McDowell boys have electric effort in school's first night track and field meet

The day was different with the latest Joe Sanford’s McDowell Track and Field Invitational.

McDowell's meet, held on a Friday for the first time in its 36-year history, began at 3 p.m. Normally, that’s around the time that varsity competition is headed into its homestretch.

Going forward, such traits are what Trojans coach Joe Yuhas has in mind for the event. The last 3½ hours of the competition was held with the lights on at Gus Anderson Field.

Ready, set, lights on: McDowell Track and Field Invitational set for finish at night

However, what was familiar to the athletes, coaches and fans during Friday’s meet were less-than-ideal weather conditions.

Sporadic rain and a pervasive wind were a constant throughout the meet. Temperatures were in the low 40s by the time the McDowell boys won the 1,600-meter relay, the meet’s last event.

The weather also forced the pole vault and high jump competitions to be moved indoors.

All events and the meet did conclude, though, and with a notable result for the hosts.

Preseason: Watch for these 42 returning runners, jumpers and throwers in District 10 track and field

The Trojans, by winning the boys 1,600 relay, clinched first place in the team standings. They compiled 173 points to Seneca’s 103.

DuBois, one of three District 9 schools that participated, totaled 116⅔ points atop the girls standings. McDowell was second with 103⅓.

Mattern excels outside normal PIAA races

Christian Mattern was a vital reason why the McDowell boys won Friday’s team title.

Mattern won the individual 3,200 meters with a notable kick on the final straightaway. The senior completed his eight laps in 9 minutes, 49.08 seconds to the 9:49.88 of Bradford’s Manny Diaz.

Mattern also was the bronze medalist for the boys 1,600. McDowell teammate Kamden Kramer won it in 4:31.73.

That duo also comprised the first two legs of the Trojans’ first-place 3,200 relay. Nicolin Pierce and anchor Deacon Pierce were the other half of their gold-medal time of 8:32.43.

One race Mattern didn’t win Friday, because it wasn’t held, was the 2,000 steeplechase. Gus Anderson’s track doesn’t have a water pit because it’s not a PIAA-sanctioned event.

However, varsity runners are allowed to compete in such a race if a facility has one. That was the case last weekend at Slippery Rock University, which hosted a varsity meet at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

McDowell competed in that weather-shortened event. Mattern, with a time of 6:23.18, won the boys steeplechase before the meet’s early end.

Preparing for and winning such a seldom-held event isn’t as extreme as it sounds, according to the Trojans’ distance specialist.

“Bottom line is it’s still running,” he said. “I train for it like I would if it were a (3,200). I might throw in some hurdle drills just to loosen up the hips and get the form right, but not much changes. It’s still endurance running.”

While the Trojans won six of Friday’s track events, which included a sweep of the relays, they also had multiple field victors. Ray Jackson finished first in the triple jump at 42 feet, 7 inches and Christian Santiago in the javelin with a toss at an even 163.

Lakers' Bryant among two-time victors

McDowell’s Benny and Leonardo Whitaker were the respective silver medalists for the boys 100 and 200 finals.

Camden Bryant was the reason they didn’t win those sprint races.

Bryant, a Mercyhurst Prep junior, was the champ of each despite a time-sapping headwind. His low time in the 100 was 11.27 and 23.33 in the 200.

“Given the conditions, I thought the time (for the 100) was a good time,” Bryant said.

Bryant was denied the trophy for the meet’s best male runner by another two-time winner.

That award went to Seneca senior Ryan Miller. The Mercyhurst University football recruit swept his specialty races, the 110 hurdles in 15.85 and the 300 hurdles in 41.89.

Harbor Creek’s Nick Krahe was the meet’s male MVP for field events. The senior, a West Virginia University football recruit, had first-place heaves of 54-6 in the shot put and 132-11 in the discus.

Freshmen females among county winners

DuBois, along with its first-place performance in the girls team standings, also returned home knowing the meet’s best track and field athletes were on its bus.

Morgan Roemer was the track MVP based on her individual victories in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. Beavers teammate Lauren Stroka was the field MVP as the triple jump gold medalist and long jump silver medalist.

Among Friday’s winners from Erie County were two athletes who made their meet debuts.

Fort LeBoeuf freshman Alena Urbanowicz continued her early success as a sprinter. She won the 100 final at 13.18 and the 200 at 27.07.

