ON TOP AGAIN

Butler boys earn WPIAL 3A team track and field title

May 07, 2024 Last Updated: May 08, 2024 01:00 PM Sports

Members of Butler’s boys track and field team celebrate after receiving the WPIAL Class 3A team championship trophy at West Mifflin High School on Tuesday. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

WEST MIFFLIN — Butler was prepared for a meet that could come down to the very last event, but it was decided long before that.

The Golden Tornado boys track and field team earned first place overall in 10 of 18 events and Butler claimed the 11th WPIAL team championship in program history with victories over North Allegheny (97-53), Norwin (92-58) and Penn-Trafford (98-52).

“On paper, this was supposed to be a close meet. All four teams were very balanced,” said Butler coach Mike Seybert. “But a lot of times, it comes down to which team is most hungry and our guys were hungry today.”

Tornado senior Drew Griffith won the 3,200 run, 1,600 run, 800 run and was the anchor to the Tornado’s winning 4x800 relay to begin the meet.

“The plan was for me to run four events today,” said Griffith. “If we had everything locked up before (the 3,200), I would have pulled out of it, but I wasn’t coming out until we had the title clinched.

“It was definitely tough out there, a hot day,” he said of running a combined 6,400 meters, “but it’s nothing a couple good nights worth of sleep can’t fix.”

Butler won team championships here in 2021 and 2022. The Tornado made it to the title meet last year, but did not take home the crown.

“We had such a strong team my sophomore year, then were rebuilding last year,” said Griffith. “To help the team bring the title back to Butler, it’s a special feeling.”

Seybert was ecstatic after watching the 4x800 team win and Landon Lacey, David Graef and Kevin Shriver place first, second and fourth overall, respectively, in the 100 dash.

“Our relay and sprinters set the tone,” he said. “The 4x8 goes sub-8 minutes. All four (Owen Dressler, Logan Rogers, Drew Knight and Griffith) each went two minutes or faster, which is incredible.

“All three of our guys in the 100 went 11 (seconds) and something. We were hitting on all cylinders right from the start.”

Butler swept the jumps thanks to Orein McBride-Cager (high jump and long jump) and Ayden Davis (triple jump).

McBride-Cager has been a consistent point scorer since coming on late in the season last spring. He has gone as high as 6-5 in the high jump and 21-6.25 in the long jump.

“I think the events are pretty equal for me right now, but the high jump is still my favorite because I picked it up first,” said McBride-Cager. “I scored 10 points for the team today and it feels good to help us win.”

Girls

North Catholic had one overall winner — Aniela Balog in the long jump — as the Trojanettes dropped decisions to Norwin (120-30), North Allegheny (113-31) and Mt. Lebanon (116-34).

The 4x800 relay team finished second, but in doing so, broke the school record for the second time in the span of a week. The foursome of Gracie Plastino, Grace Lazzara, Sydney Dunn and Madeline Meeuf finished in 9:28.32.

“We ran a 9:55 here at Tri-States last month and that was a school record,” said North distance coach Tim Souders. “Then we went 9:35 in the semis last week.

“Gracie dropped three seconds from her split time today and Madeline dropped four. We’re ranked sixth in the state in that event right now. Our goal is to challenge for a WPIAL title and place at states.”

North Allegheny won the girls championship.

Boys

Butler 98, Penn-Trafford 52

Butler 92, Norwin 58

Butler 97, North Allegheny 53

3,200 relay: Butler (Owen Dressler, Logan Rogers, Drew Knight, Drew Griffith) 7:57.88; 110 hurdles: Schiller (N) 14.74; 100 dash: Landon Lacey (B) 11.0; 1,600 run: Drew Griffith (B) 4:17.88; 400 run: Denny (N) 50.15; 400 relay: Butler (Logan Ekas, Kevin Shriver, David Graef, Landon Lacey) 42.43; 300 hurdles: Schiller (N) 39.66; 800 run: Drew Griffith (B); 200 dash: David Graef (B) 22.16; 3,200 run: Drew Griffith (B) 9:40.74; 1,600 relay: Norwin 3:24.72

Shot put: Jack Yatchenko (NA) 52-1.5; Discus: Matthew Sarnowski (PT) 151-11; Javelin: Logan Kerstetter (PT) 166-8; High jump: Orein McBride-Cager (B) 6-2.5; Long jump: Orein McBride-Cager (B) 21-6; Triple jump: Ayden Davis (B) 43-6.5; Pole vault: Zach Duckworth (NA) 14-0