Beaver is home to a new WPIAL champion!

Junior Lizzy Michael is the girls’ pole vault WPIAL champion!

The track and field team traveled to Slippery Rock University May 17 and competed at the track and field individual championships.

Michael won the first place prize with a final jump of 11 feet and 6 inches. This qualifies Michael for the PIAA state championships later this week.

Michael explained that “It was very exciting for me because I didn’t even qualify for WPIALs last year, so to win it last year was a big step for me.”

Senior Ella Andrew also had an impressive day with a sixth place finish in the 1600 meter run with a final time of 5:23.02.

Andrew also finished sixth in the 3200 meter run with a final time of 11:58.20.

Both junior Allison Tate and sophomore Rylie Teapole also competed in the two mile run. Teapole came in twelfth place with a final time of 12:19.57, and Tate came in thirteenth place with a final time of 12:20.98.

The girls’ 4x800 meter relay also had a fourth place finish with a final time of 10:03.69. This time and place qualifies the relay for the PIAA state championships.

For the throwers, junior Delaney Thomas competed in the discus event and received eleventh place. She threw a total of 91 feet and ten inches.

As the only representative of the boys’ team, junior Eli Bechdel had a ninth place finish in the 1600 meter run with a final time of 4:20.40.

Bechdel stated that “WPIALs was a great experience this year; everyone who went did an amazing job and it was a great end to my season. I hope for the best for everyone headed to states!”