2011 Track & Field Notebook (Vol. 5)

Check out the photos from all three days of the Penn Relays. Visit the Photo Gallery by clicking on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/g/2010-11ae

By Scott Huff
 
Abington was beyond impressive with a second place finish in the boys’ 4 x 800 Championship of America relay at the 117th Penn Relays. The Ghosts stopped the watches in 7:37.79 – the best time in the state of Pennsylvania this outdoor season by a resounding 13 seconds.
 
The senior fearsome foursome consisted of Marcey Watson, Will Taylor, Tevin Smith, and Kyle Moran. Watson ran the leadoff leg in 1:56.32, while Taylor ran the second leg in a team-best 1:53.01. Smith ran a strong third leg in 1:55.20, while Moran anchored with a terrific 1:53.26 clocking.
 
Central Bucks West was very impressive with a third place finish in the same 4 x 800 Championship of America relay at the 117th Penn Relays. The Bucks stopped the watches in 7:38.97 – a school record.
 
The quartet consists of seniors Mike May, Matt McGarvey, Matt Bee, and Connor Manley.
 
“The four of them have been running together since they have been sophomores,” said Central Bucks West head coach Tom Conboy. “And they have been constantly improving – they run with the mentality of being a team.
 
“I think what factored into the school record was the competition of the field and the competition we have with Abington,” added Conboy. “They loved competing on the big stage at the Penn Relays – and I’m sure that we will run even better with the big meets we have coming at the end of the season.”
 
Central Bucks South was very impressive with a second place finish in the boys’ Distance Medley relay at the 117th Penn Relays. The Titans stopped the watches in 10:15.46 – a team best.
 
The foursome consists of senior Joe Waddington, junior Ryan Hynes, junior Ryan Dickson, and senior Austin Gregor. Waddington runs the opening 1200-meter leg, while Hynes takes the baton and runs the 400 meter second leg. The baton is then passed to Dickson for the 800-meter leg, and Gregor anchors the 1600-meter leg.
 
“The guys have been training hard, and they put it all together at the Penn Relays,” said Central Bucks South boys’ head coach Mike Cox. “They ran really well at indoor states and finished fifth, but they felt that they should have run better.
 
“They were not intimidated by any team on the track, and they did what they had to do to compete well,” added Cox. “They feel they can run a 10:10, and we believe that could happen down the road.
 
“Joe, Austin, and Ryan (Dickson) all run on the 4 x 800 meter relay,” continued Cox. “They will continue to run well and work together.”
 
Council Rock North set a school record in the boys’ 4 x 400 meter relay. The Indians stopped the watches in 3:21.50.
 
The Rock North team consisted of Josh Mindlin (50.62 split), Bobby Perepiczka (50.54). Dan Ruth (50.68), and Justin Dury-Agri (49.67).
 
Cheltenham also was very impressive with a second place finish in the 4 x 400 Championship of America relay at the 117th Penn Relays. The Panthers stopped the watches in 3:21.26 0 the best time of the season for Cheltenham.
 
The lead-off leg for the Panthers was junior Anthony Allen, while the second leg was run by junior Harley Lacroix. Senior Chris Stephens ran the third leg while senior Matt Gilmore ran the anchor.
 
“We qualified for the COA with (sophomore) Kyree Leer running the second leg,” said Cheltenham head boys’ track coach Dr. Robert Beale. “We won that race, and I really thought they we were going to win the (COA) race as well.
 
“I was very pleased with the way that we ran, we were hoping to break 3:20, but that will come,” added Beale. “To qualify for that (COA) race means that you are one of the top teams in the area – and that you have an exceptional team.”
 
The quartet of Allen-LaCroix-Stephens- and Gilmore has also been exceptional in the 4 x 100 relay, but with the time period of just a little over an hour between the 4 x 100 and the 4 x 400, the Panthers ran a second foursome in the 4 x 100.
 
“If we had a little more time between races, that first group could have run both races,” said Beale. “But we got a second group in there, and they did an outstanding job.”
 
The quartet of freshman Issac Lewis, junior Nafis Spence, junior Marcus Morales, and senior Maleek Utendhal finished in eighth place with a time of 45.25.
 
“It was great to get that experience running before a crowd like that and against that competition,” said Beale. “We have big races to run, and this should help us get better.”
 
Outstanding SOL Penn Relay Results By Conference
Suburban One League Continental Conference
 
 
Central Bucks South Titans
 
Boys:
       2nd – Distance Medley Relay – 10:15.46
 
Central Bucks West Bucks
 
Boys:
       3rd - 4 x 800-meter relay – 7:38.97
       5th – 4 x 100 meter relay – 42.71
      
Girls:
       3rd – 4 x 100-meter relay – 3:54.89
       10th – 4 x 800-meter relay – 9:20.16
 
Pennridge Rams
 
Girls:
       4th – Tori Gerlach – 3000 meters – 9:40.42
       7th – Anne Holland – High Jump – 5-6.5
 
North Penn Knights
 
Girls:
       16th – Kayla Charles – 400-meter hurdles – 1:05.67
       9th – Distance Medley Relay – 12:08.51
 
 
Suburban One League American Conference
 
Cheltenham Panthers
 
Boys:
2nd – 4x400 relay – 3:21.26
       8th – 4 x 100 relay – 45.25
      
Girls:
       6th – 4 x 100 relay – 48.84
 
Norristown Eagles
 
Boys:
       15th – Terrance Edwards – Shot Put – 50-5.5
 
Girls:
       7th – 4 x 100 relay – 48.60
 
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
 
Girls:
       6th – Haley Gorenflo – Pole Vault – 11-1.75
 
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
 
Girls:
       13th – Taylor Morgan – High Jump – 5-1.
 
Upper Moreland Golden Bears
 
Boys:
       17th – Terrell Watson – Javelin – 144-3.
 
 
Wissahickon Trojans
 
Boys:
       10th - 4 x 800-meter relay – 7:49.50
       3rd – 4 x 400 relay – 3:22.41
 
 
Suburban One League National Conference
 
 
Abington Ghosts
 
Boys:
2nd Place - 4 x 800 meter relay – 7:37.79
 
Girls:
       1st – 4 x 400 relay – 3:47.16
       10th – Leah Nugent – 400-meter hurdles – 1:02.44
       4th – 4 x 100 meter relay – 48.30
       4th – Jordan Matthews – long jump 18-7
 
 
Council Rock North Indians
 
Boys:
       11th – 4 x 400 relay – 3:28.87
       15th – Distance Medley Relay – 10:38.76
 
Pennsbury Falcons
 
Girls:
       13th – Sara Sargent – 3000 meters – 10:02.53
 
Truman Tigers
 
Boys:
       13th – Jamiel Cunningham – discus – 158-1.
 
 
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