Butler County Classic Showcases Top Track Talent Despite Harsh Conditions

Standout performances from Butler, North Catholic, and Seneca Valley athletes highlight the first major PIAA track meet of the season.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:35pm

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Despite battling cold temperatures and strong winds, athletes from across Butler County delivered impressive results at the annual Butler County Classic track and field meet held at Seneca Valley's NexTier Stadium. Butler's Jason Wick wowed the crowd with a backflip celebration after clearing 15 feet in the pole vault, while the Golden Tornado's relay teams and sprinters like Kevin Shriver continued their dominant ways. North Catholic's Lazzara twins, Anna and Audra, also shone, combining for four gold medals, while Seneca Valley's Jordan Monteleone and Audrey Wolfe secured victories in the high jump and javelin, respectively.

Why it matters

The Butler County Classic serves as an early-season barometer for top track and field talent in the region, providing a glimpse of which athletes and teams could contend for WPIAL and PIAA championships later in the year. Despite the challenging weather, the meet highlighted the depth of local programs and the potential for standout individual performances throughout the 2026 outdoor season.

The details

Butler senior Jason Wick easily cleared 15 feet in the pole vault, his first attempt at the height, before celebrating with an enthusiastic backflip. The Butler boys also saw strong performances from their 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800 relay teams, as well as individual wins from sprinter Kevin Shriver in the 100m and Carter Ekas in the 400m. On the girls side, North Catholic twins Anna and Audra Lazzara combined for four gold medals, with Anna winning the shot put and Audra taking the long jump and 100m hurdles. Seneca Valley's Jordan Monteleone and Audrey Wolfe also emerged victorious in the high jump and javelin, respectively.

  • The Butler County Classic was held on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Seneca Valley's NexTier Stadium.
  • Butler senior Jason Wick cleared 15 feet on his first attempt in the pole vault.

The players

Jason Wick

A senior at Butler High School who won the pole vault event with a clearance of 15 feet, celebrating with an enthusiastic backflip.

Kevin Shriver

A junior sprinter at Butler High School who won the 100m dash with a time of 11.43 seconds.

Anna Lazzara

A junior at North Catholic High School who won the shot put event with a throw of 31 feet, 5 inches.

Audra Lazzara

A junior at North Catholic High School who won the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 7.5 inches and the 100m hurdles with a time of 16.57 seconds.

Jordan Monteleone

A senior at Seneca Valley High School who won the high jump event with a clearance of 5 feet, 3 inches.

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What they’re saying

“I was pretty nervous with the conditions. We made the right adjustments.”

— Jason Wick, Butler High School senior

“I definitely think after last year it really opened my eyes how successful we could be, especially collegiately. I think in this day and age, you kind of have to focus on one sports.”

— Audra Lazzara, North Catholic High School junior

“When the weather gets nicer and it's sunny outside, I would like to hit Seneca Valley's No. 1 all-time girls high jump, which is 5-7.”

— Jordan Monteleone, Seneca Valley High School senior

What’s next

Butler's Kevin Shriver will look to continue his strong start to the season when the Golden Tornado take on North Allegheny in a big dual meet on Monday.

The takeaway

Despite the harsh weather conditions, the Butler County Classic showcased the depth of local track and field talent, with standout performances from athletes across Butler, North Catholic, and Seneca Valley. These early-season results suggest an exciting and competitive 2026 outdoor season lies ahead for PIAA programs in the region.