The more things changed at Seneca Valley, the more they stayed the same.

Ray Peaco took over for Wayne Roccia, who coached the Raiders for 31 seasons, but Peaco will take a large contingent of athletes to the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

The Raiders have 12 athletes, including three relays teams, among their boys and girls squads heading to the meet, which will be held Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University.

"As a track and field coach, you always want kids getting their best times and distances in the big meets at the end of the year," Peaco said.

Conor Barrett will highlight the Raiders' crew, having captured his second consecutive WPIALClass AAA title in the high jump. Cam Stauffer will be competing in the open 1,600 and the 3,200 relay.

"It's fantastic what (Barrett) did," said Peaco. "And Cam is coming into his own. He has overcome injuries from last season and that 3,200 relay broke the 8-minute barrier."

The Raiders' boys 3,200 relay team and the girls 1,600 and 3,200 relay teams also will be looking to set school records. Kate Kelly is a mainstay in both of those races, as is Erin Lopresti, who also will run in the 800.

Megan Powell, who will compete in the 1,600, also is a key member of the Raiders' lacrosse team.

"To do that and maintain a great grade-point average is a great story," Peaco said.

Mike Martin only recently returned to the Butler boys team after missing most of the season with a hamstring injury.

He jumped 22 feet, 5 inches in winning the WPIAL Class AAA long jump and was a runner-up in the triple jump.

"That (long) jump puts him in a little higher seed," said Butler coach Rick Schontz. "But, he also had a 22-2, and if he can keep doing that, he could be in the top five or medal."

Butler also has Mason McLaughlin in the 400.

"It's a great tribute to Mason that he was able to get out of the second heat (at last week's WPIAL championships) and finish in the top four," said Schontz. "He ran strong, and, from talking to him, he feels he can run under 50 (seconds)."

In all, 10 boys teams from the Butler County area have representatives while members of eight girls teams will be on hand.

Like Barrett, Carol Cress of Knoch defended her WPIALClass AAA crown. Cress won the shot put and is among the favorites at the PIAAmeet.

Neil Scott of Union ripped off a personal-best 192-8 in the javelin for almost a 14-foot improvement in winning at the District 9 Class AA championships.

At the same meet, Karns City's Amber Saunders won the high jump and was runner-up in the long jump.

"I think she'd have to clear 5-2, and she's done that four or five times this year," said Karns City girls coach Tom Wagner. "I don't think a medal is that far off."

Freeport's Merrissa Malcolm also has a good chance at medaling at the PIAA championships in Class AA girls pole vault.

Malcolm set a personal best in the event at the WPIALClass AA Championshiips last week with a jump of 11-6.

Grove City's Kristy Woods is the defending PIAAClass AA champion in the discus and also medaled in the shot put at Shippensburg.

She won both events at the District 10 Class AA finals last week.

"I would love to come home with two gold medals," Woods said. "But I also want the two records."

Angie Shaffer of Slippery Rock is another double qualifier (110 hurdles and high jump), while teammates Elissa McCune (300 hurdles) and Melanie Prelec (javelin) also have qualified.

The Slippery Rock boys are sending school-record holder Ethan Geisler to the state meet in the 300 hurdles. Ian Campbell (high jump) and Dan Hartzell (800) will join him there.

Grove City senior Greg Reiber, who broke his foot and had major surgery in the winter, returned late in the year.

It was in plenty of time for him to hit his stride in the shot put.

"We didn't know if we were going to even get him back," said Grove City coach Mickey Hardenberg. "It's great to see him get to states."

Reiber is seeded seventh in the Class AA shot put.

For Peaco and other coaches, they know this will be the last chance this season for their athletes to display their talents.

"Our kids are going out with a purpose, said Peaco. "They're not resting on their laurels. I'm pleased with all our kids. They are not starry-eyed. They know what they can do."

Eagle staff writer Mike Kilroy contributed to this story.