Baldwin relayers saved their best for last
The Baldwin girls' 400-meter relayers saved their best for what was their last competition of the 2016 season.
The Lady Highlanders' relayers broke the school record — set by last year's 400 relay unit — at the 2016 WPIAL Class AAA track and field championships held Baldwin Stadium.
The four Baldwin runners, junior Isabel Bierwirth, senior Alexis O'Malley, sophomore Alina Stahl and senior Gabby Loeffler, completed the event in 49.25 seconds this spring to place fourth at the WPIAL meet.
“The first time the girls ran together was at the Baldwin Invitational,” Ed Helbig, Baldwin's head coach, said. “During the sectional meets, we didn't run the relay because the girls were involved in individual events (in which) they were able to score points. The points they acquired in those events far outweighed the points they would get in the relay, so we never ran them together. At the invitational, they didn't have to run all the individual events, so we figured let's give it a shot and see want they can do.
“When I saw how well they did, and since the sectional meets were over, they were entered into the qualifiers, then ran their way into the finals. I had figured they would run a good time, but to set a new school record was outstanding to say the least. As I told them, they have left their mark at Baldwin High School.”
The 400 relayers competed as a unit only three times during the 2016 spring season.
“We definitely knew we had a decent relay team. I think we were surprised at how well we actually did since WPIALs was only the third time we ran that race,” O'Malley said. “We didn't really have a goal for the relay other than to have fun with it. We thought this would be a good opportunity for us to get another event in, but also make the meet(s) more exciting.
“Personally, I love relays, and especially the work that has to go into making the handoffs perfect.”
Loeffler, a four-year letter winner in both indoor and outdoor track, and a two-year letter winner in cross country, also finished fourth in the pole vault event at the WPIAL championships
“I really feel we worked hard all season and pushed through our setbacks, and breaking the school record really proved that all of our hard work paid off in the end,” Loeffler said. “We just wanted to go out there and have fun with it because we had two seniors on the relay; we just wanted to go out and win meets. But I think breaking the school record was definitely a bonus for us and we are proud of it.”
Loeffler qualified for the PIAA Class AAA finals for the first time this year.
“My goals for the state meet (were) to PR in the pole vault, and just to enjoy the experience,” she said. “I was very excited, and ultimately wanted to make it a good experience to remember.”
Stahl and O'Malley, along with Asia Woodson, a senior in 2014-15, and Kadin Hinish, a senior in 2015-16, were members of last year's record-setting 400 relay unit that posted a 49.46 time.
Stahl was a PIAA qualifier in the 100 the past two years, and the 400 this season.
“It's so amazing. To beat (the record) last year was great, but now Lexi and I are part of the top two 4-by-1 relay teams at Baldwin, and it is a great feeling,” Stahl said. “I'm really going to miss running with Lexi, Isabel and Gabby next year. Running the 4-by-1 won't be the same without them.”
Bierwirth said the Baldwin relayers only wanted to display group improvement at the WPIAL championship meet.
“We wanted to improve our handoffs to save at least one second overall,” she said.
The Lady Highlanders finished fifth in 50.6 at the Baldwin Invitational, posted a 49.78 mark at the WPIAL qualifiers, then broke the record at the WPIAL finals.
“Breaking the record was a great accomplishment, and it definitely brought us as a team closer together,” Bierwirth said. “For me, as an exchange student, it was a great shared success and a memory I will never forget.
“I'm really proud to call myself part of this great track team which has been like a family to me, and to be able to add another story to my America experience. We left our mark on Baldwin's track and field honor roll — an amazing accomplishment to end an amazing track season.”
O'Malley, a four-year letter winner in both indoor and outdoor track, and a one-year letter winner in cross country, will study nursing in college.
“I plan on attending CCAC-South for at least two years, but it is possible I will stay to complete their nursing program,” she said. “These past four years have been the best of my life, running with not only my teammates but my best friends.
“I'd really like to thank my coaches, who have been some of my biggest supporters and I know will continue to support me in whatever I do.”
Loeffler plans to attend Penn State Behrend, where she will major in nursing. She also will continue her track and field career in college as a pole vaulter/runner.
“Honestly, without the help of my coaches, I wouldn't be where I am today,” Loeffler said. “They pushed me to be the best I can be. I think that was a real confidence booster for me, and I just want to thank them.
“Also, my teammates — they are my best friends, and running with them the last four years has shaped me into the person and runner I am today.”
Bierwirth leaves a lasting impression
Bierwirth, known by most as Issy, was an exchange student from Germany during the 2015-16 school year.
“I first saw Isabel running on the backstretch of our track during football season,” Helbig said. “I went over and introduced myself and told her I was the track coach. She told me she was an exchange student and she was doing a workout her coach from home had given her to do.
“We talked for awhile to find out if she was a sprinter, and (about) her times. The next day, I took her into the weight room and introduced her to Mike Wallace and told him to make her stronger, that she was our new sprinter. She worked with (Wallace) and continued to run individually on the track for the rest of the fall.”
Bierwirth's first taste of competition as a Baldwin athlete came in the indoor track and field season.
“We finally got a chance to see her compete,” Helbig said. “She worked so hard, and she competed the same way.
“She also started working on the long jump (the event Bierwirth qualified for at the outdoor state finals). Issy made a lot of friends, and the one thing I really noticed was that when running in a relay, she never wanted to let her teammates down. She put a lot of pressure on herself.”
Bierwirth's work ethic was second to none as she worked vigorously to improve her skills.
“She was willing to work tirelessly on the technical elements,” Helbig said. “One of the sayings I use is, ‘Champions are made when no one else is around,' which is an attempt to get the athletes to work on their own. Issy seemed to take that to heart. She was always one of the last to leave practice, and was never satisfied with the way things were. She wanted to get better.”
Bierwirth competed in four events in the outdoor season — the 100, 200, long jump and 1,600 relay. She qualified for the PIAA meet in three events, and registered the third-best mark in the girls' long jump in school history.
Bierwirth definitely left her mark on the Baldwin track and field program in her one year at the school.
“Isabel Bierwirth is and will always be a Highlander. She's just a Highlander from the ‘German Highlands,'” Helbig said.
“It has been my honor and privilege to work with her. She will most definitely missed.”
Ray Fisher is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-388-5820 or rfisher@tribweb.com.
