2005       
Track & Field 
 
WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2 JUMPERS MAKE IT TO STATES
The 2005 Plum High Track & Field team will be represented at the PIAA Championship by Justin James and Jackie Youra. Justin earned his trip to Shippensburg University by placing third in the long jump at the WPIAL Championship with leap of 21 feet and 2 and a half inches. Jackie's placed 4th in the high jump by clearing of 5' 4". Both Justin and Jackie are sophomores and will be participating in the state meet for the first time.

OTHER PLACE WINNERS
Senior, Jared Kier improved on his 2004 8th place finish by taking 5th in the Javelin. Sophomore high jumper Jim Vensel placed 6th with a personal best jump of 6' 1". On the track, Tiffany Tedesco, a sophomore, placed 6th in 200m while freshman Kara Weichler placed 8th in the 3200m.

4 NEW SCHOOL RECORDS
The girls'  record book underwent some major changes at this year's WPIAL Championship. Diana Garofalo, Katy Kendeall, Tiffany Tedesco and Brooke Taylor surpassed the 2003 4x100 team with an official 50.51 F.A.T. time. In the 200m, Tiffany Tedesco broke her own school record with 26.20 F.A.T. Jackie Youra tied the girls high jump record at 5' 4". Also tying a record was Kara Weichler in 3200. Kara's 11:37 was the exact time ran by Rachel Twigg in '02.

Alumni News
Tony Bonura '01 , University of Pittsburgh, wins Big East Championship in Javelin.story  
Lisa Dugan '03 , West Point, wins national power lifting title. story
Anthony Morinello, '04, C.U.P. , placed 3rd in PSAC 400m hurdles.

In Memoriam : Mr. Chuck Hemphill
     The Plum Track & Field program is only one of many that have been influenced by  the devotion and dedication of late Chuck Hemphill.   Although he was a long time coach at Penn Hills high school, he acted as the  track & field historian of the entire area.  Most of the records and  results found on this website were copied directly from his hand-written tablets.  story

Tiffany Tedesco Breaks 200m Record
     Congratulations to Tiffany Tedesco for breaking the girl's 200 meter record with  time of 26.13.  Tiffany's record-setting time replaced one of Diane Sujansky's five individual and relay records.  Only a sophomore, Tiffany just may claim a few more of Diane's records before the season ends.  She and teammates Brooke Taylor, Diana Garofalo and Katy Kendeall recently missed the 4X100 record by less than 3/10ths of second.   Tiffany recently placed third in both the 100m and 200m at the Mars Invitational.


2005 Girls Start Season 5-0
     This year's girls Track and Field team is off to a strong start with dual meet victories over Springdale, Oakland Catholic, Woodland Hills, Fox Chapel and Gateway.  Brooke Taylor and Tiffany Tedesco have been leading the team in the sprints, while freshman Kara Weichler has been taking the top spot in the distance races.  Underclassmen Cassie O'Niell and Stephanie Ramirez have been the fastest in the hurdles.   Seniors Katy Kendeall and Kelcie McGrath are the top long and triple jumpers with freshman Olga Slyepstova  close behind.   The vertical jumping events are lead by Jackie Youra in the  high jump and Shannon Newmaster in the pole vault.   Megan Witkovitz and Kristen Kenny are tops in an excellent field of throwers.  Many other girls have also contributed in the wins and are looking to continue to improve as the season progresses.

Coach, When is my event?
      This is the order of events that is usually followed for dual meets.   Invitational often run preliminary heats of the high hurdles, 100m , 200m and sometimes other races at the beginning of the meet.


girls’ and boys’ 4 X 800 meter Relay 
girls’ 100 meter hurdles
boys’ 110 meter hurdles
girls’ 100 meter dash
boys’ 100 meter dash
girls’ 1600 meter run
boys’ 1600 meter run
girls’ 4 X 100 meter relay
boys’ 4 X 100 meter relay
girls’ 400 meter dash
boys’ 400 meter dash
girls’ 300 meter low hurdles
boys’ 300 meter low hurdles
girls’ 800 meter run
boys’ 800 meter run
girls’ 200 meter dash
boys’ 200 meter dash
girls’ & Boys’ 3200 meter run
girls’ 4 X 400 meter relay
boys’ 4 X 400 meter relay

WPIAL QUALIFIERS
     The 2005 Mustangs have qualified for the WPIAL Championships in 12 different events.

BOYS
1600 m - Mike Tardio
Long Jump - Justin James
High Jump - Jim Vensel
Javelin - Jarred Kier
GIRLS
100 m - Tiffany Tedesco
200 m - Tiffany Tedesco
3200 m - Kara Weichler
400 m relay - Diana Garofalo, 
Katy Kendeall, Tiffany Tedesco,  Brooke Taylor
1600m relay - Cassie O'Neill, Diana Garofalo, Brooke Taylor, Tiffany Tedesco
3200m relay - Rachel Frye, Jess Youra, Kara Weichler, Rachel Twigg
High Jump - Jackie Youra
Javelin - Megan Witkowitz

 

Mustangs Medal at Pine Richland
First place finishes by Jared Kier in the Javelin and Tiffany Tedesco in the 200m highlighted a very productive afternoon at the Pine Richland Invitational.

Jared's first-place throw was a season high 168 feet, while Tiffany’s gold medal performance was fortified by 3rd in the 100m. Second place finishers were Megan Witkovitz in the javelin, Jackie Youra in the high jump, Justin James in the long jump and Kara Weichler in the 3200m. Kara’s exceptional run was over 40 seconds faster than her personal best. The girls’ 4x100 and 4x800 capture 3rd place and 4x400 took 4th. Others placing were Jim Vensel (3rd high jump), Cassie O’Neill (4th 300m hurdles), Justin James (4th triple jump & 8th 100m), Matt Giunta (5th 400m) and Mike Tardio (8th 1600m).

Tiffany Tedesco was honored as co-meet M.V.P for the female runners.

 

High Jumpers Medal at Mars
     Both Jackie Youra and Jim Vensel medalled at the Mars Invitational in the high jump.  Each took 5th place in fields of over 50 jumpers.  Despite wet and slippery conditions, Jackie successfully cleared 4 '10".  She has already made jumps of 5' 0" this year and is eyeing the school record of 5' 4".  Jim earned his medal by clearing 5'10".   Jim has been over 6 feet in practice, but hasn't jumped that high yet in competition.  Both looking to improve going into the WPIAL championships.