Pole vaulter honors late grandfather with meet win
Track Notebook
CANONSBURG – Waynesburg’s Jackson Brunell had plenty of inspiration going into the Washington-Greene County track and field meet.
He’s dedicating his season to his late grandfather, longtime Waynesburg coach Butch Brunell, and did so Friday by winning the pole vault at AHN Field.
It’s the event his grandfather, who died in October, was known for teaching.
“I came into this season with the mentality of wanting to do everything for him and this is obviously one of the biggest meets of the season, so I just wanted to come here and win,” Brunell said.
Brunell edged his Waynesburg teammate, Mason Shroyer, to win. They actually both finished at 13-3, but Brunell did it in one fewer attempt.
Last year’s pole vault champion Connor Rolek, of Canon-McMillan, did not participate because he’s competing at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia this weekend.
Frank wins in debut
A week ago, Carter Frank broke the California school record in the discus. He did so again Friday and became a county champion in his first try.
Frank, a freshman, bested his previous mark by almost five feet.
“I wasn’t expecting to win in my first try, so this is pretty cool,” Frank said.
In his record throw last week in a meet against West Greene, Frank didn’t like the way the throw felt coming out of his hands. This time was much different.
“This one felt amazing,” Frank said. “It came off the hands nice, real quick and looked nice in the air.”
Trading places
Canon-McMillan teammates Brayden Dexter and Tyler Marciak swapped spots on the podium in boys javelin and didn’t realize it until after they received their medals.
Last year Marciak, a junior, won and Dexter, a senior, took second.
Dexter took the top spot this time, but both were pleased that they were once again the guys to beat in javelin.
“It feels great,” Dexter said. “The both of us are right there with each other and we push each other each meet. One of us does better each time, but we’re both close.
“It’s my first win (at county’s), so it’s a good way to go out.”
Dexter’s best throw was 166-11 and Marciak was exactly 10 feet behind him at 156-11.
Naturally Marciak wanted to repeat, but if he was going to finish second, he was fine with it being Dexter, his good friend.
“It was not my best day, but it was his and I praise him for it,” Marciak said. “I look up to him a lot.”
Havelka doubles up
Brooklyn Havelka has been involved in track for almost as many years as she’s been in school.
Now, she is reaping the rewards.
Havelka, a junior at Chartiers-Houston, was named the girls field MVP.
Havelka won the javelin and shot put, acquiring 20 points.
“I just decided to do it,” Havelka said.
Havelka’s personal best in the javelin is 113 and 35-11 in the shot.
“I thought I would do better in disc,” Havelka said. “But I performed good enough to get first. I was happy to do in the shot what I did in the shot.”