BUTLER TWP — In Jacob Thompson’s own words, he was “just average last year” as a member of Mars’ boys track and field team.

“I knew what I was capable of and started training really hard in October,” he said.

At Friday’s 58th Annual Butler Track and Field Invitational, Thompson was Butler County’s lone double-winner, taking the 400 (49.75 seconds) and 200 (22.29). He also anchored the Planets’ 4x400 relay squad which placed first at 3:27.23 and earned Boys Track MVP honors.

“I can’t say which is the better event for me,” Thompson said of the 400 and 200. “I’m running the 400 for the first time this year and I’m not dying at the end.”

Far from it. So far, in fact, that Thompson has his eye on school records in both events, just under 49 seconds in the 400 and 21.4 in the 200.

Both standards are currently held by a legend at Mars — 2003 graduate Brad Mueller.

Mars coach Ed Shephard isn’t betting against Thompson.

“He was coming into his own last year, finding his way,” he said. “Part of his success is due to him picking up the 400.

“He’s very determined to have a great season.”

Joining Thompson in winning the 1,600 relay were Jeremy Stevenson, Nico D’Angelo and Hayden Mayer.

“We’re all seniors,” said D’Angelo. “Our bond goes beyond just being teammates. We want to break the school record (3:23). Right now, we’re just three seconds off.”

Luke Cramer is confident in his abilities, but they had not been tested in six months.

The junior from Karns City High tore the ACL in his right knee while playing football in October. He was cleared to begin competing in track and field on Thursday.

“I picked up a javelin today for the first time in almost a year,” Cramer said. “I just wanted to come out and see how I could do. I knew I could still place high here, but didn’t think I’d win.”

Cramer was in for a pleasant surprise as he topped the field in the javelin with a throw of 157 feet, seven inches.

“It was my very first throw. The others went in the 140 to 150 range,” said Cramer. “I had a fast run-up and it paid off.”

After making states last year, Cramer is not planning to settle for anything less this spring.

“The Butler Invite is one of the most prestigious events around and I’ve been thinking about winning here since my freshman year,” Cramer said. “This can be the catalyst for the rest of my season.”

Slippery Rock’s Levi Prementine placed second in the 110 hurdles early in the meet.

“I was hoping to win, but can’t say I was disappointed. The kid who won (Antonio Votour from OLSH) was really fast. It was tough competition.”

Prementine made the most of his second chance on the track, winning the 300 hurdles with a school-record time of 39.24 seconds.

“My previous best was 39.99 and it felt good to top that,” said Prementine. “I took a nap after the 110s and felt rejuvenated.”

In the invite’s final event, the 4x400 relay, Prementine and teammates Sam Schwartz, Eli Anderson and Tyler Arblaster placed second, .29 seconds behind Mars. The effort gave the Rockets 49 points to tie them with North Allegheny as both teams shared the boys team championship.

“This puts our school on the map,” said Arblaster. “We come to invites like this, compete against schools that have 1,000 in a graduating class and we don’t even have 1,000 kids in our whole school.”

Prementine, a junior, played on Slippery Rock’s varsity basketball team over the winter.

“I got off to a slow start in track, but it helps having Eli there every day because he provides really good competition.”

Hayden Smith has won district titles, a state title and an AAU Junior Olympic crown in the high jump.

The junior for Union/A-C Valley wanted to add a Butler Invite championship to his list of accomplishments.

Six feet, five inches — the same height Smith used to win a state championship last May — was good enough for the top spot on the podium Friday.

“I had never competed here before,” Smith said. “I came because I wanted better competition, get some good reps in and stay in a rhythm.”

In North Carolina last summer, Smith reached 6-10.75 at the AAU event. It’s being held in Iowa this year and Smith plans to be there, but not before some business at the high school level — defending his District 9 and PIAA crowns.

“I want to get seven feet, that would be great,” he said. “I’m working on timing and getting my hips over the bar at a different angle.”