Norwin senior sets meet record for Class AAA title in 1,600 run
Norwin senior Autumn Greba knew coming into the WPIAL individual championships Thursday at Baldwin that if she wanted a chance at winning the Class AAA 1,600meter championship, it would take the race of her life.
Greba didn’t just pull it off, she turned in one of the best performances in WPIAL history.
Greba finished the race in 4 minutes, 52.41 seconds, shattering the WPIAL championship record of 4:56.77, set a year ago by North Hills’ Margo Malone.
Malone was back to defend her title, and she actually bested her recordsetting time, finishing in 4:55.14. But it wasn’t enough to beat Greba.
“It’s definitely unexpected,” Greba said. “I’m amazed still.”
Greba’s mark not only set a championship record, but also was the secondbest time in any WPIAL meet. She is second only to Baldwin’s Carole Zajac, who ran a 4:51.6 in 1990. Zajac is one of the greatest distance runners in WPIAL history and won NCAA championships at Villanova.
Greba stayed with Malone for most of the race. She made her move with about 150 meters left in the third lap, and held
off Malone for the final 400 meters.
“[The last lap] was very scary,” Greba said. “I was just worried the whole entire time. I was just like, ‘ Go, go, go.’ That’s all I thought.”
In total, six girls and one relay team set meet records.
Springdale sophomore Emily Lelis set a championship mark in the Class AA 300-meter hurdles, finishing in 45.08 seconds. She also won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.72.
Lelis’ 300-meter run broke a 14-year-old record held by Springdale’s Michelle Kropelak.
“I actually looked at the clock, which I never do, coming over the last hurdle and I saw it and knew I was going to break it,” Lelis said.
Another sophomore, Washington’s Alyssa Wise, dominated the Class AA girls sprints, winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes. In the 200meter race, Wise held off a late challenge from Springdale senior Kim Watterson. Wise finished at 25.30, and Watterson at 25.33.
“It’s amazing,” Wise said. “I didn’t expect to win two golds [Thursday].”
Watterson said it was the second year in a row she lost the 200-meter dash by hundredths of a second. She did claim the 400-meter dash for the second consecutive year, setting a championship record of 57.66 in the process.
She said she saw the clock coming down the stretch and knew she could beat the previous record of 58.0.
“As soon as I came out and I heard my coach tell me at the first turn I was on mark, I just felt myself pick up my speed and pull away from everyone,” Watterson said.
The Bethel Park 3,200 relay team of Hillary Boxheimer, Kelsey Metheny, Stephanie Cobb and Amanda Ruschel also set a championship best, finishing in 9:15.08.
In the field events, Class AAA and AA each saw pole vault championship records set.
Hempfield’s Larisa Debich cleared 12 feet, 9 inches in AAA. At the Baldwin Invitational two weeks ago, she cleared 13-3, the best mark in WPIAL history. She tried 13-9 Thursday, but failed on three attempts.
“I like turning negatives into positives,” Debich said. “I came in here wanting to beat the meet record, and I did that. So I’m not going to complain.”
In Class AA, Waynesburg senior Marissa Kalsey cleared 12-6, breaking the record of 12-5 set by Waynesburg’s Jocelyn Lindsey in 2001.
Fort Cherry senior Jessie Merckle also set a meet record in Class AA girls javelin, with a distance of 156 feet, 8 inches.
Two girls were double gold medalists in the Class AA field events. Shenango senior Michelle Watson won the shot put and discus, and Freeport senior Bronte Soul took gold in the long jump and triple jump.
Sam Werner: swerner@postgazette.com and Twitter @ Swernerpg.