Sheffield to compete at PIAA District 9 championships | News, Sports, Jobs

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The Sheffield track & field team leaves this morning for the PIAA District 9 AA Championships at Brookville Area High School.

SHEFFIELD — Sheffield will be leaving Wolverine Mountain this morning and heading to Brookville Area High School for the 2023 PIAA District 9 AA Championships.

The Wolverines will be taking all three relay teams for the boys, and one on the girls’ side. In total, Sheffield will have seven girls and the boys will have 14.

“On the boys’ side, all year that was one of our big successful things, was the boys relay, and all three of them made it,” said Sheffield head coach Jason Snell.

Collin Brown, who will be running in four events, will kick things off for the Wolverines, as the senior sprinter will compete in the prelims for the 100-meter run (14 seed, 11.7 seconds). Brown will be joined by Colby Barr, Leihden Wotorson, Lucas McNeal, and alternates Jack Chapman and Gage Mott-Macalush for the 400 relay (9 seed, 46.73 seconds) team later in the day. Brown is also competing in the 200 meters (10 seed, 23.81 seconds). Brown, Barr, and Jaylen Dougherty will accompany Dylan Hardwick with Trenton Mead and Austin Fiscus as alternates in the (9 seed, 3:45.19) 1600 relay.

“Besides Collin Brown, they’re all underclassmen, so besides a trip to states, a medal would be the goal tomorrow,” said Snell. “We want to be on the podium in at least one of those relays. According to seedings, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, but they’ve pulled crazy improvements off before.”

Following Brown’s 100-meter prelims, the boys’ (10 seed, 9:28.2) 3,200 relay team will take to the track, with Emre Morgan, Mead, Alex Eaton, and Hardwick representing Sheffield, with Christopher Joblon and Marc Lewis as alternates. Hardwick will also be competing in the 800 meters (11 seed, 2:11.04) and (15 seed, 55.93 seconds) Barr in the 400 meters.

Kassidy Orinko will represent the Wolverines in three events, the high jump (10 seed, 4 feet, 9 inches), long jump (18 seed, 14-11), and 400 relay (14 seed, 55.77 seconds). Emily Foster will be jumping alongside Orinko in the high jump (5 seed, 4-11).

“Kassidy has been there before, so she knows what to expect,” said Snell. “She’s an All-Conference volleyball player, so knows what it’s like to play in the big games, on the big stage. We’re so happy to have her back this year and we’ll have her back next year.”

Bryana Butler, Kadence Steffan, Emma Roell rounds out the 400 relay team, with Lily Benton and Madison Connolly as alternates. Roell is also the lone thrower of both boys and girls, competing in discus (7 seed, 101-8).

“Emma Roell, she’s participated in everything this year,” said Snell. “Every event there is except for the shot put and the javelin, she’s competed in. She’s a competitor. I don’t really foresee her being nervous.”

Snell is looking at districts with a nothing-to-lose approach, hoping at the very least, the Wolverines will carry their success this season into next year’s.

“If you look at the seedings, there’s not a whole lot of pressure on them,” said Snell. “All we can do is go out there and give it our all. I want them to go have a wonderful time. Enjoy that awesome, amazing atmosphere that they have earned. All 21 of them have earned. Bring that atmosphere back with them and share that experience because the future is bright.”