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Conemaugh Township girls earn Heritage Conference track and field championship

adam ripple, the daily american
·4 min read

ARMAGH — For the third consecutive year, the Conemaugh Township girls track and field team captured a conference championship.

In its first season in the Heritage Conference, Conemaugh Township outclassed the competition, tallying 120 points to best Cambria Heights (102) and River Valley (77) on Tuesday at United High School.

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"As a first-year head coach with the girls, Tracy Durica has done a great job with them," said Conemaugh Township boys' coach Anthony Dean-Neil. "Collectively, as a staff, everyone has done an excellent job this season for both programs."

Junior Izzy Slezak led the way for Conemaugh Township. She won the 100- and 200-meter dash and was a member of the victorious 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

"I'm just really super proud of my team because everyone is pulling through with PRs," Slezak said. "I am having a lot of fun. It's all new, but it has been a great day. I am feeling really good going into districts and want to run even better there."

Slezak claimed the 100 dash over Portage's Cami Burkett in 12.04. She bested Burkett by more than a second in the 200 with a time of 25.00.

Conemaugh Township's Danika Black, left, reaches back to take the handoff from Ellie Speigle in the girls 4x100 relay at the Heritage Conference track and field championships, May 7, in Armagh.
Conemaugh Township's Danika Black, left, reaches back to take the handoff from Ellie Speigle in the girls 4x100 relay at the Heritage Conference track and field championships, May 7, in Armagh.

The 4x100 team of Slezak, Layla Overly, Ellie Speigle and Danika Black dusted the field by nearly three seconds, finishing in 51.41. Slezak, Speigle, Black and Briar Berkey brought home another convincing win in the 4x400 with a time of 4:16.79.

Sophomore Baylee Sleek earned first and set a new meet record in the high jump with a leap of 5-4. She also finished second in the 100 hurdles.

"The girls hammered along," Dean-Neil said. "They put up points left and right. The girls, especially in the 4x400, they went to work and collected the rent. Izzy did a great job. Baylee did a phenomenal job as well. That collective group of girls did a wonderful job. This team has a chance to win a district title next week."

On the boys' side, United (118 points) topped Conemaugh Township (87) and Northern Cambria (80).

Conemaugh Township's Jackson Sotosky clears the bar in the boys high jump at the Heritage Conference track and field championships, May 7, in Armagh.
Conemaugh Township's Jackson Sotosky clears the bar in the boys high jump at the Heritage Conference track and field championships, May 7, in Armagh.

It was a big day for Conemaugh Township junior Jackson Sotosky. He won the high jump with a PR of 6-5, claimed top honors in the long jump (20-08.00) and triple jump (41-11.25).

"I was really nervous coming into this because it's a new conference with new people," Sotosky said. "I knew there were four really good people in the high jump. I came out, got a PR, did the best of my ability and it worked out.

"My coach always makes me practice higher heights in practice. I get nervous because I don't expect to do it in a meet. My prior PR in the high jump was 6-2, so even getting that 6-3, I was pumped. Getting 6-5, it was because of all that practice."

The 4x100 relay team of Garrett Tunstall, Liam Dean-Neil, Jon Updyke and Cameron Dunn ran a 44.99 to take top honors. Tunstall, Dunn and Updyke were a part of a PIAA Class 2A championship squad along with Ethan Black. Dean-Neil filled in for Dillon Defibaugh on Tuesday, but the team did not miss a beat.

Dunn was the surprise of the day for Conemaugh Township, winning the 100-meter dash in 10.87.

"I ran well in the trials for the 100. I wasn't expecting to win it, just place," the junior said. "My start wasn't great, but I gained on them and went from there.

"We have a lot of pressure on us because we won states last year in the 4x100. We trust ourselves, though, and we just want to go out there and win."

Coach Dean-Neil believes the boys are trending in the right direction ahead of the District 5 Class 2A championships next Wednesday at Northern Bedford County.

"I saw a lot of perseverance, especially with the boys," Dean-Neil said. "Everybody just bought in. Once the team started believing in itself, the sky is the limit."

Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on X @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Conemaugh Township girls win Heritage Conference track and field title