NATF Rolls To Victory At WPIAL Class AAA Team Semifinals
The North Allegheny boys’ and girls’ track and field teams romped the competition at the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals on Thursday afternoon to advance to the WPIAL finals next week. The NA Boys topped Central Catholic (135-15), Hampton (123-27) and Baldwin (114-36). The Lady Tigers defeated Upper St. Clair (129-21), Hempfield (93-57) and Hampton (140.5-9.5).
Steering the NA Boys toward victory were first-place performances by senior A.J. Foulk (100m Hurdles and 300m Hurdles), sophomore Jack Bertram (1600m Run and 800m Run), sophomore Zach Nash (200m Dash and 400m Dash), senior Nicholas Butler (3200m Run), senior Owen Curran (High Jump), senior Ryan Handron (Pole Vault), sophomore Nicholas Humphries (Long Jump), sophomore Jacob Yu (Triple Jump) and senior Kaden Velasquez (Shot Put). The relay teams in the 4×100 and 4×400 also claimed gold.
Taking silver for the NA Boys were junior Michael Gauntner (1600m Run), senior Jackson Pajak (800m Run), sophomore Dylan Langdon (High Jump), senior Dylan Murray (Triple Jump), Velasquez (Discus) and sophomore Jack Yatchenko (Shot Put). The 4×800 relay team also finished in second place.
Third-place efforts were turned in by Curran (100m Hurdles), sophomore Ben Hickel (300m Hurdles), sophomore Greg Abel (800m Run), senior Joey Rempe (3200m Run), Murray (High Jump and Long Jump), junior Nathan Slade (Pole Vault) and Yatchenko (Discus).
For the Lady Tigers, impressive first-place performances were delivered by senior Lucia Wells (100m Dash), sophomore Robin Kucler (1600m Run), sophomore Isabella Costa (400m Dash and Long Jump), sophomore Wren Kucler (800m Run), freshman Maya Currie (200m Dash), senior Grace Rowley (3200m Run), freshman Lindsay Breneman (Tied for 1st in Pole Vault), senior Ava Como (Tied for 1st in Pole Vault) and senior Alaina Fantaski (Javelin Throw). Relay teams in the 4×800, 4×100 and 4×400 also took first place.
Grabbing silver were junior Eva Kynaston (1600m Run), freshman Mackenzie Winning (400m Dash), junior Erin McGoey (3200m Run), Costa (High Jump), Como (Triple Jump) and sophomore Jamie Frisco (Shot Put).
Bronze medals went to senior Rachael Johns (100m Hurdles), senior Arianna Tegtmeier (100m Dash and 300m Hurdles), Robin Kucler (800m Run), sophomore Camille Swirsding (3200m Run), junior Sophie Aglietti (Pole Vault) and Frisco (Javelin Throw).
North Allegheny will take part in the Pine-Richland Invitational on Friday in a final tune-up for WPIAL team championships on Tuesday at West Mifflin High School.