St Joseph’s track and field aims to run to success

BOALSBURG — The St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy Wolves track and field team is trying to make a name for itself after back-to-back PIAA girls cross-country state championships during the past two falls.

After winning their second consecutive PIAA championship in 2016, the Wolves are working to translate their success onto the track this spring. 

With a combination of key returnees and talented newcomers, the Wolves have a plethora of talent to display on the track.

Freshman hurdler Zach Decarmine already is making an impact in his first season, shattering two school records. 

The record-breaking day came April 8 at the Greater Latrobe Wildcat invitational. Decarmine set records in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, with times of 15.98 and 41.80, respectively. 

The team has its eyes locked in on a district title. 

“Winning districts is a reality, coach has been telling us that,” Decarmine said.

The boys’ team features returnee Lance Hamilton. Hamilton added points in the Wildcat Invitational with a third in the triple jump (42-5.5), fourth in the high jump (5-10, another school record) and eighth in the long jump (18-9). The boys finished 10th as a team. 

On the distance side of the team, the boys are led by senior Michael Peters.

Peters believes that the ample amount of talent with hard work can take this team far.

“We definitely have the ability to run better than we have, we are a lot more together than in the past,” Peters said. 

The girls’ side of the track team has athletes who have won state championships, as well as a new group of competitors ready to do big things. 

Sera Mazza and Lindsey Carmack are two of the younger competitors on the team, but will look to bring success to the Wolves as the season progresses. 

In the Wildcat Invitational, Mazza finished third in the 1600-meter (5:27) and in the 800-meter (2:27, a school record). Carmack and Addie Ebbs finished eighth and ninth, respectively in the 1600. Mary Elliott tied for seventh place in the 100-meter. The girls’ 4×400-meter relay team of Ebbs, Elliott, Carmack and Mazza finished seventh in 4:29. Ebbs added a 10th place in the 800 in 2:34. The girls finished 12th as team.

“We need to make sure that everyone understands how good they can be, and if everyone buys in, we can be good,” senior Kate Ott said.

Ott and fellow senior Grace Cousins are returnees who have two state championships in cross-country, and experience at the highest levels of track and field, too. 

“Our focus and goals for this time are aligning together,” Cousins said.

Both squads kept the momentum going with victories at Philipsburg-Osceola on April 18.