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Jonah Montagnese from Quaker Valley excelled at the WPIAL track and field championships, dominating the distance events despite challenging weather conditions. He is set to compete at the PIAA state championships later this month.
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SLIPPERY ROCK â After the WPIAL high school track and field championships were postponed until Thursday, May 14, the cold and rainy weather at the William C. Lennox Track at Slippery Rock University didnât stop Beaver Valley athletes from reaching for gold at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships.
Coming into the day, a handful of runners had aspirations to reach the top of the podium, while others emerged from the woodwork and claimed gold.
Here are the standout efforts from this yearâs WPIAL meet and the athletes who will be moving on to the PIAA state track and field championships at Shippensburg University on May 23-24.
Heading into the WPIAL track and field championships, Jonah Montagnese had solidified himself as the top distance runner in the WPIAL and one of the best in the state.
At the WPIAL meet, Montagnese further proved that, sweeping the WPIAL distance events with golds in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs and winning gold for the third consecutive season with Quaker Valleyâs 4x800-meter relay team.
Riverside's Allie Barzen runs in the 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Sewickley Academy's Herlynn Niepa runs in the 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Riverside's Allie Barzen looks to finish strong in the Class 2A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Jonah Montagnese is a distance runner from Quaker Valley who dominated the WPIAL track and field championships, solidifying his status as the top distance runner in the region.
The PIAA state track and field championships are scheduled for May 23-24 at Shippensburg University.
The WPIAL track and field championships were held in cold and rainy weather at the William C. Lennox Track at Slippery Rock University.
The WPIAL championships were postponed until May 14, but this did not deter Beaver Valley athletes from performing well and aiming for gold.

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Freedom Area's Kaden Bailey and Beaver Area's Jacob Crossland run in the boys 2A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Aliquippa's Jalen Harvey runs in the boys 2A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
West Allegheny's Matthew Kukoyi and Blackhawk's Brayden McCarthy run next to Knoch's Austin Friedline in the boys 3A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Moon Area's Marcus McGill runs in the boys 3A preliminary heat in the 100-meter dash at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Central Valley's Marco Harris runs in the boys 3A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley's Rose Pocasangre and Hopewell's Tessa Burgess run the girls 2A 100-meter preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
West Allegheny's Jaidalyn Williams runs the girls 3A 100-meter hurdles preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
New Brighton's Silas Kaye runs the boys 2A 100-meter hurdles preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley's Xander Vescio runs the boys 2A 100-meter hurdles at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
South Side's Nate Ashcroft runs in the boys 2A 100-meter hurdles preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley's Kallie McCune runs the first leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley's Maggie Doz runs the middle leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley's Lucy Montagnese keeps pace with a Shady Side Academy runner in the third leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
OLSH's Charlotte Gauntner runs the third leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley's Mia Gartley runs the final leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Blackhawk's Isabella Ford runs in the girls 3A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Aliquippa's Akiva Woods places second in the boys 2A long jump at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Freedom Area's Augustin Hickenboth captures gold in the boys 2A long jump at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley's Henry Howard runs the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley's Henry Howard hands the batton to anchor Jonah Montagnese in the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Ellwood City's Aden Huth runs the third leg of the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley's Jonah Montagnese looks to make a move on his competition in the boys 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Beaver Area's Isaac Burtt looks to finish the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay strong at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Ellwood City's Lucas Bleakney runs the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Quaker Valley and Beaver Area's 2A 4x800-meter relay squads sit atop the podium at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
South Side's Carter Moore captures gold in the boys 2A pole vault at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Riverside's Allie Barzen runs in the 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Riverside's Allie Barzen runs in the 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Sewickley Academy's Herlynn Niepa runs in the 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Riverside's Allie Barzen looks to finish strong in the Class 2A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Freedom Area's Kaden Bailey and Beaver Area's Jacob Crossland run in the boys 2A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Aliquippa's Jalen Harvey runs in the boys 2A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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West Allegheny's Matthew Kukoyi and Blackhawk's Brayden McCarthy run next to Knoch's Austin Friedline in the boys 3A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Moon Area's Marcus McGill runs in the boys 3A preliminary heat in the 100-meter dash at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Central Valley's Marco Harris runs in the boys 3A 100-meter dash preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley's Rose Pocasangre and Hopewell's Tessa Burgess run the girls 2A 100-meter preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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West Allegheny's Jaidalyn Williams runs the girls 3A 100-meter hurdles preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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New Brighton's Silas Kaye runs the boys 2A 100-meter hurdles preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley's Xander Vescio runs the boys 2A 100-meter hurdles at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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South Side's Nate Ashcroft runs in the boys 2A 100-meter hurdles preliminary heat at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley's Kallie McCune runs the first leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley's Maggie Doz runs the middle leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley's Lucy Montagnese keeps pace with a Shady Side Academy runner in the third leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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OLSH's Charlotte Gauntner runs the third leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley's Mia Gartley runs the final leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Blackhawk's Isabella Ford runs in the girls 3A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Aliquippa's Akiva Woods places second in the boys 2A long jump at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Freedom Area's Augustin Hickenboth captures gold in the boys 2A long jump at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley's Henry Howard runs the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley's Henry Howard hands the batton to anchor Jonah Montagnese in the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Ellwood City's Aden Huth runs the third leg of the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley's Jonah Montagnese looks to make a move on his competition in the boys 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Beaver Area's Isaac Burtt looks to finish the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay strong at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Ellwood City's Lucas Bleakney runs the boys 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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Quaker Valley and Beaver Area's 2A 4x800-meter relay squads sit atop the podium at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
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South Side's Carter Moore captures gold in the boys 2A pole vault at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Montagneseâs day started with the relay and while his former relay partners Jackson Pethel and Clark Lalomia have graduated, it was next man up for the Quakers, with senior Ryan Kempton running the second leg and freshman Henry Howard taking the third.
