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Butler County Classic 2025: Tornado relays, Knoch’s Kara Fennell, Freeport’s Michael Braun highlight record-setting day

BUTLER TWP — Butler track and field’s boys relays picked up right where they left off following the indoor season.

The 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 squads nearly swept the top of the Butler County Classic podium Saturday at Butler High School’s Art Bernardi Stadium.

After the early morning storms cleared just in time for the meet’s 10 a.m. start, the 4x100 dominated with a 42.50, beating Seneca Valley by 1.18 seconds, and the 4x4 equally ran away with its gold, posting a 3:25.36 to win by nearly 10 seconds over Slippery Rock. Both Tornado times were meet records.

The 4x800 finished second to a Michael Braun-anchored Freeport squad (8:35.21) with a time of 8:40.96.

Related Article: PIAA track and field season preview 2025: Meet the top 12 boys athletes to watch in Butler County

“Our 4x4 running (that fast), hopefully they go to states with our 4x1,” said sprinter Kevin Shriver midway through the day.

The girls relays were also on the podium thrice, with the 4x4 crushing the competition in 4:05.80, beating the Raiders by nearly 10 seconds to set a new meet record.

“This relay team has been working really hard,” said senior Madison McGarrah, who was part of that relay. “We’ve been together throughout the winter season and indoor track. It’s really good, we’ve just been progressively getting better and better, and we actually had a season best today, which was the meet PR, too, which was really cool.”

The 4x1 finished third (47.35) and the 4x8 came in third (10:50.01). North Catholic’s 4x100 and 4x800 set meet records with a 49.39 and 9:54.36, respectively.

Here were some of the standout performances at the first major meet of the season:

Butler’s Kevin Shriver takes first place in the boys 100-meter dash with a time of 11.12 during the Butler County Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Kevin Shriver

The tightest race of the day was the boys 100. The podium was separated by just .03 seconds, with Shriver’s 11.12 edging out SV’s Noah Rieger and Mars’ Gabe Hein.

“That’s pretty big,” he said after the 100. “I can’t wait to see what the WPIAL finals look like, because if it’s that tight (today), can’t wait until the end of the season to see how much closer it is.”

Butler 4x100 relay wins pretty convincingly.

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— Jake Merda Adams (@jakemerdaadams.bsky.social) April 5, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Related Article: Jocie Slesinski, Butler boys relay teams make state indoor track and field meet after strong seasons
Butler’s Julianna Lockwood

Lockwood was 3 feet clear of the competition with her best throw of 105 feet, 3 inches to win the girls discus competition. The slippery and muddy conditions had an impact, causing her to slow her spin and shave some distance. But she was happy to be near her PR of 110 and is eyeing 120 this season.

“That was good, close to my PR (of 110),” she said. “For today and the weather, it was a good day for that.”

Knoch’s Kara Fennell took second place in the girls pole vault with a height of 11-6 during the Butler County Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Knoch’s Kara Fennell

Fennell won the triple jump in 36-6.5, more than a foot ahead of the competition, but still leaving room for more from the 2024 WPIAL and PIAA medalist. She also won the long jump in 16-11.5 and was second in the pole vault (11-6).

“It felt pretty good,” she said. “Good start to the season.”

Freeport’s Michael Braun anchors the boys 4x800 meter relay to help them take first place with a time of 8:35.21 during the Butler County Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Freeport’s Michael Braun

Braun, the reigning WPIAL Class 2A cross country champion and future Penn State distance runner, has been nursing a hip injury for a few months but clocked a meet-record 1:56 flat in the 800 for first. He also anchored the ’Jackets’ 4x800 relay win (8:35.21). Braun said he’s building back up to run the 3200 by the Butler Invitational on April 17.

“Hip is like 90%, it’s not really bothering me while running anymore, just doing day-to-day stuff,” he said. “So that’s a huge positive. Spent the last few weeks just dialing in speed and doing a lot of 400s and a lot of sprint stuff.”

Freeport's Michael Braun wins the boys 800, Butler's Zach Slear not far behind in second.

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— Jake Merda Adams (@jakemerdaadams.bsky.social) April 5, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Related Article: Freeport’s Michael Braun medals twice at PTFCA indoor championships, Butler relays beat seeds
Butler’s Jocie Slesinski takes first place in the girls 400-meter dash with a time of 58.00 during the Butler County Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Jocie Slesinski

Slesinski isn’t quite a year into running the open 400. At times, it’s been an adjustment, even during an indoor season when she made the state meet.

But Saturday’s meet record of 58 seconds flat was the kind of confidence boost she can use to her advantage.

“I do feel good about that, yeah,” she said. “I’ve been working towards that.”

