2006 Track

	Plum High School 2006 Track & Field
*PIAA* *CHAMPIONSHIP* High jumper Jackie Youra, a junior, became the second lady Mustang in Plum High School history to medal at the PIAA state Championships. Amid the morning rain at Shippensburg University, Jackie successfully completed her quest for the medal stand by tying for seventh place. Also competing at the state meet was Brooke Taylor in the 200m. Brooke ended her fine high school track career with a 24th place finish. Both Jackie and Brooke are Plum record holders in their events. Jackie clearing the opening height at PIAA Championship
*WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP* Senior Brooke Taylor and junior Jackie Youra will represent Plum High School at the PIAA Championships at Shippensburg University. Brooke will make her debut at the state meet in the 200m while Jackie returns to improve on her 15th place from last year in the high jump. Tiffany Tedesco narrowly missed qualifying by placing 6th in the 100m. Rainy weather soaked the track and dampened the hopes for the rest of squad. The wet and chilly conditions were detrimental as season low performances were turned in on several events. Looking on the bright side, nearly all of this year's qualifiers should be back to compete again next year. Congratulations and thanks goes out to seniors Matt Giunta and Megan Witkowitz. Both ended very fine high school track & field careers at this year's WPIAL championship.		WPIAL QUALIFIERS The 2006 Mustangs have qualified for the WPIAL Championships in 13 different events. BOYS Long Jump - Justin James High Jump - Jim Vensel Triple Jump - Mike Hemmerle Pole Vault - Zach Taylor 300m Hurdles - Mike Hemmerle 1600m Relay - Dave Kalatshoff, Matt Giunta, Tony Russo, Mike Hemmerle GIRLS Javelin - Megan Witkowitz High Jump - Jackie Youra 100m - Tiffany Tedesco 200m - Brooke Taylor 200m - Diana Garofalo 1600m - Kara Weichler 100m Hurdles - Steph Ramirez 400m relay - Brooke Taylor, Uche Ezekoye, Diana Garofalo, Tiffany Tedesco
*Team Wrap-up* GIRLS The Plum girls continued their winning tradition by posting a 6-2 overall record (4-2 section). A few of those wins did not come easy. The Mustangs inched past Oakland Catholic by two points and had to go to a tie breaker to defeat Fox Chapel. With the score tied 75-75, Plum was awarded the win by taking more 1st places in individual events. This year's success can be credited to efforts of the entire team; runners, jumpers and throwers. BOYS The boys track & field team can also call 2006 a winning season. They finished 5-3 overall (3-3 section). The highlight of the season was a rare win against perennial powerhouse Penn Hills. They are still a young team and look for even brighter days to come. High jumper Jim Vensel was the only Plum athlete to take first in his event at every meet this year.
*Pine Richland Invitational* It was another big day for Running Mustangs at the Pine Richland invitational as the girls placed 2^nd in a field of 24 teams. The girls 4x100 made up of Brooke Taylor, Uche Ezekoye, Diana Garofalo and Tiffany Tedesco set a new school record as they took the gold with a time of 50.18. Brooke Taylor added another gold medal to her collection by winning the 200m. Jackie Youra claimed her second invitational gold and also broke the meet record in the high jump. Other female place winners were Megan Witkovitz in the javelin, Tiffany Tedesco in the 100m, Uche Ezekoye in the high jump, Diana Garofalo in the 200m and Steph Ramirez in the 100m hurdles. Kara Weichler placed twice by doubling up with the 1600m and 3200m. The Plum boys were led by 2^nd placers Jim Vensel in the high jump and Justin James in the triple jump. Mike Hemmerle placed in both the triple jump and 300m hurdles. Pole vaulters Zach Taylor and Cory Bonura both finished in the top 8 as did Tony Russo in the 1600m and Donte Jay in the discus.
*Mars Invitational* The Mustangs where busy winning medals and setting records at the 41st Annual Mars Invitational. In a field of 40 teams, the girls 4x100 relay made up of Diana Garofalo, Uche Ezekoye, Brooke Taylor & Tiffany Tedesco took the gold medal and tied a meet record in the process. High jumper Jackie Youra also tied a meet record in her gold medal performance. Jim Vensel remained undefeated on the season by taking first in the high jump. Brooke Tayor broke a Plum High School record in the 200m while taking second place. Justin James also took second in the long jump. Third placers were Kara Weichler in the 1600m and Megan Witkovitz in the Javelin. Freshman Zach Taylor earned his first invitational medal by placing 6th in the pole vault. In addition to these place winners, several Mustangs established new personal best marks.		Top Point Earners BOYS Sophomore Mike Hemmerle led the boys squad with 125 points in 8 meets by hurdling, run and triple jumping. Junior sprinter / long jumper / triple jumper Justin James amassed the second most points with 93. Tony Russo led the distance runners with 68 points. The top thrower was Eric Costello with 48 points. Distance runner Kevin Green was the leading with freshman with 44 points. A total of thirty different boys contributed at least one point throughout the season. GIRLS With 123 points, senior sprinter Brooke Taylor led the girls in scoring for the second time in her high school career. Hurdler Steph Ramirez earned the second most points with 82. Tiffany Tedesco collect 78 points before missing time with an injury. Senior thrower Megan Witkovitz led in the field with 72 points. The top distance point scorer was Kara Weichler with 66. Also, with 66 points was sprinter and jumper Uche Ezekoye, the top scoring freshman. Twenty eight different girls contributed as point scorers.
*Coach, When is my event?* This is the order of events that is usually followed for dual meets. Invitationals 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		*Five WPIAL place winners return for 2006 campaign* The 2006 Plum track & field teams will be led by some of the WPIAL's best. The following Mustangs were place winners in 2005: Justin James 3rd- Long Jump Jackie Youra 4th - High Jump Jim Vensel 6th - High Jump Tiffany Tedesco 6th - 200m Kara Weichler 8th - 3200m Other key returnees to girls' squad include Megan Witkovitz in javelin & discus, Brooke Taylor in 400m and Diana Garofalo in the sprints. Both 400m and 1600m relay teams look to be exceptional. The boys' will be anchored senior Matt Giunta, distance runner Tony Russo, thrower Gary Sakolsky and sophomore jumper and hurdler Mike Hemmerle. Links to WPIAL rankings Boys Girls News article on Plum Alum Tony Bonura