Local athletes earn plethora of medals in weekend invites
Local athletes fared well in three track & field invitationals that were held this past weekend over the course of the district.
Beth-Center senior Deakyn DeHoet, who attends school at Jefferson-Morgan but competes for the Bulldogs as part of a co-op because the Rockets don’t field a track & field team, was a double gold medalist in the 100 and 200-meter dashes at the Chartiers-Houston Invitational.
DeHoet, a senior, won the 100 in 10.92 and the 200 in 22.32. DeHoet placed fifth in the 100 at last year’s state meet.
California’s Carter Kent not only won the 800-meter run at Chartiers-Houston but broke the school record in the event after finishing in a time of 1:59.25.
In the Lady Spartan/Wildcat Invitational at Hempfield Area High School, Geibel Catholic senior Emma Larkin topped the field in the 400 with a time of 59.44. Larkin was second in the 300 hurdles in 46.47, as Hempfield’s Madison Altman won the race in 45.03.
Larkin was seventh in the state in both events last season.
Connellsville’s Glen Strickler won the shot put with a throw of 57-4 at Hempfield. Strickler was sixth in the discus (134-6).
Mount Pleasant’s Gage Sowers won the pole vault in 13-7. The Falcons’ Zachary Franks tied for third in the event at 13-1.
Connellsville’s Rylee Leasher won the girls long jump at Hempfield with a leap of 17-5.
Laurel Highlands’ Sahayla Dues was second in the 100 hurdles (15.88). Altman won the event in 15.46.
The Mustangs’ Bella Baker finished second in the 1,600 with a time of 5:22.11. The host school’s Chesnee Smith topped the field in 5:10.58. Baker was fourth in the 800 in 2:25.20.
LH ninth grader Hannah Hertlein was third in the 3,200 in 12:33.86.
Laurel Highlands had athletes competing on Saturday at West Mifflin High School in the TSTCA Outdoor Championship, and senior Diondra Brown placed fourth in the 400 with a time of 59.11. She was fifth in the 200 at 26.42 and flew 17-03 for eighth place in the long jump.
Laurel Highlands’ Grant Brambley was third in the boys javelin at West Mifflin with a throw of 173-04.