Her goal this season is to make states in the 4x400 relay and at least one of her opens, the 200 or 400. She also won the 200 in 26.39.

Butler’s Nicco Baggetta

Baggetta’s dominated an underclassmen-heavy field with a 170-2 in the boys javelin, more than 16 feet better than teammate Tyson Pino in second. His first three throws felt great, he said, before fatigue set in on the last three.

“This is my third meet in a row right around the 170-mark, and that was my PR last season,” Baggetta said. “I’m still a sophomore, I’m gonna hopefully hit 180 this season and keep going from there.”

Seneca Valley’s Jordan Monteleone

Monteleone, already a skilled high and long jumper, has added the triple jump to her repertoire. She finished seventh (33-5.5) in her new event but again won the high jump in 5-3. Her long jump of 16-10 was 1.5 inches behind Knoch’s Kara Fennell for second.

“Really good,” Monteleone said in summing up the day. “I had a really good long jump. But I feel like I couldn’t done better in high jump because I didn’t get to what I wanted to reach today.”

And then an impressive 16-10 from Seneca Valley's Jordan Monteleone, who won the high jump earlier.

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— Jake Merda Adams (@jakemerdaadams.bsky.social) April 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Related Article: PIAA track and field season preview 2025: Meet the top 12 girls athletes to watch in Butler County
Butler’s Adraya Baxter

The senior showed some resilience after false-starting in a 100 hurdles event she was a contender in, posting a 47.35 in the 300 hurdles to set a meet record.

“The 300s were good, not my best this season,” she said. “But I was happy with it — every time I run, instead of focusing on a time I’m focusing on the race quality. ... I was happy with that aspect, but definitely shooting for a faster time the next couple weeks.”

Knoch’s Austin Friedline takes first place in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 42.08 during the Butler County Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Knoch’s Austin Friedline

Friedline had a frontloaded, challenging schedule with the 110 hurdles, 100 sprint and 300 hurdles. He finished fourth in the 110 hurdles (16.28) and sixth in the 100 (11.39) in a grueling back-to-back. But after a longer break, he won the 300 hurdles in 42.08.

“I need to take off a couple seconds in the 300 hurdles and another second in the 110” to win WPIALs and qualify for states, he said.

Butler’s Madison McGarrah

McGarrah added to her relay win with a nearly five-second victory in the 800 with a 2:21.49, also a meet record.

“It felt great,” she said. “Today, again, I just wanted to lay out a really good time.”

Mars’ Morgan Duker takes third place in the girls 100-meter dash with a time of 12.95 during the Butler County Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars’ Morgan Duker

Duker is running the 100 for the first time and got a shot of confidence Saturday. She finished third in12.95, but her preliminary time of 12.81 was even better. She followed that performance up later with a second-place finish in the 400, an event she’s familiar with, with a 59.32.

“It was really good,” Duker said. “I didn’t expect the 100 to be my race this year, but after I ran it for a couple meets I like it. It feels good to win.”

Slippery Rock’s Dustin Joyce takes third place in the long jump with a distance of 20-4 during the Butler County Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Dustin Joyce

Joyce is battling second-degree burns on his legs after a mishap where melted plastic in fire accidentally splattered on him. But he toughed it out to finish third in the long jump (20-4) and second in the triple jump (42-9)

“It’s kind of been difficult because I have to wrap my legs so that makes movement a little more difficult,” said a nonetheless smiling Joyce, who wants to return to states and earn his first medal. “Dealing with the pain, too, kind of gets to me a little bit.”

2025 Butler County Classic Results

Top 3 Podium Finishers

GIRLS

4x800 relay: 1. North Catholic 9:54.36*; 2. Slippery Rock 10:36.42; 3. Butler 10:50.01

100 hurdles: 1. Audra Lazzara (North Catholic) 15.6; 2. Kathryn Morrison (Seneca Valley) 15.81; 3. Aiva Reich (Slippery Rock) 16.84

100: 1. Anna Lazzara (NC) 12.76; 2. Augelina Williams (SV) 12.77; 3. Morgan Duker (Mars) 12.95

1600: 1. Sydney Heltzell (SV) 5:14.96*; 2. Madeline Meeuf (NC) 5:15.52; 3. Josie Jones (Grove City) 5:27.52

4x100 relay: 1. North Catholic 49.39*; 2. Seneca Valley 50.27; 3. Butler 51.32

400: 1. Jocie Slesinski (Butler) 58.00*; 2. Morgan Duker (M) 59.32; 3. Kennedy Hummert (SV) 1:01.47

300 hurdles: 1. Adraya Baxter (B) 47.35*; 2. Everly Harrell (SV) 48.75; 3. Shareen Thangiah (SR) 48.77

