Burrell sprint relay takes aim at WCCA title

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, April 27, 2018 | 11:21 PM

Taylor Johnson understands the tradition.

She knows the standard that has been set by past members of the Burrell girls 400-meter relay, including the team's 10 WPIAL championships since 1991.

Johnson herself was in the mix the past two years as the Bucs captured back-to-back titles.

As the leadoff runner on the relay, Johnson, a senior, wants to help lift it to the top in the WPIAL once more before she moves on.

“It's enough pressure to keep all of us in check,” said Johnson, who will join juniors Allee Kuhns and McKenzie White and sophomore Olivia Kelly in a quest for the title at the 96th annual Westmoreland County Coaches Association championships Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe.

“We all understand what it takes to be successful in this relay,” Johnson said. “We want to keep the streak going.”

This is the 39th year for the Westmoreland County girls meet.

At last year's WCCA event, Burrell ran a time of 50.59 seconds and placed second to Class AAA Norwin (50.05).

The quartet of Johnson and Kelly, along with the graduated Nikki Scherer and Alaina York then went on to claim WPIAL gold with a season-best time of 50.08. Burrell was seventh at states.

Burrell, which posted a top time this season of 51.64, is expected to be a favorite Saturday, along with the Knights and Class AAA teams such as Hempfield and Latrobe.

“We'll be ready,” Kuhns said. “We like testing ourselves against the triple-A teams.”

Providing backup for the four regulars on the relay is freshman Madi Walsh.

“I had always heard growing up about how strong the 4-by-100 team was,” she said. “Now, to be a part of it is really special.”

Field events Saturday are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and the running finals around 12:45 p.m.

There is a chance for rain with temperatures expected in the low 50s.

Frankie Phelps, who coaches the Burrell sprinters, said the relay will head into the meet hoping for a gold medal but will be cautious in how they approach the race with the potential for adverse weather conditions.

The relay, Kuhns said, takes a businesslike attitude with a sharp attention to detail.

“We work on handoffs every day,” she said. “It's the little things like that and our steps that can change the whole course of the race.”

After Saturday's race, the relay, along with the rest of the girls team, will face the competition at Tuesday's WPIAL team semifinals. The Bucs clinched the section title earlier this week with a win over rival Deer Lakes.

“We're all competitive with each other (on the relay), and that helps how we are competitive when we race other teams,” White said. “We want to be better for each other.”

Johnson captured an individual medal at last year's WCCA meet with a sixth-place finish in the 100 dash.

A dozen 2017 WCCA individual champions return to defend their titles, but Valley's Darius Johnson will not one of them. Last year's winner of the long and high jumps still is recovering from an early-season injury to his push-off leg and will not compete Saturday, Valley coach George Webb said.

Webb said Jared Buzzell (100, 200 and 400), DeAisha James (100, 200, long jump) and Brandon Fiedor (hurdles) all have a chance to medal Saturday.

Buzzell won the 200 and 400 at Wednesday's Section 7 meet at Freeport, while James, a track and field newcomer this year, won the 100 and the long jump.

“This will be DeAisha's first chance to go up against some of the big guns in the county,” Webb said.

Kiski Area coach Tom Berzonsky said he is excited to see what his athletes can achieve at the county championships.

Jack Collecchi was third last year in the long jump, and Berzonsky expects him to also fare well in the high jump.

Nick Gabrielli, third in the 800 last year, will challenge Franklin Regional senior Matt Busche, the 800 runner-up in 2017.

On the girls side, Kierra Shreffler is gunning for the title in the mile after taking second last year, and she also hopes for big things in the 3,200 run and 3,200 relay.

Jean Starr is expected to challenge for the top spot in the girls javelin and medal in the discus and shot put.

Bria Giovanelli earned fifth-place medals last year in the 100 and 300 hurdles, and Berzonsky expects Isabella Harris to move into medal contention in the 100 hurdles.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Burrell