Chilling wind challenges track and field athletes throughout Fort LeBoeuf Invitational

WATERFORD ― No athlete, coach or spectator was spared bone-chilling wind that rarely eased throughout Saturday's Fort LeBoeuf Invitational.

Even when clouds finally gave way to mostly sunny skies, the numbing gusts never let up at Carm Bonito Field. Average wind speed around Erie was 14.3 mph, according to data from the National Weather Service in Cleveland, with a highest sustained wind speed of 29 mph and gusts up to 47 mph.

"This was the worst wind I've jumped in that I can remember," Seneca's Reed Yost said.

When Yost said jumped, he meant as a pole vaulter. The former PIAA qualifier and his fellow competitors had valid reasons to be wary of that specific weather condition because of the inherent dangers of that event.

Yost, though, did more than persevere. The senior's most successful attempt, an even 13 feet, held up for first place.

Yost's warmup session was one long trial and error, with an emphasis on the error. He tried various techniques during his runway approaches to account for the crosswind.

"It was nice to win, but I was looking for something better (than 13 feet)," Yost said. "It's so tough to pole vault in 20 mile-per-hour wind."

Yost qualified for the 2023 PIAA track and field meet at Shippensburg University. He was the eighth and final medalist in the Class 2A boys pole vault at 13-3.

McDowell's Sophia Ginader, at 9-6, was the meet's female titlist.

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Successful sisters

The McDowell boys and LeBoeuf girls were team titlists for Saturday's event.

McDowell totaled 82 points, four more than Mercyhurst Prep and the Bison.

Camden Pierce and Kamden Kramer each were gold medalists as individuals and with relays.

Pierce won the 800 meters in 2 minutes, 5.58 seconds and Kramer the 1,600 in 4:47.95. The distance specialists for the Trojans also joined Deacon Pierce and Anthony Roberts for first place in the 3,200 relay (8:53.21).

LeBoeuf's girls topped second-place Meadville (81½) and third-place Cathedral Prep (74).

Sisters Ella and Hailey Corritore were notable contributors to the comfortable margin of victory for the Bison. Ella was an individual winner in the 110 hurdles (15.35) and Hailey in the triple jump (35-2½).

Saturday was the final time the Corritores will appear in LeBoeuf's annual meet, which was held for the third time since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. They were grateful to compete in each of them, and with each other.

"Seeing (Ella) win pushes me," Hailey Corritore said. "Seeing her win the hurdles (Saturday) makes me want to win the triple (jump) at districts."

Although the Corritores plan to compete in track and field at the next level, it would be with a program that doesn't immediately come to mind.

The sisters were recently accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. The Division III Bears compete in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference.

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'Wind made me faster'

Although the wind was an overall nuisance, it was a perk for participants in one particular event. The 100-meter sprinters enjoyed a significant tailwind when they blazed north to south on the front straightaway.

Mercyhurst Prep star Camden Bryant and Northwestern newcomer Savannah Zietz won their respective championship races.

Bryant won the boys final at 10.97. The senior, a Slippery Rock University recruit, also finished first in the 200 at 22.85.

"The wind was definitely helping me," Bryant said. "I was standing straight up and wasn't breaking my form. That was part of the plan, but the wind just made me faster."

Wind or not, the fact Bryant cracked the 11-second barrier so early this spring was a great sign. He didn't accomplish that until late last season.

Zietz, in her first major varsity meet, won the girls 100 in 12.82. The Northwestern freshman also was the bronze medalist for the 200 (27.94) behind Fort LeBoeuf's Alena Urbanowicz (27.24) and Union City's Ava Reagle (27.65).

Zietz's 100 time was roughly .3 of second slower than her 12.5-second time earlier this month.

Make that a school-record time of 12.5.

"I'd like to get a 12.3 this season," Zietz said, "but I'm just hoping to get better and better in each of these meets."

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Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: McDowell boys, Fort LeBoeuf girls win Waterford PA track & field meet