Urbanowicz also ran the second leg for the Bison when they won the 400 relay in 52.22. Mackenzie Marsh, Ella McGowan and anchor Emily Samluk were LeBoeuf’s other starters.

More: Some of the top track and field athletes in the state lead way at Fort LeBoeuf Invitational

Angel Troutman also was a first-time meet victor. The Seneca freshman was crowned the champ of the girls long jump with her attempt of 17-¼.

Troutman has been pleasantly surprised with such results in that event.

“I knew that I was fast, but not enough to keep up with these (older runners) in the 100,” she said. “I thought, ‘OK, I’ll try jumping.’ After my first practice, my coaches said they wanted me to do all three (jumping events). Now, my goal is to break the school record, which is 17-7.”

Former Bobcat great Vicki Robinson has held that standard since 1994. She also holds the school records for the girls 100 (12.22) and 200 (25.70) according to its athletic web page.

McDowell meet results

Results for Joe Sanford’s McDowell Track and Field Invitational at Gus Anderson Field. The pole vault and high jump competitions were held indoors because of the weather conditions:

Girls

Team: 1. DuBois (D) 116 2/3, 2. McDowell (Mc) 107 1/3, 3. Bradford (Brad) 93½, 4. Fort LeBoeuf (FL) 89½, 5. Meadville (Mv) 70 2/3, 6. Seneca (Sen) 59 2/3, 7. Johnsonburg (J) 57½, 8. Harbor Creek (HC) 42 2/3, 9. Mercyhurst Prep (MP) 20, 10. Union City (UC) 16, 11. Girard (G) 10½, 12. Cathedral Prep (CP) 10, 13. Iroquios (I) 8

100 meters: 1. Alena Urbanowicz (FL) 13.18; 2. Dara Fallon (Mc) 13.24; 3. (tie) Annasophia Stauffer (J) and Emily Samluk (FL) 13.54; 5. Marlaya McCoy (Mv) 13.58; 6. Madi Cowburn (Brad) 13.59; 7. Ava Reagle (UC) 13.71; 8. Aubrey Easterling (MP) 13.84

200: 1. Alena Urbanowicz (FL) 27.07; 2. Annasophia Stauffer (J) 27.54; 3. Abbigail Schleicher (Brad) 27.85; 4. Emily Samluk (FL) 27.86; 5. Ava Reagle (UC) 28.67; 6. Marlaya McCoy (Mv) 28.93; 7. Alexa Sargent (Mc) 28.97; 8. Jessie Aitken (Mv) 29.02

400: 1. Annasophia Stauffer (J) 1:02.76; 2. Leah McFadden (D) 1:03.14; 3. Nicole Wells (D) 1:03.30; 4. Kendel Clark (Mc) 1:04.72; 5. Ava Reagle (UC) 1:05.57; 6. Aubrey Easterling (MP) 1:06.08; 7. Olivia Pikiewicz (Sen) 1:06.36; 8. Gracyn Farr (Mc) 1:07.32

800: 1. Morgan Roemer (D) 2:20.58; 2. Megan Puleio (Mv) 2:21.01; 3. Ella Harrington (MP) 2:36.21; 4. Korie Dixon (Brad) 2:37.00; 5. Ashley Post (Sen) 2:37.65; 6. Eva Reilly (HC) 2:40.81; 7. Olivia Dressler (D) 2:44.83; 8. Samantha Clemente (Mc) 2:49.02

1,600: 1. Morgan Roemer (D) 5:27.24; 2. Megan Puleio (Mv) 5:30.49; 3. Hayden Palmer (Mc) 5:35.80; 4. Caitlyn Taylor (Brad) 5:45.96; 5. Ashley Post (Sen) 5:48.68; 6. Alivia Hetrick (FL) 5:50.53; 7. Devyn Agnello (G) 5:51.22; 8. Ellie Brugger (CP) 5:53.40

3,200: 1. Morgan Roemer (D) 11:41.72; 2. Hannah Palmer (Mc) 11:48.59; 3. Hayden Palmer (Mc) 12:22.88; 4. Brooke Hudnall (Mc) 12:31.50; 5. Veronica Brewer (HC) 12:44.47; 6. Ashley Post (Sen) 12:47.83; 7. Sidney Beers (D) 12:53.11; 8. Maria Megill-Herrera (Mv) 12:53.43

