Butler senior Maggie Welty broke the school record in the 1,600-meter run Friday at the Baldwin Invitational with a time of 5 minutes, 6.42 seconds. Welty had long wanted the mark, set by Danica Snyder in 2011. The Golden Tornado girls also won the team title at Baldwin with the boys placing third.

BUTLER TWP — It's a time Maggie Welty has had on her mind for the better part of four years.

It's consumed her. Motivated her. Driven her to get better each time the senior's cleats touched the Butler High School track.

The time: 5 minutes, 6.88 seconds. It was a school record in the 1,600-meter run set by Danica Snyder in 2011.

Welty broke the mark Friday night at the Baldwin Invitational, finishing at 5:06.42.

“I don't think I've ever seen her happier,” said Butler girls track and field coach John Williams.

That's because Welty had finally done it after nearly four seasons of trying.

Welty, though, has plans to make the 1,600 record pretty hard to break.

Her goal is to notch a time under 5 minutes before the season is over.

Welty's school record was one of many highlights for both the Butler girls and boys track and field teams at Baldwin.

The Golden Tornado placed first. The Butler boys placed third and the Golden Tornado also won the combined title.

The Butler girls have the team finals Monday against North Allegheny, Norwin and Hempfield.

The Butler boys are also in the team finals Monday against the same three teams.

A full story appears in the Butler Eagle.