800: 1. Madison McGarrah (B) 2:21.49*; 2. Sydney Heltzell (SV) 2:26.09; 3. Macie McLIster (B) 2:27.57

200: 1. Jocie Slesinski (B) 26.39; 2. Augelina Williams (SV) 26.64; 3. Madison Sleppy (Freeport) 27.08

3200: 1. Madeline Meeuf (NC) 11:48.20; 2. Josie Jones (GC) 11:55.14; 3. Zari Golojuh (B) 12:06.74

4x400 relay: 1. Butler 4:05*; 2. Seneca Valley 4:15.31; 3. Mars 4:19.95

Long jump: 1. Kara Fennell (Kn) 16-11.5; 2. Jordan Monteleone (SV) 16-10; 3. Aubrey Rock (B) 16-9

Triple jump: 1. Kara Fennell (Kn) 36-6.5; 2. Ava DeLorenzo (B) 35-6; 3. Audrey Sansom (B) 34-11.5

High jump: 1. Jordan Monteleone (SV) 5-5; 2. Kamryn Burtner (Kn) 5-5; 3. Raina Lewandowski (B) 5-3

Shot put: 1. Karlee Buterbaugh (Kn) 33-3; 2. Michelle Jacobson (B) 32-1.75; 3. Ava Davis (B) 30-0

Discus: 1. Julianna Lockwood (B) 105-3, 2. Sophia Slivka (GC) 102-3, 3. Jessica Rodgers (KC) 87-10

Javelin: 1. Karlee Buterbaugh (Kn) 131-2; 2. Audrey Wolfe (SV) 110-8; 3. Autumn Christie (SR) 107-2

Pole vault: 1. Audrey Erdos (SV) 12-0*; 2. Kara Fennell (Kn) 11-6; t-3. Evie Paserba (B) 9-6; t-3. Halle Swidzinski (9-6)

*Broke meet record

BOYS

4x800 relay: 1. Freeport 8:35.21; 2. Butler 8:40.96; 3. Seneca Valley 8:41.59

110 hurdles: 1. Jesse Pazehoski (GC) 15.14; 2. Thaddeus Mago (B) 15.71; 3. Brady Dumbaugh (B) 16.25

100: 1. Kevin Shriver (B) 11.12; 2. Noah Rieger (SV) 11.13; 3. Gabe Hein (M) 11.16

1600: 1. MJ Pottinger (GC) 4:17.52; 2. Carter French (Kn) 4:19.84; 3. Colsen Frank (GC) 4:25.64

4x100 relay: 1. Butler 42.50*; 2. Seneca Valley 43.68; 3. Mars 43.75

400: 1. Gavin Skarbek (SV) 49.39; 2. Carter Ekas (B) 50.74; 3. Grayden Brown (B) 59.87

300 hurdles: 1. Austin Friedline (Kn) 42.08; 2. Jesse Pazehoski (GC) 42.21; 3. Thaddeus Mago (B) 42.73

800: 1. Michael Braun (F) 1:56*; 2. Zachary SLear (B) 1:59.09; 3. Griffin Booher (KC) 2:04.16

200: 1. Gavin Skarbek (SV) 22.22; 2. Jace Gratzmiller (B) 22.50; 3. Aaron Stebick (B) 22.92

3200: 1. Brendan Eicher (B) 9:49.71; 2. Jack Steineman (NC) 9:51.49; 3. Kyle Kochanski (M) 10:08.99

4x400 relay: 1. Butler 3:25.36*; 2. Slippery ROck 3:35.22; 3. Seneca Valley 3:36.67

Long jump: 1. Jonah Stucchio (GC) 21-7; 2. Kyle Mancing (SV) 20-8.5; 3. Dustin Joyce (SR) 20-4

Triple jump: 1. Jonah Stucchio (GC) 45-5*; 2. Dustin Joyce (SR) 42-9; 3. Kaden Spencer (Kn) 41-4.5

High jump: 1. Jackson Everhart (M) 5-11; 2. Max Walker (B) 5-11; 3. Malique Robertson (GC) 5-9

Shot put: 1. DeLathian Boanes (GC) 56-1*.75; 2. Troy Slater (Kn) 44-8.5; 3. Kyle Mancing (SV) 43-6

Discus: 1. DeLathian Boanes (GC) 141-3; 2. Troy Slater (Kn) 132-0; 3. Jake Heinricher (SV) 128-8

Javelin: 1. Nicco Baggetta (B) 170-2; 2. Tyson Pino (B) 154-1; 3. Andrew Mejia (SV) 152-7

Pole vault: 1. Jonah Stucchio (GC) 14-0#; 2. Johnny Iaquinta (SV) 13-6; 3. Alex Wilson (KC) 13-6

*Broke meet record

#Tied meet record

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