Moon’s Cochran looking to end with triple play
Mia Cochran has hit a lot of doubles in her career.
Cochran doubled at last year’s WPIAL and PIAA track and field championships, winning gold medals in both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. You could also say she has doubled three times in cross country, winning matching WPIAL and PIAA titles three times.
But in her final season, the senior standout at Moon has only had triples on her mind. Last week, Cochran captured WPIAL titles in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
Another triple this weekend would be a home-run ending to Cochran’s high school career.
Cochran has already cemented her spot as one of the best distance runners in WPIAL history. She will now try to make some PIAA history when she competes in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the PIAA Class 3A championships at Shippensburg University. No girl has ever swept those races at the event.
“A triple at states would be amazing,” said Cochran, an Arkansas recruit. “I think it’s really possible to put that one in the books, so I’m really excited.”
Cochran’s PIAA gold medal count currently stands at five. She has won three Class 3A cross country titles, and last season won her first two golds at the Class 3A track and field championships. This season, Cochran decided to add the 800 to her championship workload. It worked out for her at the WPIAL championships, and with the PIAA championships back to being a twoday meet this year and there being no preliminary rounds in her events, an attempt at tripling made sense. The 1,600 is the first track event Friday at 9 a.m. and the start
times of the 3,200 (9 a.m.) and 800 (1:55 p.m.) are spaced out a good bit Saturday.
“It really came together a few weeks ago,” Cochran said. “I think I have a strong 800, and after two events, I don’t really think I’d be that fatigued at states. They’re separated by a day. I think I’d be OK and go for all three. I said, ‘I might as well. It’s senior year. I’m going off to college, so I might as well make a statement there.’”
It’s a statement Cochran could make loud and clear, as a triple is very realistic. Her PRs in all three events (2:09.58 in the 800, 4:45.51 in the 1,600, and 10:20.04 in the 3,200) are faster than any of her competitors. Her biggest competition could come from Blue Mountain senior Olivia Haas, an N.C. State recruit who finished second to Cochran in the 1,600 last year.
Cochran has done a lot of traveling this season. The only local invitational she has participated in was the WPIAL championships. In order to face elite competition more consistently, Cochran has competed in events in Arkansas, New York and West Virginia. She also took part in the prestigious Penn Relays, where she placed third in the mile run.
When she travels back home to Moon from the PIAA championships, Cochran could bring some new records with her. The PIAA championship records in Cochran’s events are 2:02.90 in the 800, 4:37.07 in the 1,600 and 10:16.02 in the 3,200.
“I would say the sky would be the state meet record in the mile and the 3,200,” Cochran said. “I don’t know what the state meet record is in the 800, but I would just hope I run under 2:10. And just really, after two events, just push it and go for that win.”
The WPIAL records are even more attainable. According to WPIAL track historian Jim Faiella, the top times in WPIAL history are 2:08.86 in the 800 (Shady Side Academy’s Melissa Riggins), 4:45.19 in the 1,600 (Shaler’s Brianna Schwartz) and 10:10.03 in the 3,200 (Shaler’s Brianna Schwartz). Cochran is currently No. 2 all time in the 800, No. 2 in the 1,600 and No. 3 in the 3,200.
Aliquippa runner 3 for 3
Aliquippa sophomore Brandon Banks shouldn’t be in awe when he competes this weekend. After all, it will be Banks’ third state championship this school year. Few athletes over the years have had a year like Banks, a starter on Aliquippa’s football and basketball teams, both of which played for state titles this school year. The football team beat Bishop McDevitt to win the PIAA Class 4A title, while the basketball team lost to Devon Prep in the PIAA Class 3A final. Banks will now run on Aliquippa’s 400 relay team, which placed third at the WPIAL Class 2A championships. Also on the team are Cyair Clark, Nate Lindsey and Tajier Thornton. Those three are also football players, and all three ran on Aliquippa’s 400 relay team that placed fifth at last year’s PIAA championships. Aliquippa has finished in the top five four seasons in a row.
Paschall out
As expected, North Catholic senior Trevor Paschall won’t get a chance to win a second PIAA title this weekend. Paschall tumbled to the ground just after crossing the finish line to claim the title in the 100 at the WPIAL Class 2A championships, knockinghim out of the remainder of the competition. Paschall said Sunday that the injury is a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He’s hoping to be off crutches this week and expects a recovery time of about a month. Paschall is the defending PIAA Class 2A champion in the 200. He will run in college at North Carolina.
No. 1 seeds
Eight athletes from the WPIAL are seeded No. 1 in an event. Seeds are based on times and marks at district championship meets. Of the eight, two own the top seed in two events: Butler’s C.J. Singleton is No. 1 in the Class 3A boys 1,600 and 3,200, and Brownsville’s Jolena Quarzo is No. 1 in the Class 2A girls 1,600 and 3,200. The other top seeds are: Moon’s Jacob Puhalla (Class 3A boys 800), Deer Lakes’ Carson McCoy (Class 2A boys 800), Eden Christian’s Sean Aiken (Class 2A boys 3,200), Hempfield’s Liz Tapper (Class 3A girls shot put), Quaker Valley’s Nora Johns (Class 2A girls 300 hurdles) and Shenango’s Emma Callahan (Class 3A girls shot put). McCoy, Quarzo (3,200) and Johns are defending champions.