Disclaimer: I set up teams as if I were the head coach, but I acknowledge that my approach might not have been the best one. There are several factors of which I may not be aware, such as injuries, athletes saving themselves for individual finals, weather conditions, and athlete ineligibility. Winning the WPIAL Team Playoffs requires a coach to set up their team to win three or four meets against different teams on the same day. This involves making strategic decisions, such as whether to run a distance runner in the 800, 1600, and 3200, or whether to remove a star athlete from a relay and place them in another individual event. The WPIAL Team Playoff is a unique set of meets, and having a deep team makes it easier to set up the team for success. The AAA schools tend to benefit more from the playoffs than the AA schools due to their larger numbers.
Score Source: PennTrackXC Rankings
AAA Girls Top 10 teams (NixonTFXC Dual Meet Rankings)
1. North Allegheny
2. Norwin
3. Hempfield
4. South Fayette
5. Mount Lebanon
6. Butler
7. Canon Mac
8. North Catholic
9. Upper St Clair
10. Kiski Area
Match up #1
NixonTFXC Pick: #2 Norwin over #9 Upper St. Clair 122-28
Key events: Long Jump, Triple Jump, & 100m
X Factor: Mel Schmidt Norwin
Match up #2
NixonTFXC Pick:#1 North Allegheny over #3 Hempfield 86-64
Key events: 100m, High Jump, Pole Vault, Javelin & 4×100
X Factor: Isabella Costa North Allegheny
Match up #3
NixonTFXC Pick: #6 Butler over #8 North Catholic 89-51
Key events: 100H, 100m,400m, & Long Jump
X Factor: Lauren Bowden Butler
Match up #4
NixonTFXC Pick: #4 South Fayette over #5 Mount Lebanon 75-75 (SF 10 1st place finishes)
This meet was the hardest to predicated, one event can change the entire meet and go in Mount Lebanon favor.
Key events: 1600m, 100H, Javelin, 4×400, Pole Vault, Triple Jump, & Shot Put
X Factor: Delaney Schumaker South Fayette
AAA Girls Upset Watch: North Catholic & Hempfield
Toughest Match Up: Hempfield, Canon Mac @ North Allegheny
AAA Boys Top 10 teams (NixonTFXC Dual Meet Rankings)
1. Butler
2. Norwin
3. North Allegheny
4. Seneca Valley (non-playoff team)
5. Mount Lebanon
6. Penn Trafford
7. Franklin Regional
8. Canon Mac
9. Moon
10. Kiski Area
Match up #1
NixonTFXC Pick: #2 Norwin over #10 Kiski Area 122-28
Key events: 800m, 110H, High Jump, & Triple Jump
X Factor: Ryan Schiller Norwin
Match up #2
NixonTFXC Pick: #3 North Allegheny over #8 Canon Mac 89-61
Key events: 400m, 800m, & Triple Jump
X Factor: Jack Yatchenko North Allegheny
Match up #3
NixonTFXC Pick: #1 Butler over #7 Franklin Regional 87-63
Key events: 100m, 400m, 800m, 3200m, 300H, High Jump, Shot Put & Javelin
X Factor: Drew Griffith Butler
Match up #4
NixonTFXC Pick: #5 Mount Lebanon over #6 Penn Trafford 78-72
Key events: 100m, Javelin, Pole Vault, & 400m
X Factor: Luke Cramer Mount Lebanon
AAA Boys Upset Watch: Penn Trafford & Franklin Regional
Toughest Match Up: Mount Lebanon, Penn Trafford, New Castle, & Elizabeth Forward
Track and field is more than an individual sport; it’s also a team sport with 18 events, where athletes aim to finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd to score points and help their team reach the magic number of 76. Once a team scores 76 points, they have secured the team victory.
What could change the outcome of a dual meet in track and field?
No height in the pole vault or high jump
Three fouls in the throws or jumps.
Dropped baton in the relays.
Hitting a hurdle
Disqualifications in any event
Weather
Top athletes resting for individual finals.
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