Highlanders succeed at 46th Baldwin Invitational

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Johnny Staley

The 46th annual Baldwin Invitational on Friday proved to be a successful one for the Highlanders, as the boys team came in second overall and senior twins Bailey and Brendan O’Malley both won gold medals.

The 46th annual Baldwin Invitational on Friday proved to be a successful one for the Highlanders, as the boys team came in second overall and senior twins Bailey and Brendan O’Malley both won gold medals.

In a daylong event that saw a lot of rain, the boys team came in second out of 68 teams.

“It was huge for the team and for many of the seniors as that was our last meet on our home track. We came up six points short, which we could’ve picked up in other places, but it’s promising for the team as we close in on WPIALs next week,” senior John Ziegler said.

The O’Malley brothers, meanwhile, turned in strong performances at their last Invitational.

“As twin brothers, we show how hard we are willing to work and our dominance in track and field as a family,” Bailey O’Malley said.

Bailey won the shot-put event for the second straight year at the invitational, and placed eighth in discus.

“Not only to be a Baldwin Invite champion but a repeat champion is just another dream I thought I never accomplish when I was only a freshman,” Bailey O’Malley said

Brendan came home with two gold medals: one in the 400 meter dash and another in the long jump. He also came in third in the 200 meter dash.

“It felt pretty good. Winning was great, but since it was the last meet I am ever going to have at the home track, it felt even better,” Brendan O’Malley said.

Brendan was able to break the school record for long jump for the third time this season with a jump of 23 feet, 6.5 inches.

“It’s crazy to think that I am the best long jumper to come through Baldwin. I feel I’m making a legacy for myself here at Baldwin,” Brendan said.

The O’Malleys inspire the rest of the team, sophomore Joseph Kosslow said.

“Their leadership and tough mentality is what really help us reach the position we have achieved,” Kosslow said.

Ziegler, meanwhile, took home a bronze medal by breaking the two-minute mark for the first time in the 800 meter dash, running a 1.59.22.

“At the beginning of the season, it was my goal to beat the two-minute mark by the Baldwin Invite, and I was hyped to actually be able to do it,” Ziegler said.

The three seniors hope to achieve even more before the season ends.

“I hope we can continue this momentum into the individual WPIAL Championship meet,” Bailey O’Malley said.

Also for the boys team, the 4×100 relay team, consisting of Brendan O’Malley, juniors Angelo Priore, Naseer Penn, and Jarren Kelly, finished third.

On the girls team, the 4×800 relay placed fifth. Running on that team were Lena Barakat, Devon Schroeder, Macy Hale, and Kaylee Garafalo.

Also on the girls team, junior Mia Fischetti placed seventh in the pole vault.

The rainstorms, meanwhile, were an issue for everyone.

“The rain was a factor because sitting there tenses your legs up and it takes longer to warm them back up,” sophomore John Mainarich said.