The high school track and field season has been under way for about a month, but the Norwin squads got their first test Saturday at the Tri-State Track and Field Coaches Association Championships at West Mifflin Area High School.

Both the boys and girls teams passed the test with flying colors, as the girls finished third as a team, and the boys took fourth. In addition, Norwin earned first-place honors in six events and took second in many others.

"They did well. They did real well. We let them focus on one event," coach Trinity Morgan said. "Everyone did what we thought they would do."

Leading the way for the boys was senior Duquesne recruit Dave Farina, who took first in the 800-meter (1:59.27) and 1,600-meter (4:27.42) runs.

"The 800 is going to be his focus this year," Morgan said. "He hasn't run the mile since ninth grade. I didn't expect that. There wasn't anyone near him. It was very impressive."

Senior Mike Steffenino also tied for first in the pole vault after clearing 14 feet, 6 inches.

The Lady Knights featured three event winners -- sophomore Shelby Haitz in the 800 (2:20.01), junior Leslie Kovach in the 3,200 (11:12.10) and senior Amanda Ponsonby in the pole vault (10 feet, 6 inches).

"Shelby set a meet record. We were pleased. We're trying to get her to pace. She should have a big season if she stays healthy," Morgan said. "I didn't think that Leslie Kovach would do that well this early. That's a tremendous time. She's four seconds from Anna Yoney's school record in the two mile already."

Morgan also was happy with Ponsonby and Steffenino in the pole vault because Saturday was the first full day they had to work in their event due to the weather this season.

Earning second-place finishes were sophomore Shannon Abraham in the 200 (26.60) and senior Steve Romanchak and sophomore Nathan Harringer, who tied in the high jump (5 feet, 9 inches).

Other place winners for the girls included Abraham, who took seventh in the 100 (13.20); junior Amanda Cotherman, who was third in the 400 (1:00.94); freshman Jenna Gigliotti, who took eighth in the mile (5:25.38); senior Ali Mols, who finished seventh in the intermediate hurdles (49.09) in her event debut; sophomore Tara Kemp, who was eighth in the long jump (15 feet, 1 inch); sophomore Emmy Yurcusin, who was fourth in the high jump (4 feet, 9 inches); and junior Kerri Morgan, who finished third in the pole vault (9 feet, 6 inches).

Place winners for the boys were junior Tyler DeAntonis, who was seventh in the intermediate hurdles (41.78); junior Cory Stoken, who was eighth in the intermediate hurdles (41.91); senior Brian Stipancic, who finished fourth in the pole vault (13 feet); and the boys mile relay of sophomore Mike Dominik, senior Andy McHugh, junior Nick Revis and Farina, which took seventh (3:32.87).

The girls mile relay, which set a WPIAL record last year during a gold medal run at the WPIAL championships, was made up of Cotherman, Mols, Abraham and Haitz. The group finished second to Penn Hills with a time of 4:02.81, less than one second behind the Lady Indians, which set a meet record at 4:01.93.

"They nicked us, but that's good," the coach said. "I like for them to know someone else is out there. It will make them work a little bit harder."

Erie McDowell won the girls and the boys team titles.