SLIPPERY ROCK —

WPIAL bragging rights in the Class 3A boys high jump came down to a pair of Butler County products.

Mars’ Evan Kurpakus and Butler’s Orein McBride-Cager both stood at 6 feet, 1 inch and entered a jump off against each other. When the dust settled, Kurpakus had cleared 6-1 one final time to earn the crown while McBride-Cager placed second at Slippery Rock University.

“I recently changed a few things in my technique,” said Kurpakus. “It feels pretty good knowing I’m headed to states as a district champion. I wasn’t expecting this.”

Evan Kurpakas

Just three weeks ago, McBride-Cager’s best effort in the high jump was 5-7. He cleared 6-1 at the Baldwin Invite, then 6-5 at last week’s WPIAL Team Championship meet.

“I’ve gained more power and speed in my run-up to the bar,” he said. “I’m a junior, but didn’t compete last year. It’s been good being part of the team. We have a lot of great athletes.”

Following are the Seneca Valley, Mars and North Catholic athletes who earned a medal by placing in the top eight at the WPIAL Track and Field Championships, held Wednesday at Slippery Rock University.

(*) Denotes state qualifier

Class 3A

Girls

100 hurdles: 8-Autumn Flowers (M) 16.11

400 run: 6-Morgan Duker (M) 58.95; 8-Claire Riehl (SV) 59.80

400 relay: 5-North Catholic (Seava Cresta, Flerl Daphne, A.Dollerschell, R.Erich) 49.87

Long jump: 2-Aniela Balog (NC) 17-8*

Pole vault: 8-Madison Monahan (SV) 10-6

Boys

3,200 relay: 4-Seneca Valley (Eli DeWitt, Ryan Domencic, Ryan Karpinski, Ethan Barnett) 8:05.83*

110 hurdles: 2-Jonathon Price (SV) 15.22*

400 run: 1-Jacob Thompson (M) 49.76*

300 hurdles: 8-Kyler Matson (SV) 41.32

200 dash: 4-Jacob Thompson (M) 21.93*

1,600 relay: 4-Mars (Jeremy Stevenson, Nico D’Angelo, Hayden Mayer, Jacob Thompson) 3:26.83*

High jump: 1-Evan Kurpakus (M) 6-1*

Long jump: 2-Jayden Price (SV) 21-9.5*; 5-Jonathon Price (SV) 21-7.75

Triple jump: 3-Jonathon Price (SV) 44-11*; 4-Jayden Price (SV) 44-4*