SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — Freeport’s Mackenzie Magness would love to forget her experience at the 2024 PIAA track and field championships, but it has nothing to do with her ninth-place finish in the Class 2A pole vault.
There was another loss that was much harder to take, as one of her cross country teammates, Dylan Tarbi, passed away at the time of the championships. The crushing news was relayed to Magness as she competed in the meet.
“Last year was rough, but I told myself I was going to come back,” Magness said.
Magness honored her late friend and teammate by capturing her first PIAA title Saturday at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium. Only a sophomore, Magness already has two WPIAL pole vault titles to her name, and her vault of 12 feet Saturday allowed her to add a PIAA gold medal to her collection.
“To be able to come back and win it today, it just meant so much to me because I wanted to win it for him,” Magness said.
Magness, who clutched Tarbi’s prayer card as she spoke with reporters, got emotional upon learning she had won the title.
“I was crying over there for 10 minutes. It was such an emotional experience for me,” she said.
But at the same time a great one. Magness, Quaker Valley sophomore Evie Rosselli and Grove City sophomore Aleah Morgante each had top vaults of 12 feet. But Magness reached the height on fewer attempts. Since none of the three hit any higher marks, Magness became champion.
The performance came after Magness produced a personal record vault of 12 feet, 4 inches when she repeated as WPIAL champion. Magness, who vaulted 11 feet at the 2024 PIAA championships, figured she might need another PR to win Saturday.
“I said I have to clear 12-6 to win it,” she said.
But as it turned out, 12 feet was the magic number.
Magness also took part in the long jump Friday and the triple jump Saturday. She finished ninth and 29th in those events, respectively.
Mazzoni repeats as champ
It’s not often an athlete wins state titles in two classes throughout the course of their career, but Derry javelin standout Sophia Mazzoni completed that challenge Saturday. A year after winning the Class 2A title, Mazzoni did the same in Class 3A.
Mazzoni, a senior and three-time WPIAL champion, used a throw of 158-2 on her third attempt to end her high school career in a golden way. Her winning toss a season earlier was 161-10. Derry ascended from Class 2A to 3A for the current two-year cycle.
“I think moving a good athlete that has a determination in the sport they’re doing, they rise to the challenge. And I think that’s what I did. I’m glad that I got to get moved up and got the title,” said Mazzoni, an Auburn recruit.
Mazzoni was able to fight through the wind and fight off a crew of challengers that included runner-up Mary Grusky of Punxsutawney, who had a top throw of 151-6.
“It was definitely a struggle adjusting, but personally for me, I’ve been throwing in wind all year,” Mazzoni said. “I’m glad that I had leading up to this. I just trusted my process and what I know.”
Quaker Valley’s Olawaiye surprised by title
Quaker Valley senior Jay Olawaiye finished fifth in the Class 2A triple jump at the PIAA championships a season ago, placed second in the event a week ago at the WPIAL championships, and entered the PIAA Saturday meet as the No. 3 seed.
Taking all of that into account, Olawaiye didn’t exactly like her chances of winning, but the fact that her title was unexpected might have made it even more exciting.
Olawaiye leaped 38-9¾ on her first attempt and held off a field that included some other WPIAL heavyweights Saturay to claim the gold medal.
“I really did not expect this,” said Olawaiye, a Brown recruit. “But I pushed myself and I focused and I made sure I stayed hydrated and kept my head up and it worked.”
Winchester Thurston sophomore Alexis Bansah finished second (38-7½) and Carlynton senior Jordynn Carter third (38-1½). Bansah, Olawaiye and Carter placed 1-2-3 at the WPIAL championships.
Said Olawaiye, “I’ve competed with Jordyn since my freshman year. I’m completely comfortable with her. Alexis, she’s just a wonderful girl. She has such a bright triple jump future, and I can’t wait to see her win a state title next year.”
Atkins adds to medal count
Laurel senior Tori Atkins was one of the stars of the WPIAL championships when she won four titles, including the Class 2A 200 and 400 golds for the fourth consecutive year. Atkins had a heavy workload at these championships, but medaled four times and left with the second PIAA gold of her career.
Atkins blew away the field in the 400 to repeat as champion. A Youngstown State recruit, Atkins finished in 55.55, more than two seconds faster than runner-up Brenna Kuhl of Seneca (57.63). Atkins’ time was very close to the one she used to capture the title a year earlier (55.49).
That was one of four races Atkins took part in on the day. She also finished sixth in the 100 (12.27) and sixth in the 200 (25.29) while helping Laurel’s 3,200 relay team place sixth (4:04.98). That relay team included Kylie Ruperto, Kara Young and Alexis Sherry.
Laurel’s Geiwitz a shot put champ
After placing fifth in the Class 2A shot put a year ago, Laurel junior Alexis Geiwitz was confident that she would return this year and improve on that finish.
“I didn’t want to over-stride. I wanted to keep my mental state pretty good, but I was really hoping I was there,” she said.
Not only was Geiwitz there, but she left with a title this time around, winning with a top heave of 41-2. Geiwitz’s best had been 40-2½ before going 41-2 on her fifth attempt. That turned out to be much needed after runner-up Maggie Goodlin of Greenville went 41-½ on her final attempt.
“This has always been my goal, so to be able to do this feels amazing, and it’s a nice relief knowing that I’m up there,” Geiwitz said.
Geiwitz used a career-best heave of 41-10 a week ago to win the WPIAL title. She also competed in the discus Friday at the PIAA meet, finishing in 14th.
North Catholic 400 relay captures gold
North Catholic’s 400 relay team set a school record and ran one of the fastest times in WPIAL history a week ago when the Trojanettes won the WPIAL Class 2A title.
At the PIAA championships, the Trojanettes repeated that performance by running 0.01 seconds faster than they did in the WPIAL meet.
The team of Audra Lazzara, Seava Cresta, Daphne Flerl and Anna Lazzara won in a time of 48.06, just a hair faster than the 48.07 they ran at the WPIAL championships. According to track historian Jim Faiella, that time is tied with 2013 Penn Hills as the 13th fastest in WPIAL history.
Quaker Valley team champs
It was a clean sweep for Quaker Valley, which won the Class 2A boys and girls team titles.
The Quaker Valley girls racked up 54 points in the two-day competition, topping a field that included runner-up Lewisburg, which had 47 points.
Olawaiye was the only Quaker Valley golden girl, but there were four silver performances. Senior Cecilia Montagnese in the 1,600 and 3,200, Mimi Thiero in the high jump, and Rosselli in the pole vault.
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.