At virtually every major invitational track meet, there is a conversation about how the most valuable performer awards were determined. It’s nothing new – coaches have been raising the same question for decades.
There were questions again at the recent MAC Championships, held at Shenango’s Frank Bongivengo Field at Glenn “Pop” Johnston Stadium. The awards were officially presented to Central Valley seniors Paige Drake and Donovan Johnson, who each won the 100 and 200 meters individually and both were also members of the winning 400 relay team.
However, the combined MVP honor (if there was one) likely belonged to Drake’s pink hooded “snuggie” which was used by both riders in what could be described as miserable weather conditions. The temperature never exceeded 43 degrees, most of the competition took place with temperatures in the 30s and the wind was a constant challenge at Bongivengo Field.
“You don’t adjust your goals despite the weather,” said Drake, who also finished second in the long jump – a new event for her this year. “The biggest challenge for me was the long jump because it was new to me, but the competition here was really good.”
Johnson also didn’t let the weather change his goals, keeping warm heading into his heats with the same snuggie.
“It’s great to compete here against some top competitors,” said Johnson, who also finished fourth in the long jump. “Everyone has to face the same weather conditions and this level of competition. I even set a personal best in the 100.”
The MAC Championships marked the start of a week of major invitational tournaments as athletes begin to prepare for the WPIAL Individual Championships at Slippery Rock University on May 18. Over the weekend, local teams dispersed, with some traveling to the Mars Invitational, the Hermitage Invitational, the South Fayette Invitational, and the Tri-County Championships, also held in Shenango. All had much better weather conditions.
There will still be a handful of smaller “last chance” encounters as athletes battle to qualify for the peloton at Slippery Rock, but, for those who depend on competition juices to bring out their best numbers, the weekend -end was the best opportunity – and the weather cooperated. If the pink snuggie makes an appearance now, it will be like a lucky charm.
Cali Legezin (javelin) from Beaver Falls, Moon juniors Tyler Chapelle (800) and Jacob Puhalla (1600 and triple jump), Quaker Valley senior Kadin Johnson (200), West Allegheny junior Kaitlyn Eger (pole vault), teams Moon boys 3200 and girls 1600 relay team and the West Allegheny boys 1600 relay team.
In South Fayette, Drake won the long jump, was second in the 100, third in the 200 and the 400 relay team was second. Jones won the 200m, was second in the 100m while setting a personal best, and the team in the 400m relay also won a gold medal.
In March, West Allegheny had two girls win gold – Eger again won the pole vault and teammate Sydney Watters, a senior, won the high jump.
In Hermitage, the Beaver Boys 3200 relay team won the gold medal.
The West Allegheny girls won the team gold medal at the MAC Championships, with the Quaker Valley girls finishing second and Moon finishing second on the boys side.
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING SOON
These team stats will become more important over the next week as nine home teams prepare for the team playoffs which begin on Tuesday. In Class 3A, the Blackhawk boys and girls will compete in Butler with the host team and Franklin Regional as competition. One team will qualify for the WPIAL Tag Team Championships in West Mifflin on May 11.
In Class 2A, the boys and girls of Riverside have qualified and will host from 3:00 p.m. The boys will face New Brighton, Carlynton, Deer Lakes and North Catholic. The girls will face Carlynton, Eden Christian and North Catholic.
Both Hopewell teams have also qualified and will travel to Shenango. South Side also qualified on the boys side and will face the Vikings, Fort Cherry, Shady Side and the host team (Shenango). On the girls’ side, the Vikings will face Derry, Shady Side and the host.
Th Quaker Valley girls have also qualified and will face Brownsville, Southmoreland, Waynesburg and host South Park. As with Class 3A, only one team will advance from each venue, but the 2A Championship will take place at Peters Township on Wednesday.
The athletes from those teams who warmed up for the team competition with the best performances over the past week are junior Blackhawk Ethan Papa, who won gold in the 3200 at the MAC and senior Blackhawk Casey Nixon, who used to win on the basketball court, finished second in the discus and shot put at South Fayette.
In Class 2A, the Riverside girls will be led by rookie Callie Wetzel (MAC 100 hurdles gold) and senior Sydney Hale (MAC discus gold) while junior Aiden Wetzel won gold for the Panthers boys in the high jump. Hopewell senior Matt Essey won the long jump at South Fayette and Quaker Valley junior Nora Johns won the 300 hurdles at the MAC.