400 relay: 1. Fort LeBoeuf (Mackenzie Marsh, Alena Urbanowicz, Ella McGowan, Emily Samluk) 52.22; 2. Bradford 52.40; 3. Meadville 53.34; 4. McDowell 53.56; 5. Mercyhurst Prep 54.48; 6. Seneca 54.68; 7. DuBois 55.22; 8. Johnsonburg 55.33

1,600 relay: 1. Bradford (Emma Swanson, Isabella Prince, Korie Dixon, Abbigail Schleicher) 4:21.40; 2. DuBois 4:28.07; 3. McDowell 4:29.42; 4. Mercyhurst Prep 4:31.74; 5. Seneca 4:36.99; 6. Johnsonburg 4:41.60; 7. Iroquois 4:46.96; 8. Girard 4:51.94

3,200 relay: 1. Meadville (Camryn Guffey, Abigail Knapka, Maria Megill-Herrera, Hannah Lyons) 10:25.17; 2. Seneca 10:35.28; 3. McDowell 10:37.35; 4. DuBois 10:40.92; 5. Iroquois 10:57.77; 6. Cathedral Prep 11:20.15; 7. Harbor Creek 11:27.56; 8. Mercyhurst Prep 11:48.16

100 hurdles: 1. Alexia Corignani (Brad) 16.53; 2. Kamryn Fontaine (D) 17.18; 3. Kelcie Little (Brad) 17.61; 4. Marley Rodax (Mv) 17.83; 5. Destiny Miller (HC) 17.95; 6. Jessica Messenger (UC) 18.27; 7. (tie) Abbie McCoy (D) and Kennedy Gunn (Mv) 18.36

300 hurdles: 1. Morgan Wilhelm (Sen) 49.97; 2. Kamryn Fontaine (D) 50.22; 3. Emma Swanson (Brad) 50.36; 4. Maddy Macafee (J) 51.79; 5. Abbie McCoy (D) 52.79; 6. Jessica Messenger (UC) 53.07; 7. Madison Chew (I) 53.13; 8. Marley Rodax (Mv) 55.05

Long jump: 1. Angel Troutman (Sen) 17-¼, 2. Lauren Stroka (D) 15-11½, 3. Peyton Grimm (D) 15-7; 4. Lily Polk (G) 15-3; 5. Hailey Corritore (FL) 15-1½, 6. Ava DeAngelo (HC) 15-1; 7. Alaina Kuhn (Mc) 14-10; 8. Joslyn Schnell (Mc) 14-9½

Triple jump: 1. Lauren Stroka (D) 34-3; 2. Hailey Corritore (FL) 34-½; 3. Ava DeAngelo (HC) 32-6; 4. Lora Nikolova (Mc) 31-11; 5. Kayla Germanoski (Mv) 31-4; 6. Joslyn Schnell (Mc) 31-2½; 7. Kayla Baker (Mv) 30-7; 8. Eliana Curcio (Brad) 30-5½

High jump: 1. Macy Testa (Mc) 4-10; 2. Madelyn Crabtree (D) 4-9; 3. (tie) Millie Hinds (Sen) and Eliana Curcio (Brad) 4-7; 6. (eight-way tie) Alexa Pawlak and Jessica Hetz (Mc), Haylee Hilliard (D), Olivia Swinarski (HC) Lilah Hetherington (Sen), Kayla Germanoski (Mv), Kelcie Little (Brad) and Anastasia Super (G) 4-5

Shot put: 1. Kelsie Skinner (FL) 30-1½; 2. Olivia Janukites (HC) 29-11; 3. Camryn Tilford (Brad) 29-3; 4. Ella Lindberg (J) 28-7; 5. Joyce O’Neal (Sen) 28-1; 6. Samiyah Chambers (Mv) 27-8; 7. (tie) Bailey Janukites (HC) and Sophia Asp (Brad) 27-3

Discus: 1. Ella Lindberg (J) 98-0; 2. Bailey Janukites (HC) 92-7; 3. Kalie Dixon (Brad) 86-11; 4. (tie) Camryn Tilford and Sophia Asp (Brad) 86-3; 6. Joyce O’Neal (Sen) 80-1; 7. Olivia Janukites (HC) 77-8; 8. (tie) McKayla Roberts and Payton Costello (Mv) 75-0

Javelin: 1. Alaina Sherry (J) 103-7; 2. Katelynn Olmstead (FL) 98-4; 3. Caroline Lewis (Mc) 97-9; 4. Morgan McKinnon (FL) 96-3; 5. Kelsie Skinner (FL) 94-8; 6. Sydney Burchard (Mv) 89-9; 7. Alexandra Gallagher (Mv) 85-6; 8. Kalie Dixon (Brad) 82-5

