Butler’s Aubrey Rock won the WPIAL pole vault title last year. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

While the PIAA track and field season got an earlier start this year (March 14), the season truly kicks off in full force April 5 with the Butler County Classic, when most of the county’s schools converge on the turf and rubber of Art Bernardi Stadium for the first major meet of the season.

Butler County is stocked with future Division I girls athletes this year and returns several state and district medalists, whether it’s Knoch javelin standout Karlee Buterbaugh, Butler long jump and javelin talent Aubrey Rock or one of the elite North Catholic sprinters.

With a few dual meets under some teams’ belts, here’s a look at a few of the top girls runners, throwers and jumpers in the county this year, listed alphabetically:

Knoch senior Karlee Buterbaugh, center, is committed to Marshall for javelin and also runs relays and throws the shot put. Submitted photo

Buterbaugh earned sixth at the PIAA championships in the javelin with a throw of 125-4 last year, won silver at WPIALs (131-5) and is fresh off a state basketball tournament appearance with the Knights, where she was a double-double threat most nights. The Marshall commit also competes in the 4x100 relay and shot put.

Layla Colsey from Karns City waits for her the baton hand off in the girl's 4x4 in the Seneca Valley Track Invitational on FridayHolly Mead/ Special to the Butler Eagle

Colsey is arguably the top returning scorer for the Gremlins after she reached or nearly reached the podium three times in the District 9 championships. She won bronze in the long jump (16-4), finished sixth with the 4x100 team (53.21) and was ninth in the 200 (28.80). Her long jump qualified her for states.

North Catholic’s Seava Cresta, center, is one of the the WPIAL’s top sprinters back this season. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Cresta is one of the top sprinters in the WPIAL — at the district championships, she finished fifth in the 100-meter and 200 and helped the 4x100 win gold. The Duquesne commit holds school records in the 100 (12.39) and 200 (25.42), as well as with the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, and qualified for states in all but the 4x4.

Seneca Valley’s Aubrey Erdos qualified for the state indoor championships in pole vault this year. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Erdos finished ninth in the WPIAL championships in the pole vault last year and holds a PR of 11-6. She’s coming off a strong indoor season where she medaled at the Tri-State Track and Field Championships and qualified for the state championship.

Knoch’s Kara Fennell holds the school record in the pole vault and triple jump. She is committed to Robert Morris University. Derek Pyda/Butler Eagle

The Robert Morris commit holds school records in the pole vault (11-2) and triple jump (38-10.25). Her triple jump distance is the third best in Butler County history. Fennell medaled at the WPIAL championships (fifth and second, respectively) and PIAA championships (sixth and third, respectively), and she’ll be a threat to repeat that feat.

North Catholic's Daphne Flerl holds the school record in the long jump and is committed to Davidson. Butler Eagle file photo

The Davidson pledge joined Cresta on the 4x100 district champion relay team, medaled in eighth in the long jump (17-0.75) and qualified for districts in the 100 and triple jump. Flerl holds the school record in the long jump with an 18-3 and could threaten for a state appearance this year.

Freeport’s Mackenzie Magness holds up her gold medal after winning the WPIAL Class 2A girls pole vault in 2024. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Magness is set up to dominate the girls Class 2A pole vault field for years after winning the WPIAL title as a freshman with an 11-6, then followed that up with ninth (11-0) at states. She also finished eighth in the high jump (34-11.5) and was on Freeport’s 4x400 relay that finished sixth.

Butler’s Madi McGarrah, left, helped the 4x400 relay team bring home silver at the WPIAL championships last year. Steven Dalton/Special to the Eagle

McGarrah helped Butler’s 4x400 relay make the state championships last season by running the second leg of the WPIAL championships team that went 4:00.19 and finished ninth at districts in the 800.

Monteleone tied for fourth last year at districts with a 5-1 in the high jump, good enough to qualify for the state championships. She, like her teammate Erdos, is also coming off a strong indoor season where she medaled at tri-states, finished seventh at the state championships and now owns a PR of 5-5.

Aiva Reich made the PIAA Track and Field Championships in 2023 in the 100 hurdles. Submitted photo

The senior is looking to return to the state championships in the 100 hurdles. She qualified in 2023 as a sophomore after finishing second at the District 10 meet, but missed last season after finishing fourth at districts. She also runs the 300 hurdles and in relays.

Rock has done a little of everything for the Golden Tornado. She’s a two-time state long jump qualifier as a freshman and sophomore, then made it to states in pole vault and the 4x100 (which finished fifth and set a school record of 48.99). She won the WPIAL pole vault title with 12-0 and owns a PR in the long jump of 18-0.25.

Butler’s Jocie Slesinski will compete in the 400 and 200 this year, as well as her traditional high jump and relays. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Slesinski got her track start as a sophomore in the high jump, then added the 4x1 and 4x4 relays, where she helped set a school record in the former (48.99). During the indoor season, she added the 400 and made the state championships. She’s expected to run relays, the 200 and 400 and compete in the high jump (PR is 5-3.25) again.