SLIPPERY ROCK — From barely being represented at the PIAA Track and Field Championships to finishing as Class AA team runner up.

And looking for more.

That’s where the Slippery Rock High School boys team stands, heading into next season — and Levi Prementine is the ringleader.

“We came close to winning the team title and all of the guys who made it to states this year are coming back next year,” Prementine said. “We feel like we can win the state title and we want it.”

Prementine will be a senior next year. He did not qualify for the PIAA meet his sophomore season. He dominated there last month, winning the Class AA long jump and 300-meter hurdles, running a leg of the Rockets’ 4x400 relay that took second and placing sixth in the 110-meter hurdles.

He capped the year by placing sixth in the long jump at the Adidas National Championships in Greensboro, N.C., with a leap of 22 feet, 8 inches. His personal-best is 23 feet, 1.5 inches.

“Levi had one bad jump and all of his other jumps didn’t count — except one,” Slippery Rock track and field coach Tom Meling said. “But he made that one jump count.

“It wasn’t his best, but he was a little off his game. It was two weeks after the state meet.”

Slippery Rock competed in Class AAA in 2022 before dropping to AA this year. While Prementine admitted that made a difference, he acknowledged his own improvement this year as well.

Competing in the prestigious Butler Invitational in April, he won the 300 hurdles, took second in the 110 hurdles and was part of the Rockets’ 4x400 that finished among the top three.

“I saw a lot of that same competition at the state meet, so that Invite helped me know what I’d be up against,” Prementine said. “It gave me a lot of confidence.

“Competing at nationals was different. You’re on your own and everybody out there was so good. It was a little intimidating. Looking back on it, I feel like I should have done better.”

By placing sixth, he earned All-American honors. Prementine was seeded 17th going into the national competition.

“Guess I can’t complain about getting sixth,” he said.

Meling could see Prementine’s talent emerging a few years ago.

“He pulled a muscle his freshman year and came back in time for districts,” the coach recalled. “He jumped 21 feet with no practice. I could see the talent was there.

“I remember Slippery Rock’s basketball team playing Butler and one of their really good athletes was going up for a dunk — and Levi knocked the ball into the bleachers. He was physically maturing at that point. Then he started taking weight lifting seriously, stayed healthy, had no muscle issues — and here he is.”

At the District 10 meet this year, Prementine took first in all four of his events.

“I don’t want to put pressure on him or anything, but if Levi stays healthy, he could take four golds at the state meet next spring,” Meling said. “I don’t know if a Butler County athlete has ever done that. But he has that kind of talent, that type of capability.”

Prementine said he first took interest in track and field when his brother Hunter — six years older — competed in the sport. Levi played football, basketball and baseball growing up.

He’s been in track and field since seventh grade.

“My junior high coach has a knack for recognizing potential hurdlers and he picked me out,” Prementine said. “I was above average when I started doing it and that made me want to really work at it.

“All I want to do my senior year is to get back to states), maybe do a little better next time and help my team win that championship.”

Meling has been coaching track for more than 40 years and calls Prementine the most gifted hurdler he’s worked with.

“And I’ve worked with some good ones,” he said, chuckling. “Levi has the best technique I’ve ever seen. You watch him clear the 300 hurdles ... There is no space, absolutely no air, between him and the top of each hurdle.

“While other hurdlers leave air between themselves and each hurdle, Levi pulls away. He’ll master that same technique with the 110 hurdles next year. Believe me, he’s only going to get faster.

“That’s just who this kid is,” Meling added.