Butler boys, girls reach another WPIAL title meet
BUTLER TWP — It seemed as though Ryder Kriley was destined to not enjoy a spring season on the track.
Butler’s middle-distance runner missed out on his freshman season and almost all of his junior campaign following foot surgery and his sophomore season was lost to the pandemic.
“I competed in three regular-season meets last year, but I was on crutches at the WPIAL team championship meet and wasn’t able to make the state meet. It was tough.”
Kriley ran the first leg of the winning 4x800-meter relay Wednesday in the WPIAL Class 3A team semifinal meet as the Golden Tornado boys easily dispatched Blackhawk (116½-33½) and Franklin Regional (121-24) at Art Bernardi Stadium.
He’s learned to not take any time on the track for granted.
“It feels great just being out here competing and being part of everything,” he said.
Kriley was also part of Butler’s 4x400 relay team that broke a 53-year old record last week at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, running a split of 50.04 seconds.
Butler’s girls also advanced to the team final, defeating Blackhawk (115-35) and Franklin Regional (124-26).
Butler boys coach Mike Seybert was waiting for Kriley to be healthy because he knows he has a special talent.
“We knew when he was in the eighth grade, as he was coming through, that he was a natural,” he said. “He’s a strong kid and has run the 800 in 1:55 for us.”
Presley Ornelas won both hurdle events for Butler while Jake Pomykata took the shot put and discus events.
“This was step one,” Seybert said. “When you earn the No. 1 seed like we did, it gives you a chance to build a big lead (in this meet) and get some of the younger and inexperienced kids out there to get a feel for what the playoffs are all about.
“A lot of kids are intimidated by the big meets, but these guys are hungry to put an exclamation point on things.”
The Tornado girls featured double-winners in Ava Brewster (1,600 and 3,200) and Alli Morrow (100 dash and long jump). Morrow won the latter with a distance of 18 feet, three inches, a personal-best effort and just one inch shy of the school record.
“This meet wasn’t hard for us, but getting here was,” said Butler girls coach John Williams. “We compete in such a tough section with North Allegheny, Seneca Valley ... and Pine-Richland always has some really good athletes.
“We’re battle-tested by the time the playoffs roll around.”
Butler’s girls will be in search of their fifth straight district title while the boys are looking to earn back-to-back crowns. The team finals will include four boys teams and four girls teams and will be held at West Mifflin High School next Wednesday.
“Next week will be the toughest test,” said Williams. “The last few years, we’ve had a plan going in there and it’s worked. We’ll come up with a plan and see if we can follow it.”
Boys
Butler 121, Franklin Regional 24
Butler 116½, Blackhawk 33½
3,200 relay: Butler 8:39.94; 110 hurdles: Presley Ornelas (B) 15.99; 100 dash: Guinness Brown (B) 11.47; 1,600 run: CJ Singleton (B) 4:32.95; 400 run: Brayden Young (B) 51.68; 400 relay: Butler 44.31; 300 hurdles: Presley Ornelas (B) 41.70; 800 run: Carson Knight (B) 2:00.01; 200 dash: Rupnik (FR) 24.26; 3,200 run: Papa (BH) 9:47.52; 1,600 relay: Blackhawk
Shot put: Jake Pomykata (B) 43-8; Discus: Jake Pomykata (B) 132-5; Javelin: Tyler Rekich (B) 141-0; High jump: Russell (FR) 5-9; Long jump: Luke Campbell (B) 20-7¾; Triple jump: Jon Livermore (B) 39-10½; Pole vault: Tristan McGarrah (B) 14-1
Girls
Butler 124, Franklin Regional 26
Butler 115, Blackhawk 35
3,200 relay: Butler 11:03.51; 100 hurdles: Hartman (FR) 16.60; 100 dash: Alli Morrow (B) 13.0; 1,600 run: Ava Brewster (B) 5:38.51; 400 run: Bielawski (BH) 1:02.49; 400 relay: Butler 51.58; 300 hurdles: Lauren Bowden (B) 49.44; 800 run: Jen Cichra (B) 2:26.74; 200 dash: Moye (BH) 27.63; 3,200 run: Ava Brewster (B); 1,600 relay: Butler
Shot put: Nixon (BH) 32-9¾; Discus: Celia Ray (B) 92-2; Javelin: Megan Penrod (B) 105-3; High jump: Evans (FR) 5-0; Long jump: Alli Morrow (B) 18-3; Triple jump: Megan Baggetta (B) 37-2; Pole vault: Ashlyn Holt (B) 8-7
