FC Runner Sets Record at WPIAL Championship

Friday, May 15, 2015

Elias Graca, Evan Lesnick and Tre Tipton didn’t break their own personal records Thursday. They did eclipse some more significant marks.

All three Alle-Kiski Valley boys athletes set new meet records at the WPIAL track and field championships Thursday at Baldwin High School: Graca, a Fox Chapel senior, in the boys Class AAA 800-meter run; Lesnick, a Riverview senior, in the boys Class AA pole vault; and Tipton, an Apollo-Ridge senior, in the boys Class AA long jump.

Graca established a new outdoor personal best, but he ran faster during the indoor season. He was hoping to set a new school record but settled for a WPIAL-record time of 1 minute, 52.86 seconds — besting Upper St. Clair runner James Smith’s mark of 1:53.23, set last season.

“It was definitely something I was gunning for,” Graca said. “I didn’t quite get my school record, but I’m happy. I’m content with a first place.”