57th annual Butler Invitational featuring 60 teams this weekend

April 21, 2022 Last Updated: April 20, 2022 10:44 PM High School

Butler's Alli Morrow competes in the 100 meter against North Hills and Fox Chapel earlier this month. Sixty teams will gather this weekend for the 57th Butler Invitational. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

‘Go time’ for Tornado track

BUTLER TWP — The high school outdoor track and field season began a few weeks ago.

It kicks into gear this weekend as the annual Butler Invitational takes place at Art Bernardi Stadium. The 20th annual girls meet is Friday, the 57th annual boys meet Saturday. Both meets begin at 12:15 p.m.

“This is go time for us,” Butler girls track coach John Williams said. “Our big rival (North Allegheny) comes in Thursday, then the Butler Invite Friday. Going back-to-back with such big meets is something we’ll have to navigate through, but our kids are pumped up.

“Meets like these ... This is what people train for back in November, December, January. Everything is geared for the outdoor season and it kicks in right now.”

This year’s Invite features 60 teams with more than 1,300 athletes competing. Butler’s girls are five-time defending team champions while the Golden Tornado boys have won the meet last year and in 2019.

“It means a lot to these kids to win the team title,” Williams said. “We have a championship belt — WWE style — to give to the winning boys and girls teams. Our kids have gotten into that.”

Notable teams coming in for the meet include Baldwin, Belle Vernon, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Greensburg Salem, Indiana, Mars, Moon, Norwin, Pine-Richland, Punxsutawney, Shaler, Slippery Rock and Wheeling Park.

Butler’s Megan Baggetta is the No. 1 seed in the girls triple jump at 38 feet, 5.5 inches. Karns City’s Ashley Fox is the top seed in the javelin at 131 feet, Knoch’s Madison Hunt No. 1in the shot put at 37-4.

On the boys side, North Catholic’s Trevor Paschall is the top seed in the 100 and 200 meters. Butler’s Guinness Brown and Lucas Slear are the top two seeds in the 400 meters with teammate CJ Singleton and and Presley Ornelas being top seeds in the 3,200 and 110 hurdles, respectively.

Butler is the top seed in all three boys relay events.

“We’re going all in on the relays,” Butler boys track coach Mike Seybert said. “We’re allowing our guys to pick one other event to compete in. Teams are allowed up to two participants per event.“

Moniteau’s Cody Daniels is the No. 1 seed in the high jump at 6 feet, 2 inches. Rocket teammate Ethan Folmer is the top seed in the triple jump at 43-8 while Butler’s Ryan Porch leads the long jumpers at 22-4.

Slippery Rock’s Seaton Wozniak is top seed in the discus at 148-10 and shot put at 51-4. Butler’s Tristan McGarrah is No. 2 in the pole vault at 14-6, trailing Wilmington’s Soloman Glavach at 15-0.

While Guinness Brown, Noah Beveridge and CJ Singleton share or hold Butler Invite records, no Golden Tornado girl holds a record in the event.

“This is a meet filled with big-time athletes every year,” Seybert said. “Top athletes from the WPIAL and other schools in the state come for the competition.

“This is the last Butler Invite for our seniors and they want to have a lot of fun one last time in front of a big crowd at their home Invitational. I think we’re going to see a lot of good things.”

An individual Track MVP and Field MVP will be awarded following both meets.

Butler Invitational records

Girls

100 meters-Charlise Davis (Oakland Catholic) 12.23 in 2006

200 meters-Hunter Robinson (Avonworth/Northgate) 24.77 in 2016

400 meters-Hunter Robinson (Avonworth/Northgate) 55.43 in 2018

800 meters-Brianna Schwartz (Shaler) 2:10.15 in 2014

1,600 meters-Brianna Schwartz (Shaler) 4:45.43 in 2014

3,200 meters-Mia Cochran (Moon) 10:28.03 in 2021

100 hurdles-Jayla Ellis (Oakland Catholic) 14.47 ion 2019

300 hurdles-Heather Grober (Hickory) 44.07 in 2016

High jump-Abby Jones (Franklin) 5-8 in 2015