BUTLER TWP — Going to the Nike National Track and Field Championships for the first time, Butler coach Rod Harris didn't know what to expect.

Well, he did, sort of.

Logan Renwick, the WPIAL Class AAA champions in the triple jump and fourth-place finisher in the PIAA championship last month, ripped off a personal best 48 feet, 6 inches in the triple jump, five inches better than his state jump.

The effort gave Renwick an eighth-place finish at the meet held in Greensboro, N.C., last week.

"When we got there, Logan performed like he is capable," said Harris, who was accompanied by coaches Rick Zitalone and Jeff Renwick. "He didn't get rattled. It was a big stadium, a lot of fans.

"They took eight kids to finals and he was eighth going in. It was a great opportunity and he knew he had it," Harris added.

Renwick fouled on his first attempt, then stuck a 46-9 on his second chance.

"I knew that wasn't enough to qualify to the finals," said Renwick. "On the third, I hit the board perfectly and that one put me in the finals.

"I was hoping to go further (in the finals). I fouled at a big jump which would have been around 49 feet at states, so I knew I was capable.

"The first jump, I tweaked my knee. I tried to hit the big jumps, but I dragged my butt on one and lost a couple of feet," Renwick added.

Not to be outdone, the Golden Tornado's Brianna Lumley placed seventh in the girls shot put with a throw of 36-8. Lumley had finished second at the WPIAL finals with a throw of 40-Z\v.

"I think it was nerves and the heat," said Lumley about the 94-degree day. "I should have done better, but I was excited about it."

Still, by entering the meet with a throw of better than 39 feet, she was classified as an emerging elite class performer.

"It was not quite what we hoped for, but to be at the Nike Nationals and compete is a great opportunity," said Harris.

Paige Rittelmann, who just wrapped up her freshman season at Butler, was one of only three freshmen in the girls high jump field, placing 12th overall with a jump of 5-4Z\x.

"Paige performed like a true champion," said Harris. "The competition started at 5-2 and she had only cleared 5-5 once. She cleared 5-2 on her first attempt, then 5-4 on her second attempt. At 5-6, she just missed on her first and third attempts.

"If she cleared that, she could have gone to the finals the next day. To be 12th as a freshman, that's impressive," Harris added.

Butler also had a 1,600-meter relay team — made up of Mason McLaughlin (200, 23.9 split), Darius Hightower (200, 22.8), Eli Christy (400, 49.2) and Nate Neff (800, 2:00.5) — that finished with a time of 3:37.41.

"We kind of screwed up with the handoff, but the boys ran fast and well," said Harris

"This was a great tribute to these athletes," said Butler coach Rick Schontz. "They love to compete."