PHOTO GALLERY | Richland boys' depth leads to West Central Meet crown
· Yahoo Sports
WINDBER, Pa. – The Richland High School boys track and field team continues to meet early-season expectations while building momentum entering the most important stretch of the spring sports season.
With four individual champions and plenty of placewinners, the Rams won the 77th West Central Coaches Association Meet Friday at Windber Stadium. They outdistanced runner-up Bedford 122-120 atop the 17-team field in the Class 2A meet.
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United had six first-place finishers and was third with 87 points, followed by Northern Cambria (67), Bellwood-Antis (57) and Conemaugh Township (51.5) in the top six.
PHOTO GALLERY | West Central Coaches Track & Field
“We have a really good team this year – and the last couple years,” Richland coach Chris Mangus said. “We’re hoping that we get a shot at the LHAC championship.
“We’d like to three-peat at districts.”
The Rams depth showed in the standings. Multiple placewinners collected points throughout the afternoon. Richland had athletes step up in the absence of standout junior Arnold Mugerwa, who Mangus noted is in Shippensburg for a track event Saturday.
“We have really good jumpers,” Mangus said. “We have some high-quality kids like Joey (McAneny) on the track. We have quality throwers. We’re pretty well-rounded.”
A senior, McAneny won both the 100- and 200-meter dashes Friday.
His 11.24 time in the 100 bettered United’s Levi Czar, who ran 11.41.
In the 200, McAneny ran a 22.50 to pull ahead of the field. Bedford’s Sam Koontz was second in 22.58.
“I came around the stretch and was a little behind,” McAneny said of the 200. “I knew I had him as soon as I came around the bend because I still had a lot of kick left.”
Bedford coach Brian Creps has seen his share of Richland this season and in recent years.
“We’ve seen Richland three times in the last three meets,” Creps said. “They beat us every time.
“Good job on their side to keep that going. They have a really nice team.”
In the field, Richland long jumper Arison McCulty won with a 22-5 distance.
In the high jump, Van Gontkovic placed first by clearing 6-2. United’s Carter Payne and Bedford’s Owen Schrock finished second and third, respectively, as they each also cleared 6-2.
“Our hurdler, a freshman, placed in both the 110 (eighth) and 300 (fourth) hurdles,” Mangus said of Zadyn Wadley. “That was a surprise. We have another freshman, Brody Bolinger, and anything we tell him to do – ‘break 5-minutes in the mile. You’ve got to place.’ – he responds. It’s awesome.”
Bolinger was fifth in both the 1600 and 3200 runs.
United won all three boys relays. Matthew Beaver ran a leg on each of the winning 400-, 1600- and 3200-meter relay squads and placed first in the 800 (2:05.19) to have a part in four golds.
The Lions’ Logan Lichtenfels placed first in the 110-meter hurdles (15.46), and Josef Garshnick won the pole vault, clearing 13-6 to edge Richland’s Noah Lushko, who had a 13-6.
Conemaugh Township had two first-place finishes. Hudson Lease won the 1600 (4:37.22), and 3200 (10:29.23).
Meyersdale’s Branson Hersch won the 300 hurdles (41.97). Northern Cambria’s Daniel Farrell placed first in the triple jump (45-9¼). Portage’s Josh Papcun broke a 14-year old program record by winning the 400 in 50.92 (Dean Bimle, 51.50, 2012).
“This record has stood for a long time at Portage,” Portage coach Lance Hudak said. “Coach (Josh) Burkett got Josh running the 400 last year and he really started to lower his times last year.
“He took fourth in the district last year as a sophomore. We knew the potential was there.”
Penns Manor’s Brady Lewis won three field events – discus (153-5), javelin (180-11) and shot put (52-6).
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.