Three Rivers Association Honors -Track & Field

USATF Three Rivers Association members may vote* for the following individuals who have been nominated for the 2016 Three Rivers Association Honors – Track & Field:

2015 winners can be found here.

FEMALE YOUTH ATHLETE(S):

• Grace Walker – East Allegheny Track Club – 11-12
  • 2016 TRA Association Champion in the long jump (4.53m)
  • 2^nd place at the 2016 Three Rivers Association Championships the 100 meters (13.92)
  • 5^th place in the long jump at the 2016 Hershey Youth Outdoor Championships with a personal best of (4.62m)

• Jayla Ellis – Midas Track Club – 15-16
  • National Champion in the 100m H (14.52) at the 2016 USATF Hershey Youth Outdoor Championships.
  • National Champion in the long jump (5.44m) at the 2016 USATF Hershey Youth Indoor Championships
  • Placed 2^nd in the Heptathlon (4061) and 4^th in the long jump (5.17m) at the 2016 Hershey Youth Outdoor Championships.
  • Placed 2^nd in the 55m H (8.44) and 9^th in the 400m (1:02) at the 2016 Hershey Youth Indoor Championships.
  • 2015 TRA Honors – Track & Field, Female Youth Athlete of the Year

• Christen Vanwyk – Penn Hills Eagles – 13 – 14
  • 1^st in the javelin at the 2016 Three Rivers Association Championships (28.22m)
  • 4^th in the javelin at the 2016 USATF Region 2 Track & Field Championships (23.31m)
  • 28^th in the javelin (23.16m) at the 2016 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships
  • First time track and field participant. Start throwing javelin in May 2016.

• Genafie Brown – Nadia Track Club – 8 & Under       
  • 4^th place in the 100m (16.39) and  5^th place in the 200m  (35.73) at the 2016 USATF Region 2 Track & Field Championships
  • 7^th place in the long jump ( 3.08m) and 14^th in the 100m (16.59) at the 2016 USATF Hershey Youth Outdoor Championships

• Corinn Brewer- Valley Speedsters – 11-12
  • Set an Association record in the 3000m run with a time of 11:11.56 at the 2016 Three Rivers Assocation Championships. Also won the 1500m (5:18.63)
  • 1^st in both the 1500m (5:16.28) and 3000m (11:20.03) at the 2016 USATF Region 2 Track & Field Championships
  • 2^nd place in the Pentathlon (2092) and 7^th placed in the 80m h (14.87)  at the 2016 USATF Region 2 Track & Field Championships
  • 16^th in the Pentathlon (2265), 18^th in the 3000m (11:32.93) and 22^nd in the 1500m (5:12.94) at the 2016 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships

• Lenna Birchard – Penn Hills Eagles – 8 & Under
  • Set a new Association record with a 1^st place finish in the 1500m (6:01.22). Also earned a 1^st place finish as a member for the 4x400m relay and 3^rd place in the 800m (2:58.81)
  • Member of 1^st place 4×400 relay, 3^rd place in the 1500m (6:07.54) and 4^th place in 800m (2:59.31) at the 2016 USATF Region 2 Track & Field Championships
  • 3rd place in the 1500m (5:58.65) at the 2016 USATF Hershey Youth Outdoor Championships

• Hayzes Robinson  – Stallions – 9-10
  • 2016 Three Rivers Association Champion in the 100m (14.20) and 200m (29.57)
  • Undefeated outdoor season in the 100 and 200 meters
  • AAU Regional Champion.

MALE YOUTH ATHLETE

• Alex Trower – Western PA All Stars Track Club   15-16
  • 1^st place finishes in the 100m (11.13) & 200m (22.64) at the 2016 Three Rivers Association Championships.
  • 1^st in the 100m (11.08) and 2^nd in the 200m (22.61) at the 2016 USATF Region 2 Championships.
  • 6th in the 100m (11.37) and  7th in the 200m (22.51) at the 2016 USATF Hershey Youth Outdoor Championships
• Ayden Owens  – Nadia Track Club – 15-16          
  • National Champion in both the 400m H (53.13) and  decathlon  (6201) at the 2016 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships
  • 1^st place in the 400mh ( 54.60), 4^th place in the 110m (15.21) and 6^th place in the 200m (22.17) at the 2016 USATF Hershey Youth Outdoor Championships
  • Participant in 400m H at the 2016 USATF Junior Outdoor Championships  – 20th place    22
  • 2015 TRA Honors – Track & Field, Male Youth Athlete of the Year
• Liam Nobbs  – Nadia Track Club – 15-16          
  • 1^st place in the decathlon (4943) at the 2016 USATF Region 2 Championships
  • 2^nd placed in the decathlon (5103) at the 2016 USATF Hershey Youth Outdoor Championships
  • 17^th place in the decathlon (5011) at the 2016 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships

