2009 Track

PIAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Bria Jay , a junior, was among Pennsylvania's fastest high school girls at the 2009 PIAA Championship held at Shippensburg University. She ran fast enough in Friday's preliminary heats to qualify for the semi-finals in both the 100m and the 200m. In Saturday's 100m semi-final, Bria apparently tied for 8th place and a guaranteed medal with a time of 12.47. The high-tech photo finish system was used to measure the race results to the 1/1000th of second and determined that Bria actually placed 9th, just missing a spot in the finals. Later in the 200m, Bria finished in 13th place.
Also representing Plum at the state meet was senior Zach Taylor in the pole vault. Zach made a few clutch vaults on third attempts to earn 16th place with a vault of 13 feet 6 inches.

WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2009 Mustangs placed in five events at the WPIAL Championships and will be sending two athletes to the Pennsylvania State Championships at Shippensburg University. Bria Jay, a junior, will compete at the state meet in both the 100 meter and the 200 meter dashes. She earned the trip to states by placing 2nd in the WPIAL in the 200 meter and 4th in the 100 meter. She is also the Plum High School girls record holder in both events. Zach Taylor will represent Plum at states in the pole vault. Taylor won a 3rd place medal at the WPIAL Championship. He placed 7th in the event last year and is also the school record holder with a personal best of 14 feet. Richie Addison had a break out performance in the 3200m with a time of 9:45 to earn 7th place. Also taking 7th place was the boys 3200 meter relay team made up of four juniors; Bryce Rupp, Steve Galdo, Matt Betts and Nathan Andrew.

WPIAL QUALIFIERS
The 2009 Mustangs have qualified for the WPIAL Championships in 15 different events.

GIRLS
100m - Bria Jay
200m - Bria Jay
300m Hurdles - Casslyn Domke
Discus - Julie Frank
400m Relay - Alyssa Kortze, Lindsey Smecker, Casslyn Domke, Bria Jay

BOYS
100m - Jeff Robinson
100m - Steve Spokane
800m - Matt Betts
800m - Brice Rupp
3200m - Richie Addison
3200m - Denny Lydon
Pole Vault - Zach Taylor
Long Jump - Dom Siciliano
400m Relay - Ryan Allen, CJ Lutz, Steve Spokane, Demetrius Wellington
3200m Relay - Matt Betts, Nathan Andrew, Steve Galdo, Bryce Rupp

Mustangs Fall to Section Rivals
After a fast start, the Running Mustangs were not able to hold back Gateway and Penn Hills in section meets. While both the boys and girls teams show great strength in certain events, they didn't have enough depth to put down Gateway or Penn Hills.

Bria Jay Drops 100m School Record to 12.2
As a freshman, Bria Jay tied Plum's school record in the 100m dash with a time of 12.3. After missing last season due to an injury, she returned this year 0.1 seconds faster and reset the record at 12.2. Bria is also the school record holder in the 200m.

A Look Back at Plum's WPIAL Champions
     1943 Guy Smith - High Jump
    1945 Dave Erzen - Mile
    1946 Leon Cackowski - Discus
    1946 Alexander, O'Block, Crowley, Cackowski - 880 Relay
    1948 Andy Matto - Javelin
    1949 Andy Matto - Javelin (PIAA Champ)
    1949 Andy Matto - Shot Put
    1952 Vic Zucco - 100 yds
    1952 Vic Zucco - 220 yds
    1952 Vic Zucco - Long Jump
    1952 Bill Jackson - Discus (PIAA Champ)
    1952 Sutter, Booker, McPherson, Urgitus - Mile Relay
    1953 Vic Zucco - Long Jump
    1975 Holt, Papilli, Glaze, McMillian - 880 Relay
    1976 Chris Manganaro - 110 yd High Hurdles
    1976 Holt, Papilli, Holt, Manganaro - 880 Relay
    1976 Holt, Papilli, Holt, Manganaro - 440 Relay
    1980 Dmitrzak, McKinney, Laylock, O'Block - Shuttle High Hurdles
    1988 Terry Meehan - Shot Put
    2004 Anthony Morinello - 300m Hurdles

*All WPIAL and PIAA place winners list at 'RESULTS'.

Mustangs Remain Undefeated After Section Opener
After winning exhibition meets against Highlands and Springdale, both the boys and girls teams capture victories against section opponents. In the cold and the rain, the boys team cruised past McKeesport 95-37 and Woodland Hills 92-40. The girls won in similar fashion with scores of 87-34 against McKeesport and 77.5 - 50.5 against Woodland Hills.

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.

4 X 800 meter relay
100/110 meter high hurdles
100 meter dash
1600 meter run
4 X 100 meter relay
400 meter dash
300 meter low hurdles
800 meter run
200 meter dash
3200 meter run
4 X 400 meter relay

Click 'Results' on the menu to the right to see individual point leaders and honor roll.

Visit the Archives for Records, Photos and Other Info From Years Past

Returning WPIAL qualifiers
The following Mustangs were WPIAL qualifiers in 2008:

GIRLS

Discus - Julie Frank
1600m Relay - Emily Ofstun, Casslyn Domke
3200m relay - Rebecca Blauch, Kelsie Metzgar,

BOYS
100m - Jeff Robinson
3200m - Denny Lydon
Pole Vault - Zach Taylor
1600m Relay -Michael Adams
3200m Relay - Nathan Andrew, Steve Galdo, Bryce Rupp