Pole vault: 1. Mary Stravinsky (Mc) 10-0; 2. (three-way tie) Tatum Gorney (Mv), Brooke Verdecchia (FL) and Sophia Ginader (Mc) 8-6; 5. Madeline Moore (Mc) 8-0; 6. (three-way tie) Madison Ross (HC), Mackenzie Marsh (FL) and Korie Dixon (Brad) 7-6

Spring scoreboard: District 10 baseball, softball, track, more results for April 24-29

Boys

Team: 1. McDowell (Mc) 173, 2. Seneca (Sen) 103, 3. Harbor Creek (HC) 83, 4. Mercyhurst Prep (MP) 73, 5. Fort LeBoeuf (FL) 59, 6. Meadville (Mv) 49, 7. Bradford (Brad) 46, 8. Girard (G) 28, 9. (tie) DuBois (D) and Johnsonburg (J) 27, 11. Union City (UC) 11, 12. Erie High 10, 13. Iroquois (I) 8, 14. Cathedral Prep (CP) 5½

100 meters: 1. Camden Bryant (MP) 11.27; 2. Benny Whitaker (Mc) 11.31; 3. Tyler Storicks (HC) 11.43; 4. Brandon Konieczki (HC) 11.44; 5. Nicholas Williams (Mv) 11.46; 6. Wesley Paris (Sen) 11.54; 7. Leonardo Whitaker (Mc) 11.58; 8. Kameron Bastow (Mc) 11.66

200: 1. Camden Bryant (MP) 23.33; 2. Leonardo Whitaker (Mc) 23.73; 3. Benny Whitaker (Mc) 23.76; 4. Dontae Burnett (Mv) 23.89; 5. Wesley Paris (Sen) 24.36; 6. John Morvay (Sen) 24.38; 7. Kameron Bastow (Mc) 24.62; 8. Zachary Beckwith (UC) 24.64

400: 1. Nicholas Williams (Mv) 52.14; 2. Wesley Paris (Sen) 53.42; 3. Jeremy Ganska (MP) 54.46; 4. Logan Kuhn (I) 54.88; 5. Sam Parente (HC) 55.09; 6. Damian Blose (FL) 55.38; 7. Brayden Friar (Brad) 56.00; 8. Stephen Foster (G) 56.24

800: 1. Nicolin Pierce (Mc) 2:03.09; 2. Deacon Pierce (Mc) 2:06.24; 3. Camden Pierce (Mc) 2:06.85; 4. Aaron Myers (J) 2:07.38; 5. Michael Werner (Sen) 2:10.04; 6. Rudy Williams (D) 2:10.80; 7. Bryce Byram (FL) 2:12.88; 8. Tyler Firman (MP) 2:13.69

1,600: 1. Kamden Kramer (Mc) 4:31.73; 2. Manny Diaz (Brad) 4:35.34; 3. Christian Mattern (Mc) 4:36.91; 4. Logan Byerly (HC 4:47.91; 5. Brady Heeter (Mc) 4:50.33; 6. Michael Werner (Sen) 4:51.54; 7. Eli Rhoades (HC) 4:55.68; 8. Joe Caruso (Brad) 4:56.04

3,200: 1. Christian Mattern (Mc) 9:49.08; 2. Manny Diaz (Brad) 9:49.88; 3. Eli Schreiber (J) 9:58.58; 4. Blake Glass (FL) 10:38.12; 5. Peyton Brewer (HC) 10:41.39; 6. Bryce Byram (FL) 10:41.56; 7. Kyler Woolstrum (Mv) 10:42.37; 8. Camden Pierce (Mc) 10:52.38

400 relay: 1. McDowell (Benny Whitaker, Leonardo Whitaker, Kameron Bastow, Rayjier Jackson) 44.12; 2. Mercyhurst Prep 44.61; 3. Seneca 45.86; 4. DuBois 45.99; 5. Girard 47.16; 6. Meadville 47.65; 7. Johnsonburg 49.04; 8. Iroquois 49.64

1,600 relay: 1. McDowell (Nicolas DeSanto, Carter Bentsen, Nicolin Pierce, Deacon Pierce) 3:44.00; 2. Bradford 3:44.83; 3. Mercyhurst Prep 3:47.37; 4. Girard 3:48.62; 5. Seneca 3:57.02; 6. Cathedral Prep 4:04.02; 7. DuBois 4:04.81

