Charleroi captures track title

CHARLEROI - Not only did Charleroi's girls' track team capture its first-ever section crown Friday, but the Lady Cougars did it in style.

In a battle of unbeaten teams in the regular season finale, Charleroi rolled over visiting Brentwood, 90-60, in Sec. 5.

Charleroi (8-0, 10-0) and Brentwood (7-1, 9-1) both will go into the Thursday's team championships, another first for the girls program.

'We've only had a full girls program 11 years. And I can tell you we never went undefeated. We never won a section and we never went to team championships,' said an elated Charleroi coach Joe Caruso. 'This is a great, great thing for these girls. I'm really happy for them.

'I don't usually get too excited about this kind of stuff, but I'm so happy for them because they worked their butts off and they've finally been rewarded,' Caruso said. 'They finally see that all that hard work has paid off.'

Charleroi dominated the meet with the Allensworth sisters Ð Fallon and Sarah Ð leading the way. Fallon Allensworth had three firsts in the high jump (4-8), long jump (15-0) and the triple jump (31-4). Sarah Allensworth won the 100 and 200 dashes in 13.8 and 28.8 seconds, respectively.

Caruso was extremely pleased with his 1,600-meter relay team, which posted a time of 4:40.

'That's the best time we posted in that event in at least three years,' he said. 'We felt going in that we had to win that event to win the meet.'

Members of the team were Sara Allensworth, Sarah Zemko, Krissy Hilgartner and Kristen Muncie. Caruso especially lauded the efforts of Allensworth in the event.

'Sarah really took off,' Caruso beamed. 'She ran a 61-second quarter mile and let me tell you; a lot of boys can't run that time. She just wouldn't be beat.'

Other winners for the girls included Tara Stottlemyer in the 100 high hurdles (17.1), Hilgartner in the 300 hurdles (51.5), Cassie Stache in the discus (73-7) and Julie Marsich in the pole vault (6-0).

Charleroi also won the 400 meters (54.7) with the team members being Sarah Allensworth, Jessica Dury, Zemko and Rona Bullard.

While team championships are set for Thursday, the site and time has not yet been announced.

'I don't care where it is, we'll show up,' smiled Caruso. 'Our girls are really excited.'

Meanwhile, Charleroi's boys ended the season on a losing note by bowing to Brentwood, 87-62.

Taking firsts for the Cougars (4-4, 5-5) were Jarrod Dumm, who won the 200 dash (24.3), high jump (5-8) and javelin (150-7); Connor Murphy, who won the long jump (17-10) and triple jump (34-5); Dan Zelinski, who won the pole vault (8-0); Steve Filander, who won the shot put (41-0); and Adam Young, who won the 110 hurdles (16.9).

Charleroi also won the 400 relay with Mike Ciserano, Joe Scorza, Dumm and Matt Hartman finishing with a time of 48.2.