Qualk wins long jump at Baldwin Invitational
Submitted photo
Lee Qualk showed he can hang with the big boys in winning the long jump on Friday in the 51st Baldwin Invitational at Baldwin High School.
The California senior soared 23-5.50 to edge North Allegheny’s Nicholas Humphries (23-3) and Penn Hills’ Ronald Porter (22-11.50).
Qualk smashed his personal best jump of 22-5 that was set on April 12 at the Chartiers-Houston T&F Invitational. Qualk won the WPIAL Class 2A championship in the long jump last season, but proved he belongs with the top long jumpers in not only Class 2A, but the entire state.
Qualk’s teammate, Carter Kent, finished second in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:30.97. The Trojans were 15th in the boys team standings with 18 points.
Belle Vernon junior Ryan Kent topped the field in the javelin with a throw of 165-3 to edge Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Brendan McCarthy, who threw 164-6.
Laurel Highlands’ Matt Schwertfeger was fourth in the mile with a time of 4:19.76. The mile, which is approximately 9.344 meters longer than the 1,600, is not contested in WPIAL and PIAA postseason meets.
Uniontown’s Cooper Gilleland finished fifth in the 1,600-meter run at Baldwin in a time of 4:34.45. On his heels was Connellsville freshman Jake Pritts, who finished sixth in 4:35.09.
The Mustangs’ Grant Brambley earned two medals. The sophomore was fourth in the pole vault (13-10) and fifth in the javelin (160-8).
The Albert Gallatin trio of Mekhi Belt, JJ Jackson and Matt Gaborko tied for seventh place in the high jump with a leap of 5-6.
The Falcons’ Zachary Franks was seventh in the pole vault at 13-10.
The Fillies were 12th out of 35 teams with 25 points.
Laurel Highlands’ Isabella Baker led the way for her team in placing, as the junior was third in the 1,600 with a time of 5:24.73. She was on the 3,200 relay team that placed fifth. Bethany Byrne, Taylor Schwertfeger and Alexandra Mattey joined Baker in running 10:22.61.
Diondra Brown added to the Fillies’ medals in earning two. She was fourth in the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes in 26.59 and 58.98.
Laurel Highlands sophomore Shayla Dues was fourth in the 100 hurdles in a time of 15.83.
Connellsville’s Madelynn Johnson was third in the discus with a throw of 113-5.
Geibel Catholic junior Emma Larkin was fifth in the 300 hurdles at 47.06. Larkin was the highest Class 2A finisher.
Waynesburg Central’s Railey Bochna finished in a tie for sixth place in the high jump after clearing the bar at 5-1.