3,200 relay: 1. McDowell (Christian Mattern, Kamden Kramer, Nicolin Pierce, Deacon Pierce) 8:32.43; 2. Fort LeBoeuf 8:42.31; 3. Seneca 8:51.55; 4. Harbor Creek 8:54.09; 5. Mercyhurst Prep 9:01.99; 6. Johnsonburg 9:02.05; 7. Iroquois 9:17.28; 8. Girard 9:32.07

110 hurdles: 1. Ryan Miller (Sen) 15.85; 2. Isaac Conners (MP) 16.62; 3. Dominic Marino (G) 16.70; 4. Kyle Brace (Sen) 16.82; 5. Chase Wineberg (Brad) 17.06; 6. Garett Skinner (FL) 17.12; 7. Logan Kohler (Brad) 17.66; 8. Chase Patterson (G) 17.71

300 hurdles: 1. Ryan Miller (Sen) 41.89; 2. Isaac Conners (MP) 43.54; 3. Zachary Beckwith (UC) 43.71; 4. Dominic Marino (G) 44.29; 5. Kyle Brace (Sen) 44.76; 6. Garett Skinner (FL) 45.45; 7. Daniel Chichava (D) 46.19; 8. Jacob Applebee (MP) 46.45

Long jump: 1. Jason Ellman (MP) 22-8; 2. Rayjier Jackson (Mc) 22-2; 3. Brandon Konieczki (HC) 21-1; 4. Dontae Burnett (Mv) 19-10; 5. James Zigler Jr. (Mc) 19-6; 6. Chase Wineberg (Brad) 19-0; 7. Carter Vos (D) 18-11; 8. Landon Conroe (Sen) 18-

Triple jump: 1. Rayjier Jackson (Mc) 42-7; 2. Artis Simmons (Mc) 40-6½; 3. Hunter Villa (FL) 38-9; 4. Parker Nguyen (HC) 38-7; 5. Chase Wineberg (Brad) 38-6½; 6. Jordan Lawrence (Mv) 38-4; 7. Ashton Mountain (CP) 38-1; 8. Carl Dait (Mv) 38-½

High jump: 1. (tie) Boden Gushie (HC) and Jacob Lobaugh (J) 5-11; 3. (three-way tie) Andrew Shaffer-Doan (D), Sam Brady (HC) and Chase Wineberg (Brad) 5-9; 6. Ben Hickman (D) 5-7; 7. (three-way tie) Andrew Gudalis (D), Aidan Grove (Sen) and Nicolas DeSanto (Mc) 5-5

Shot put: 1. Nick Krahe (HC) 54-6; 2. Dylan Ellenberger (Sen) 45-7; 3. Ryan Visosky (Mc) 43-6; 4. Kevin Luce (Sen) 41-8; 5. Mason Allsopp (FL) 41-7½; 6. Joe Brennan (Sen) 41-4; 7. Mason Friedman (FL) 41-3; 8. Joe Pituch (UC) 40-9½

Discus: 1. Nick Krahe (HC) 132-11; 2. Ryan Visosky (Mc) 127-7; 3. Brady Gonda (HC) 120-7; 4. Nick Payne (G) 120-2; 5. Kevin Luce (Sen) 117-7; 6. Aidan Grove (Sen) 109-10; 7. Joe Pituch (UC) 109-1; 8. Sean Sokolowski (MP) 103-3

Javelin: 1. Christian Santiago (Mc) 163-0; 2. Tate Reichel (Mv) 135-1; 3. Mason Friedman (FL) 133-11; 4. Ryan Visosky (Mc) 131-9; 5. Mark Dait (Mv) 131-1; 6. Isaac Foltz (FL) 127-2; 7. Emmanuel Troutman (Sen) 126-10; 8. Raphael Blose (FL) 123-5

Pole vault: 1. Bradon Schneider (EH) 15-10; 2. Conner McChesney (FL) 13-0; 3. Reed Yost (Sen) 12-6; 4. (tie) Edward Burkett (D) and Charlie Minor (Mv) 12-0; 6. Richard Elliott (J) 11-0; 7. Brady Bowers (FL) 9-6; 8. (tie) Lucas Myer (UC) and Ashton Sharma (CP) 9-0

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

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: McDowell boys win in school's first night track and field invitational