Even though the four runners have not spent much time together, the results were the same.
âItâs always awesome to come out here, race and capture gold,â Montagnese said. âThis was really our first time putting together our âA squadâ and going after it, so we were all really happy with what we were able to accomplish.â
Through the first few legs of the race, Winchester Thurston got off to a fast start and was off to an early lead.
But even though Winchester Thurston built up some distance, Quaker Valleyâs strategy never wavered, knowing that if it just stuck to its plan, it would be able to take the lead in the final legs.
âWe saw that they [Wichester Thurston] got off a little fast, so we just knew that we had to hold ourselves at a steady pace and catch up when they are tired,â Howard said.
Quaker Valley's Jonah Montagnese looks to make a move on his competition in the boys 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Required Reading: Quaker Valley boys track and field wins third straight team title
Required Reading: WPIAL postpones track and field championships due to inclement weather
Quaker Valley made its move in that third leg, with Howard creating distance and Montaganese finishing the race strong, helping the team run a season best 8:35.21.
Along with the relay gold, Montagnese ran the 800 at 1:56.77, the 1,600 in 4:17.15 and the 3,200 at 9:10.60.
Last season, Aurea Hickenboth captured silver in the girls 2A pole vault in her final WPIAL championship meet. One year later, Hickenbothâs younger brother, Augustin jumped a personal best in the long jump to capture gold in the boys 2A long jump.
âI gave it everything I could today because winning was not something that I was expecting to do,â Hickenboth said. âI just thank God for letting me come in first and put together the performance that I did today.â
The sophomoreâs best jump of the day came on his second flight, jumping 22-01.25, which came after a foul.
Freedom Area's Augustin Hickenboth captures gold in the boys 2A long jump at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
After securing that jump, Hickenboth had a good feeling that it could stick and he could reach the top of the podium.
âAfter my first few jumps, I was starting to get a little excited because at that point, I thought I might make it onto the podium,â Hickenboth said. âBut I just kept competing and let things play out in the end.â
The Freedom Area long jumper beat out Aliquippa junior Akiva Woods, who also jumped a personal best, finishing with a top jump of 21-08.25.
Hickenboth wasnât the only Beaver Valley male athlete to capture gold in a field event, as South Side senior Carter Moore also found himself atop the podium, capturing gold in the Class 2A pole vault.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, Moore powered through, putting together an even 13-00.00 attempt.
âI never expected myself to be in this position,â Moore said. âAs a freshman, I was jumping 9-00.00, which was pretty standard for someone my age, but to see my growth until now, I did not think that I would ever become a WPIAL champion.âWhile the senior thought that becoming a WPIAL champion in this yearâs meet was going to be a tough challenge, he did think that he would reach the podium and bring home silver or bronze after a strong first two attempts.
Moore cleared the bar in his first two attempts, completing 12-06.00 before his best flight of the day in his second jump.
South Side's Carter Moore captures gold in the boys 2A pole vault at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
After realizing that he had one miss less than the other athletes, reality started to set in that Moore had a shot at gold.
âWhen we reached the last height and I had one miss less than everybody else, it was just an amazing feeling knowing that I had a chance to go for gold.â
Up next for Beaver Valley athletes, many will be making the trip to Shippensburg, Pa. to Seth Grove Stadium to take part in the 101st running of the PIAA track and field championships.
The top five athletes from each event in Class 2A boys and girls and the top four athletes in Class 3A boys and girls events receive an automatic qualification. Athletes who meet the state qualifying standard, regardless of placement will also qualify for the PIAA meet.
Here is a look at the athletes from The Timesâ coverage area that will be competing.
Bold denotes gold medalist
Quaker Valley's Mia Gartley runs the final leg of the girls 2A 4x800-meter relay at the 2026 WPIAL track and field championships, Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the William C. Lennox Track in Slippery Rock, Pa.
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at emorrison@usatodayco.com and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver Valley athletes capture gold at WPIAL track and field championships