‘Loner’ wins Classic race
Shady Side star tops field in 1,600
Melissa Riggins was a team of her own Saturday.
Her high school, Shady Side Academy, chose not to compete in the South Hills Classic — held at, of all places, Gateway High School — but athletes were allowed to individually register and compete.
Riggins was the only one who did.
“I’m here by myself without my coach or team,” Riggins said, smiling. “It’s not always the most fun experience, but all the girls are super nice.”
And in her first outdoor meet of the season, Riggins was super good, as she beat out a star-studded field that included three former PIAA champions to capture first place in the 1,600-meter run at the first big invitational of the highschool season.
The meet was moved to Gateway Thursday after the expected host, West Mifflin, pulled out Wednesday due to COVID-19 issues at the school, leaving meet organizer Ed Helbig scrambling for a last minute replacement.
Saturday’s meet was broken into two parts. The girls competition began at 9:15 a.m. and continued into the early afternoon. The stadium was then cleared and the boys started at 3:15 p.m.
On a beautiful day at Antimarino Stadium, Riggins topped some elite competition in the 1,600. Riggins, Bethel Park senior Emily Carter and Moon junior Mia Cochran all have state titles to their names.
Riggins, a senior, won PIAA Class 2A titles in the 800 and1,600 in both 2018 and 2019. Carter claimed a PIAA Class 3A title in the 3,200 in 2019. Cochran won the PIAA Class 3A cross country championship last fall.
Saturday, it was the future Georgetown Hoyas athlete who had the biggest bite, as Riggins led wire-to-wire and finished in 4:57.86. Cochran was second (5:01.97) and Mt. Lebanon freshman Logan St. John-Kletter third (5:10.92). Carter, an Oklahoma State recruit, finished eighth (5:22.99).
“They are both incredible athletes,” Riggins said of Cochran and Carter, “and I usually don’t race against
them until I have quite a few races under my belt. Not this year.”
Cochran, who earlier in the week was named Gatorade Pennsylvania Cross Country Player of the Year, did pick up a title in the 800 on after finishing in 2:19.24.
South Fayette senior Amy Allen had a strong day, as well. A Duquesne recruit, she set a ersonal record to win the 400 (Riggins took second) and also won a title in the 100 hurdles. Allen’s best event is arguably the 300 hurdles, but she chose not to compete in that one.
“I had high hopes for the 400, definitely,” Allen said. “Hurdles is kind of something fun for me to do. I wasn’t really expecting that, but I’m happy it turned out that way.”
Burgettstown senior Miranda Schramm was the other double winner on the girls side, capturing first-place finishes in the javelin and discus. A Robert Morris recruit, Schramm placed second in the shot put.
Rochester’s Rashawn Reid owned the boys’ sprints. A senior, Reid won the 100 (10.85) and 200 (23.00), edging out Mt. Lebanon senior Nate Kirk in both. Reid’s time in the 100 wasa PR.
Two years ago as a sophomore, Reid placed eighth at the WPIAL Class 2A championships, a finish that has since motivated him.
“I didn’t feel comfortable with that, so I’ve just been putting in work ever since,” Reid said. “Just getting faster and stronger. The hard work paid off today, and I’m proud of myself.”
South Fayette senior Haiden Litwinovich had a much rarer combo of wins. The Saint Francis recruit won the 110 hurdles and pole vault.
The always-fast Aliquippa 400 relay team was golden. The group consisted of Vernon Redd, Cyair Clark, Dorian Dixon and Nate Lindsey. Redd made the Post-Gazette’s Fabulous 22 football team in the fall.