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Waynesburg qualifies three for PIAA Track & Field Championships

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BALDWIN – It was a lonely journey last year for Waynesburg Central’s Ben Bumgarner.

The ride out to Shippensburg University for the PIAA Track & Field Championships was quiet because no teammates were with him.

“It kind of sucked,” Bumgarner remembered.

Bumgarner will make that same journey this season after qualifying with second-place finishes in the 1,600 (4:17.55) and 3,200 (9:50.22) meter runs, but this time, he will be joined by a few of his Raider teammates after Thursday’s WPIAL Track & Field Championships at Baldwin High School.

Also qualifying for the state event were sophomore Daniel Layton, with a silver in the 110-meter hurdles, and junior Will Behm, who tied for third place in Class AA in the pole vault.

“Being from a smaller school like Waynesburg, everyone is close knit and we’re all friends,” Bumgarner said, when he learned he would be sharing the experience with two of his teammates. “It’s just great seeing those guys succeed.”

For Behm and Layton, it was about righting the wrongs of last year’s WPIAL Championships that found them on the outside looking in.

“The winter has been about technique, improving my core strength, lifting and doing a lot of indoor training because I didn’t want to have the same thing that happened last year happen today,” Behm said about missing out on qualifying by one spot in 2016. “Last year drove me to achieve what I did this year.”

Behm broke a personal record by vaulting 12-6.

Layton missed out qualifying two Raiders in the pole vault Thursday but made up with a personal best time (15.48) on the 110 hurdles.

“In the finals, you get a lot more excited, which helps me do a lot better,” Layton admitted. “At least that’s how it works for me. The last couple of weeks I cut out the 300-meter hurdles out of my routine and just focused on shorter hurdles. Coming in, I actually didn’t know if I would make it or not. I guess it worked out.”

The reasons varied for Waynesburg first-year coach Rick Layton as to why upcoming weekend for the Raiders will be a little busier than in past years.

“Daniel brought his ‘A’ game today,” Layton said of his son. “Will is a great kid that works hard every day. He evaluates his performance and is honest with himself. Ben might be the headiest runner I’ve ever met. He knows the ins and outs of running, knows what his body is capable of and has been planning for next weekend since January. He’s the example I use to kids that want to become a champion. I tell them to look at him because that is what it takes.”

Bumgarner plans to strictly turn his focus to the 3,200 at states in redemption of capturing gold, which eluded him last year.

“It will be a little bit more enjoyable for all of us,” Layton said about next week’s trip to Shippensburg. “We will have our first experience there, except for Ben with it being his second time. To me, my goal as the new head coach is to make this be the norm.”

Seven other local male athletes qualified in both Class AA and AAA, including second-place finishes from South Fayette’s Sam Snodgrass in the 1,600 (4:24.34), Isaiah Robinson in the triple jump (46-07.50) and Marko Olivarez’s 46-06.00 mark in the shot put.

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