On the same night as a pair of big local invitationals, two of the top high school distance runners in the country decided to trade the track for the dance floor.
For Butler’s Drew Griffith and Mt. Lebanon’s Logan St. John Kletter, last Friday was not about shooting for PR’s, but rather enjoying the PROM.
And while these state champions, All-Americans and marvelous milers attend schools located 45 miles apart, their senior prom experience came with each other.
Griffith and St. John Kletter were dates for Butler’s prom, which was held at Butler County Community College.
“It was really fun,” St. John Kletter said. “One of the big highlights of senior year.”
There will be thousands upon thousands of proms taking place around the United States this spring, but if you searched far and wide, it’s doubtful you would find many that include a pair of teens there as dates who are so accomplished athletically.
Griffith is arguably the top boys distance runner in the country. A Notre Dame recruit, Griffith has run the fastest 1,600-meter time in the nation this spring and has come within a second of running a sub-4-minute mile. St. John Kletter is elite herself. A North Carolina recruit, St. John Kletter is the defending PIAA Class 3A champion in the 3,200 who recently ran the fastest 3,000 time by a girl in state history while finishing third in the event at the prestigious Penn Relays.
Perhaps this prom should have been sponsored by Gatorade, as Griffith and St. John Kletter were picked as Gatorade Pennsylvania Cross Country Players of the Year last fall after winning PIAA Class 3A titles. It was the second such honor for Griffith, who closed his season by winning the title at Foot Locker Nationals. Each went on to then win state indoor titles in the mile back in March.
So, why did this dynamic duo of distance runners partner up for prom? Easy. They are a couple. The two have been dating for a year and seven months. Their first date? A 10-mile run on the Montour Trail.
“It’s always funny to tell people that,” St. John Kletter said.
Of course, both teens began their prom day by running, as each had track workouts that morning. The two will try to help their respective teams win WPIAL team titles Tuesday at West Mifflin before competing in the WPIAL individual championships next Wednesday at Slippery Rock University.
Griffith and St. John Kletter dined on steak at The Allegheny Grille in Foxburg prior to the prom and took photos at a farm owned by the family of a friend. They did it in style, too, with Griffith getting behind the wheel of his uncle’s and aunt’s red Porsche 911 S.
“They let me take it for a few practice runs first,” Griffith said, laughing.
St. John Kletter wore a purple dress and Griffith a black suit and black tie. Griffith also donned a fresh pair of white New Balance tennis shoes, which was only fitting considering he has an NIL deal with the company.
Griffith was actually on the prom court, but was unable to add prom king to his long list of accolades. That honor went to classmate Carson Bish, while Leah Deal was selected as queen.
The star power at Butler’s prom didn’t end with just Griffith and St. John Kletter, though. Also in attendance was Central Catholic’s Pete Gonzalez, a Penn State football recruit who was there with Griffith’s cousin, Butler senior Sarah Szebalskie. Braylon Littlejohn, another senior at Butler, was there, too. He’s headed to play football at Miami (Ohio).
“We had a really fun time at the dance and it was just a fun night overall,” Griffith said.
The theme of Butler’s prom was “A Night in Rome,” but for Griffith and St. John Kletter, their mindset was more like “When in Rome.” They may be well-known high school stars with bright futures, but on this night, they were just teens enjoying one of the highlights of their senior year.
Said St. John Kletter, “It was just dancing and having fun, and just being a kid.”
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.