• Aiden Brewer  – Valley Speedsters – 15-16                     
  • Five top 8 finishes at the 2016 Region 2 Championship –  2nd in the Steeplechase ( 7:33), 2nd place  in the  Pole Vault  (3.40m), 4^th place in the  3000m  (10:12.08), 4th place  in the decathlon (3544), 8th place in the  1500m  (4:36.05)
  • 9th in the steeplechase (6:44),  24th in the 3000m (9:44.28), and  25th in the Pole Vault          (3.40m) at the 2016 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships

OPEN ATHLETE

• Jordan Geist
  • Broke PA High School shot put record multiple times throughout 2016
  • Placed 1^st in both the shot put & discus at several high profile meets including PIAA State Championships, Annual Butler Track & Field Invitational, and Knock Relays
  • Named Pennsylvania Gatorade Boy’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year
• Colt Mack
  • 1^st place in 10,000 meter run at the 2016 Bison Outdoor Classic (31:45.58)
  • 6^th place in 5000 meter run (15:29.55) at the 2016 California University of PA Early Bird Meet
• Jessie Merckle
  • Earned bronze medal for Team USA in the Javelin at the 2016 NACAC U23 Championships
  • Multiple time Division 1 All-American
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials competitor

FEMALE MASTERS ATHLETE

• Lisa Lucas
  • 1^st place W50-54 10,000m with a time of 38:15.71 at the 2016 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships. The time beat all women 40+
  • 1^st place finishes in several road races including St. Barnabas, Brookline and Steelers 5k.
  • Voted 2015 USATF National LDR Runner of the Year
• Jo Rupp
  • 2016 Three Rivers Association Champion in 5,000m run (19:52.93)
  • 2^nd place in W40 5,000m run (21:43.73)at the 2016 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships
• Donna Zukas
  • Multiple-event champion in the high jump, discus, hammer, javelin and shot put at the 2016 Three Rivers Association Championships.
  • 4^th place in the Outdoor Pentathlon at the 2016 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships
  • Participated in the USA Masters Games in Greensboro, NC and National Combined Event Championships in Seattle, WA.

MALE MASTERS ATHLETE

• Erick Friedman
  • 1^st place in the Men 40-44 Javelin at the 2016 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships. Earned All-American honors.
  • 2016 Canadian National Champion in Javelin. Threw the best mark amongst all age divisions.
  • 1^st place in the Men 40-44 Javelin at the 2015 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships. Earned All-American honors.
• Dick Monheim – Steel City TC
  • 1^st place in M70 5000m run (25:03.41) at the 2016 Three Rivers Association Championships
  • 2^nd place in M70 10,000m (52:30.88) run at the 2016 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships

OFFICIAL

• Mark Heckel
• Mike Jewell
• Joe Obeldobel
• Richard Rouse
• Ray Sasselli
• Oronde Sharif
• Steve Ward

COACH:

• Oronde Sharif – Nadia Track Club
  • Two national champions at the 2016 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships
  • 5 National Junior Olympic Qualifiers
  • Numerous regional and national qualifiers in Team’s history

• Richard and Gloria Rouse – East Allegheny Track Club
  • Coached several athletes who medaled at the 2016 Hershey Youth Outdoor Championships
  • Conducts several fundraisers to keep costs affordable to athletes
  • Richard serves as coach of entire team, for all disciplines, when assistant coaches are unavailable

• Maurice Lucas – Midas Track Club
  • Won 9 national medals amongst 17 athletes
  • In 2016, produced 7 high school graduates who all received college track & field scholarships. Since 2009, 40 athletes have gone to college for track with athletic financial assistance.
  • Former athletes currently hold 9 school records at their respective Universities
  • Negotiated multi-year partnerships with UPMC, The Police Athletic League, and The First Tee of Pittsburgh

• Chuck Carter – Penn Hills Eagles
  • Coach Carter was amazing keeping the team together all through the season

• Coach Jon Bey – Penn Hills Eagles
  • Serves as a wonderful example to children
  • Has molded novice athletes to national qualifiers in a single season
  • Works hard and sacrifices evenings to coach kids

*Voting Rules – Only USATF Three Rivers members are eligible to vote. Current membership numbers will be required during the online ballot/survey submission process. Don’t know your membership number? You can look it up here. Only one (1) vote per verified Three Rivers membership will be calculated. If multiple ballots per verified TRA membership are submitted, only the first submitted ballot (based on timestamp received) will be counted. Winners in each category will be determined by popular vote. Votes must be submitted by the voting deadline to be calculated. In the event of a tie, USATF Three Rivers Board members will choose the winner. Any ballot/survey submission concerns may be directed to info@otrtevents.com.

Voting ends Wednesday 9/21/16 at 5:59pm ET