer (SV) 16.99;

100 dash: Jon Dorogy (SV) 11.42;

1,600 run: Brett Foster (SV) 4:44.72;

400 dash: Oliver Philogene (SV) 52.37;

400 relay: Seneca Valley 44.57;

300-meter hurdles: Carlos Sanchez (B) 42.99;

800-meter run: Oliver Philogene (SV) 2:11.55;

200-meter dash: Forrest Barnes (SV) 23.27;

3,200-meter run: Jacob Perri (SV) 10:24.08;

1,600-meter relay: Seneca Valley 3:36.5

Field EventsHigh jump: Tom Kocur (SV) 6-3;

Long jump: Mark Malecky (B) 19-10;

Triple jump: Vinnie Lowerre (B) 39-11.75;

Shot put: Travis Reed (B) 47-2.5;

Discus: Travis Reed (B) 146-3;

Javelin: Zach Muto (SV) N/A;

Pole vault: Dan Cashdollar (SV) 12-6

GirlsButler 117, Seneca Valley 43Track Events3,200-meter relay: Seneca Valley (Shelby Resch, Taryn Latsko, Rebecca Paine, Natalie Richard) 10:05.6;

100 hurdles: Nicole Andler (B) 16.29;

100 dash: Jasmine Bailey (B) 12.57;

1,600 run: Tori Sawhney (B) 5:28.19;

400 dash: Jasmine Bailey (B) 58.91;

400 relay: Butler (Paige Allen, Kristen Knass, Kennedy Evans, Jasmine Bailey) 50.72;

300 hurdles: Kennedy Evans (B) 49.18;

800 run: Macy Stalnaker (B) 2:31.23;

200 dash: Jasmine Bailey (B) 26.32;

3,200 run: Holly Keefer (B) 12:31.9;

1,600 relay: Seneca Valley (Melissa Lynskey, Madison Kozlowski, Walker, Victoria Love) 4:02.0

Field EventsHigh jump: Paige Rittelmann (B) 5-2;

Long jump: Kennedy Evans (B) 16-3.75;