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Seneca Valley Runners Victorious at WPIAL Championships

Senior Hunter Williams brings home gold in the 400-meter race.

It’s known as the toughest race in track, and it’s not for the weak of heart.

The 400-meter used to be considered a run in track and field competition, but for today’s runners it’s almost an all-out sprint.

“It’s all about heart, and how much you want it,” Seneca Valley senior Hunter Williams said. “It’s a race where you can do things you don’t think you can do.”

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Williams put on a closing burst of speed for the final 100 meters to win the WPIAL Boys Class AAA 400-meter championship Thursday afternoon.

“We do workouts sprinting from the 150 (meter) mark, and it powered me through the last 100,” Williams said after stepping down from the medals podium at Baldwin High School.

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Williams won the race in 49.25 seconds, edging Belle Vernon’s Tyler Pirilla (49.34) at the finish line.

“While the race is pretty much a sprint, you’ve got to keep your form all the way through the finish,” Williams said.

Seneca Valley junior Oliver Philogene captured third in the same close race. He finished a step behind at 49.70 seconds, and also advanced to the PIAA Track and Field Championships May 27-28 at Shippensburg University.

“This is only my first year running track, so I’m really excited about going to states,” Philogene said. “I’m going with my teammate, so we can pick each other up out on the track.”

Williams and Philogene’s 1-3 finish in the 400 highlighted a strong showing by Seneca Valley boys and girls that included a total of nine medals (for placing eighth or higher).

Philogene and Williams also led the Raiders to victory in the 1,600-meter relay. The relay team, which included Andrew Schroeder and Forest Barnes, captured the gold medal with a time of 3 minutes, 20.17 secondsand advanced to the PIAAs.

Raiders senior Dylan Bilka also qualified for the state meet by claiming second place in the pole vault competition after clearing the bar at 15 feet, 3 inches. Both Bilka and Laurel Highlands’ Jacob Hensh failed to clear the bar at the next level, and Hensh won based on consistently clearing the bar previously.

“It was intense,” Bilka said. “It just came down to who was more consistent. My goal at states will be to clear 15 feet consistently, and go higher.”

Also for Seneca Valley:

  • Sophomore Jamie Rutkowski qualified for states for the first time by winning third-place in the javelin with a long throw of 132 feet, 2 inches. “I was just hoping (on her final series of throws),” she said. “And when I saw the javelin go over the 130 line, I was like, ‘Yeah.’ ”
  • Junior Shelby Resch took fourth in the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 18.99 seconds and will join her Raiders teammates at the state meet. “It’s my first year of track, so this feels amazing,” she said.
  • The girls 3,200-meter relay team (Taryn Latsko, Becky Paine, Natalie Richard and Shelby Resch) took seventh in 9 minutes, 48.42 seconds.
  • The boys 3,200-meter relay team (Brent Kendrick, Mark Davis, Oliver Philogene and Andrew Schroeder) also finished seventh, finishing in 8 minutes, 13.50 seconds.
  • Andrew Schroeder placed seventh in the 300 intermediate hurdles in 40.78.
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