Baxter

WHITEHALL — The 46 members of the Butler girls track and field team crammed onto one bus and made the long and arduous trek to Baldwin High School.

They could have taken two buses, but Golden Tornado coach John Williams nixed that.

He wanted his girls in close proximity with one another before the WPIAL Class AAA team semifinals Tuesday.

“We wedged everyone into one bus today,” Williams said, smiling. “Little team building. It's a long trip.”

When they arrived at Baldwin to face West Allegheny, Latrobe and Franklin Regional, the Tornado had to deal with more adversity: Heavy rain that delayed the meet after two completed events for nearly 90 minutes.

No matter. Butler asserted itself in a dominating sweep that sent it to the WPIAL team championships Monday against Seneca Valley, North Allegheny and Norwin.

“I think we stepped up today,” Williams said. “I think they had a little bad taste in their mouths from last week.”

A loss to Seneca Valley seven days ago sent Butler reeling a bit.

But the Golden Tornado showed no negative signs from that letdown.

Butler thumped all three teams it faced at Baldwin, beating Franklin Regional 123-27, Latrobe 112-28 and West Allegheny 110-40.

Williams figured his team would be in a dogfight against Latrobe, but the Golden Tornado started fast before the torrential rain came with wins in the 3,200-meter relay and in the shot put.

“What about setting the tone in the pouring rain?” Williams said gleefully. “We talked about getting off to a hot start and we got off to a hot start.”

Freshman Megan Penrod threw 34 feet, 6½ inches in the shot — easily her personal best.

Penrod accomplished that mark in a driving rain.

That may have actually helped her.

“I was just kind of hiding under an umbrella and I ran into the circle to throw,” Penrod said. “I think it took the pressure off myself. It worked.”This is only the second year Penrod has thrown the shot put. As well as helping her team try to defend its WPIAL title, she has her sights set on the state meet.“For me, I know I have to throw in the 35s to qualify for states,” Penrod said. “As a freshman, that's a big goal for me. I just have to believe in myself more than anything. I put pressure of myself because all these people are older than me and I've only been throwing for two years.”The usual suspects also shined for Butler.Ali Altman set a personal record in the triple jump with an effort of 35 feet, 1½ inches; Liz Simms had a part in four wins; and Anna Baxter won both hurdles events.“I work hard in practice, and I'm a big believer in you practice like you're second so you can compete like you're first,” Baxter said. “I've been pretty consistent with my times. I think I'm hitting good times and good marks. Hopefully I can continue to decrease my time.”Butler is hoping it can not only exorcize the demons of the loss to Seneca Valley last week, but win the WPIAL team title for the third season in a row.Baxter said she thinks the Golden Tornado can do just that.“I think the Seneca Valley meet definitely refocused us,” Baxter said. “I think it kept us a little grounded and showed us that you have to be at your ultimate best all the time. Seneca was and we didn't have a good day.“I believe in our team,” Baxter added. “We have what most people would consider a young team. We put a lot of effort into practice and I think right now our biggest enemy is between our own two ears.”GirlsButler 110, West Allegheny 40Butler 112, Latrobe 28Butler 123, Franklin Regional 273,200 relay: Butler (Chesna Tomko, Jen Chichra, Chelsey Kabel, Liz Simms) 13:38; 100 hurdles: Anna Baxter 16.27; 100 dash: West Allegheny; 1,600 run: Chelsey Kabel (B) 5:34; 400 run: Liz Simms (B); 400 relay: Butler (Anna Baxter, Emma Stewart, Alli Morrow, Gabby Boden); 300 hurdles: Anna Baxter (B) 47.1; 800 run: Liz Simms (B) 2:28.79; 200 dash: Gabby Boden (B) 26.65; 3,200 run: Latrobe; 1,600 relay: Butler (Simms, Peratt, Timmons, Tomko)Shot put: Megan Penrod (B) 34-6½; Discus: Sarayne Forbes (B) 104-10; Javelin: Heidi Gross (B) 93-8; High jump: Sadie Weitzel (L) 5-½; Long jump: Ellie Stewart (B) 16-5¼; Triple jump: Ali Altman (B) 35-1½; Pole vault: Samantha Penrod (B) 9-8

Penrod