Site last updated: Sunday, May 18, 2025

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

District 10 track and field: Slippery Rock’s Aiva Reich, ‘so close’ 2 years ago, finally wins 100 hurdles gold

SLIPPERY ROCK — Two years ago, Aiva Reich experienced the thrill of competing at the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

Now a senior, she had a chance to make a return trip … and earned it Saturday at the District 10 meet at Slippery Rock University.

With a time of 16.40 seconds in the Class 3A 100-meter hurdles, Reich will don a district crown when she travels to Shippensburg University for the final meet of her high school career.

She had previously placed 10th, second and fourth in the event.

“I was so close to winning a district title as a sophomore,” she said. “I’ve had some losses in my life the last few years, family members who died. There was a lot of stress involved, and it was tough for me. Getting to the top of that podium today, I feel very accomplished. I can relax now.”

Related Article: District 10 track and field: Slippery Rock’s Autumn Christie wins javelin gold, Dustin Joyce heading to states Related Article: Track and field honor roll: See the top Butler County times, distances and heights as of May 12
Slippery Rock’s Aiva Reich, middle, is congratulated by Maddy Gearhart, left, and another teammate after Reich received her medal for winning the girls 100-meter hurdles in the District 10 Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium to qualify for the PIAA Track and Field Championships. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Reich placed first in preliminaries with a time of 16.41.

“The question was, for her mentally, can she get back to states,” Slippery Rock coach Tom Meling said. “She was so efficient in practice the last two weeks, then she went out and ran a very good time in prelims. She carried that confidence into the finals.”

Reich was seeded second entering the meet behind Erie’s Teyaja Carr, who finished runner-up.

Reich’s effort came on a gusty day.

“By the time of the final, it felt like we were running into a headwind,” she said. “It can definitely affect your time, but I think it’s more mental than anything. If the wind is behind you, you’re thinking that it will help and that can work against you.”

Slippery Rock has a decorated tradition in the hurdle events, on both the girls and boys side. Reich was part of extending that reputation.

Also medaling in the 100s were teammates Shareen Thangiah (third) and Rhenna Humphery (sixth). In the 300 hurdles, Thangiah was second, Reich fourth and Humphery sixth.

Related Article: WPIAL track and field: Butler’s Aubrey Rock defends pole vault gold; Seneca Valley’s Gavin Skarbek realizes 400 dreams

“We’re all best friends and want to see each other succeed,” Reich said. “I’m proud of those girls.”

District 10 Track and Field Championships Results

Boys Class 2A

(Top 2 automatically qualify for states)

800 run: 4-Hunter Doerflinger 2:04.57

4x400 relay: 5-Slippery Rock (H. Doerflinger, D. Joyce, A. Patsilevas, J. Tustin) 3:33.17

Long jump: 8-Dustin Joyce 21-6.5*

Triple jump: 3-Dustin Joyce 43-7

Girls Class 3A

(Winner automatically qualifies for states)

4x800 relay: 3-Slippery Rock (R. FaJohn, L. Perez, T. Szymanski, K. Yeager) 10.04.62

100 hurdles: 1-Aiva Reich 16.40; 3-Shareen Thangiah 17.27; 6-Rhenna Humphery 17.75

1,600 run: 2-Kasey Yeager 5:31.93; 5-Tessa Szymanski 5:34.89

400 relay: 5-Slippery Rock (S. Montgomery, A. Reich, S. Thangiah, M. Gearhart) 52.86

300 hurdles: 2-Shareen Thangiah 48.87; 4-Aiva Reich 50.70; 6-Rhenna Humphery 51.35

800 run: 2-Kasey Yeager 2:32.60; 4-Raely FaJohn 2:33.95

3,200 run: 4-Tessa Szymanski 12:12.91

4x400 relay: 5-Slippery Rock (R. FaJohn, A. Reich, S. Thangiah, M. Gearhart) 4:31.03

Javelin: 1-Autumn Christie 110-8; 7-Joann Linn 95-10

High jump: 8-Isilee Whitesides 4-5

Long jump: 3-Samantha Montgomery 17-2

Triple jump: 3-Samantha Montgomery 34-3

Pole vault: 2-Elise DiFrischia 9-6; 7(tie)-Naima Trufley 8-6

*State qualifying performance

More in Sports

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS