Seneca Valley's Sam Owori runs a leg of the 4x800 relay for the Raiders. Seneca Valley's boys won the program's first-ever WPIAL Class AAA team title at Baldwin High School.

WHITEHALL — Members of the Seneca Valley boys track and field team mobbed coach Ray Peaco at the 50-yard line at Baldwin High School.

Peaco was lost for words.

For the first time in school history, the Raiders were the king of the WPIAL Class AAA track mountain.

“It means the world to these guys,” Peaco said, gazing over at his team, who were pumping fists, raising the trophy and smiling from frozen ear to frozen ear on a chilly Monday night. “Can you tell?”

It wasn't easy.

Seneca Valley edged North Allegheny, 80-65, and also beat Norwin (86-59) and Baldwin (101½-43½) to claim its first title.

“They've been great all year long,” Peaco said. “Great programs here. North Allegheny and their tradition, Norwin and their tradition, Baldwin and their tradition. To come in here and to be able to win the thing today against such great teams, we're truly blessed.”

The Raiders dominated the field events with five overall winners.

Matt Sloan won both the high jump with a personal-best effort of 6 feet, 1 inch and also won the triple jump with a season-best 42 feet, 10¾ inches.

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