Penn Hills Unified Track and Field Team Shines at Franklin Regional Meet

Penn Hills High School’s Unified Track and Field team delivered an impressive performance at its April 30 meet against Franklin Regional High School and Fox Chapel Area High School, earning multiple first place finishes.

In the 100-meter run, Mckayla Patterson-Rutherford placed first in Division 5 with a time of 27.23 seconds, while Deanna Johnson captured first place in Division 6 with a time of 19.16 seconds. Marvaughn Martin also earned a first-place finish in Division 10 with a time of 12.44 seconds. 

The Indians also excelled in the 400-meter run, where Arianna Craighead finished first in Division 1 with a time of 1:33.00. 

Penn Hills athletes continued their success in field events. Nazir Rucker earned first place in the mini javelin in Division 2 with a throw of 2.68 meters, while Patterson-Rutherford added another first-place finish in Division 3 with a throw of 5.35 meters. Avondre Harris took first in Division 9 with a throw of 18.46 meters. 

In shot put competition, Deanna Johnson placed first in Division 2 with a throw of 4.49 meters, and Zakariyaa Lahijuddin won Division 5 with a throw of 10.09 meters. 

Penn Hills also posted strong performances in relay competition. The team of Avondre Harris and Evan Mason earned first place in the 4x100-meter Unified Relay Division 3 with a time of 57.67 seconds. 

Additional standout performances included second place finishes from Nazir Rucker in the 100-meter run, Nathan Amorino in the 800-meter run and mini javelin, Evan Mason in the 100-meter run, and Avondre Harris in the 400-meter run. Marvaughn Martin also delivered a strong showing in the long jump with a mark of 4.43 meters. 

Unified Track and Field brings students with and without intellectual disabilities together as equal teammates, competing alongside one another in fully recognized high school athletics. Penn Hills’ strong showing at Franklin Regional reflected the team’s hard work and the supportive culture that defines Unified sports.

2025-26 Penn Hills Unified Track and Field Roster

Athletes:
Arianna Craighead, Nate Amorino, Mckayla Patterson-Rutherford, Nazir Rucker, Deanna Johnson, DeAndre Curry Cammon, Marvaughn Martin, Zion Burnett, Zakriyaa Lahujjidin, Avondre Harris, Avontae Harris, Evan Mason, and Melkhi Mosley.

Student Coaches:
Leslie Nicholas, Nylah Bingham, Royalty Irvin, Nivea Knight, and Tauriyah Meachem.