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Tornado squads run past foes, capture crowns

Butler's Tara Lowe won the 100-meter dash in 13.01 seconds Wednesday at the WPIAL Class AAA team track semifinals. The Golden Tornado beat Knoch, Derry and Oakland Catholic to reach next week's finals.

BUTLER TWP — The Butler boys anticipated a battle and got one.

The Butler girls? Not so much.

At the WPIAL Class AAA track team semifinals, the Golden Tornado boys found themselves in a dogfight with Knoch, Greensburg Salem and Central Catholic with five events remaining.

However, Butler's depth and Logan Renwick's most extensive action of the season proved to be the difference as the Tornado downed Knoch (82-68), Central Catholic (83½-66½) and Greensburg Salem (96-54) at Art Bernardi Stadium.

They will be joined by the Butler girls, who cruised past Derry (131 1/3-18 2/3), Oakland Catholic (134-16) and Knoch (108-42).

"It was just a phenomenal meet," said Butler boys coach Rick Schontz. "We knew it would be a nail-biter."

Renwick, who suffered a pulled hamstring in the first week of practice, has slowly worked himself back into form.

He won the 300 hurdles with a time of 39.41 seconds and won the long jump with an effort of 21 feet, 10½ inches.

He finished second overall in the high jump, although he equaled the top height of 6-0, and was runner-up in the triple jump.

"That was the first time all year he ran the 300," said Schontz. "He ran just under 40. That's unbelievable."

Also for Butler, Eli Christy won the 400 (50.92), Evan Gomez the 800 (2:02.38), Dylan O'Donnell the shot put (50-9¼), Adam Marzullo the pole vault (13-6) and the 3,200 relay.

"We had some big-time performances," Schonz said. "The kids did not want to bring anything back into the locker room. They wanted to leave it on the track."

The Knoch boys had only one overall winner, the 1,600 relay team, but it was the Knights who gave the Tornado their closest meet.

"The boys performed well and went after it," said Knoch boys coach Wess Brahler. "That's all you can ask."

The Knights came up short against Central Catholic, falling in a tight 77-73 decision, but edged Greensburg Salem 79-71.

The Butler girls used wins from Paige Rittelmann (high jump), Meghan Studds (long jump), Bri Lumley (shot put) and Marina Gracik (javelin) in the field events to pull away.

"We couldn't take it lightly," said Tornado girls coach Annessa Schnur. "The girls were ready to go."

Katresa Savisky (800), Tara Lowe (100) and Jasmine Bailey (400) each won their respective events, as well as having a hand in winning relays.

Ashton Dolan easily captured the 3,200 run to give the Tornado girls 11 wins in the 18 events.

"This is only the eighth meet we've scored since December," said Schnur. "We wanted to be pretty cautious (with the Baldwin Invitational Friday, qualifiers Tuesday and team finals next Thursday). We'll taper when we need to taper and turn it on when we need to turn it on."

Knoch's girls got first-place finishes from Regina Robb in the 300 hurdles, Allyson Cress in the discus and the 1,600 relay.

The Knights beat Derry 79-65 and Oakland Catholic 104-45.

BoysButler 82, Knoch 68Butler 96, Greensburg Salem 54Butler 83

½

, Central Catholic 66

½

Knoch 79, Greensburg Salem 71Central Catholic 77, Knoch 73Cent. Cath. 87, Greensburg Salem 63Track Events

3,200-meter relay: Butler 8:56.95;

110 hurdles: Kaylor (GS) 16.42;

100 dash: McCune (CC) 11.78;

1,600 run: Gasior (CC) 4:34.24;

400 dash: Eli Christy (B) 50.92;

400 relay: Central Catholic 44.18;

300-meter hurdles: Logan Renwick (B) 39.41;

800-meter run: Evan Gomez (B) 2:02.38;

200-meter dash: McCune (CC) 23.49;

3,200-meter run: Short (CC) 10:04.37;

1,600-meter relay: Knoch 3:28

Field Events

High jump: Robbins (GCS) 6-0

Long jump: Logan Renwick (SB) 21-10½;

Triple jump: Welch (CC) 45-3;

Shot put: Dylan O'Donnell (B) 50-9¼;

Discus: Monia (GS) 134-0;

Javelin: Ponko (CC) 170-1;

Pole vault: Adam Marzullo (B) 13-6

GirlsButler 108, Knoch 42Butler 131

1/3

, Derry 18

2/3

Butler 134, Oakland Catholic 16Knoch 104, Oakland Catholic 45Knoch 79, Derry 65Derry 92, Oakland Catholic 51Track Events

3,200-meter relay: Butler (Katresa Savisky, Danica Snyder, Trisha Brandt, Emily Petrak) 10:12.39;

100 hurdles: Doaty (OC) 15.59;

100 dash: Tara Lowe (B) 13.01;

1,600 run: Polk (OC) 5:21.94;

400 dash: Jasmine Bailey (B) 1:00.65;

400 relay: Butler (Paige Allen, Tara Lowe, Katelyn Wetzel, Jasmine Bailey) 49.7;

300 hurdles: Regina Robb (K) 48.29;

800 run: Katresa Savisky (B) 2:29.26;

200 dash: Samantha Logan (K) 26.65;

3,200 run: Ashton Dolan (B) 12:29.94;

1,600 relay: Knoch 4;10.09

Field Events

High jump: Paige Rittelmann (B) 5-0;

Long jump: Meghan Studds (B) 16-7Z\v;

Triple jump: Smith (B) 34-7½;

Shot put: Bri Lumley (B) 41-2¼;

Discus: Allyson Cress (K) 104-2;

Javelin: Marina Gracik (B) 112-2;

Pole vault: Palenchar (D) 9-6

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