This week’s notebook highlights the Cheltenham Lady Panthers and highlights the top performances at last weekend’s 29th Pennsylvania Track Classic.
By Scott Huff
The Cheltenham women’s track and field program is one of the elite programs in the area and that Lady Panther talent was on display recently in the 29th Pennsylvania Track Classic held at Plymouth Whitemarsh last Saturday.
“I have been very blessed to have great athletes come through our program,” said Cheltenham head coach Kelly Jensen. “We want to make the experience fun for the athletes, but we also want it to be demanding. We have some eighth graders coming into the program that are talented, and we might even be stronger next year.”
Cheltenham senior Kayla Coley is one of the finest performers in the state and will soon make a decision on which Division One college she will attend.
“Kayla is one of the strongest, most explosive, runners in the state,” said Jensen. “Both she and I are very excited about this spring season – we should be competing for a couple of state championships. She is off to a great start, has a great attitude, and should finish off her great career with a terrific senior season.”
Coley turned in a blue-chip performance at the PTC with first place finishes in the 100-meter hurdles (14.3), 300-meter hurdles (43.27), and long jump (17.05.24). Coley also ran on the second place finishing 4 x 100 meter relay and the 4 x 400 meter relay.
Cheltenham junior Katelyn Jackson is a wonderful sprinter who won the 100-meter at the PTC in a clocking of 12.11 and anchored the talented 4 x 100 relay.
“Katelyn has dealt well with the transition of moving from Springside back to Cheltenham this year,” said Jensen. “She is extremely talented and has a great upside. I can’t wait to see what she is going to accomplish the next two years.”
Cheltenham sophomore Ciara Leonard just might be the best hurdler in the area – except that she has to run against her brilliant teammate in Coley. Leonard –who also runs on the 4 x 100 relay - finished just 0.04 behind Coley in the recent 100-meter hurdles at the PTC meet.
“Ciara and Kayla push each other hard and compete hard,” said Jensen. “And when the race is over they are the best of friends. Ciara came out of nowhere, but everyone knows who she is now. She finished third in the state last year in the hurdles.”
Another sophomore, Janiel Slowly, has made an impact early this season. Slowly was anything but as she finished fifth at the PTC with a 12.86 clocking. She also runs on the 4 x 100 relay.
“Janiel has really blossomed into a fine runner,” said Jensen. “She is always ready to work, and she is willing to try anything to get better. She has been a nice surprise.”
Senior Hannah Gilliam has secured her spot as the top of the line for the Lady Panthers in the 800 meters. Gilliam finished third at the PTC with a time of 2:22.90.
“Hannah is a real team leader, and she is coming off a strong cross country season,” said Jensen. “We expect a strong season out of her.”
And with Coley, Jackson, Leonard, Slowly, and Gilliam women’s track and field fans can expect a strong season out of the Cheltenham Lady Panthers.
Spotlight on the 29th Pennsylvania Track Classic @ Plymouth Whitemarsh
Top Five Women’s Results
100 Meters
1. Katelyn Jackson – Cheltenham – 12.11
2. Taylor Chapman – Pennridge – 12.21
5. Janiel Slowly – Cheltenham – 12.86
200 Meters
1. Taylor Chapman – Pennridge – 24.85
4. Alexis Bell – Norristown – 25.79
800 Meters
3. Hannah Gilliam – Cheltenham – 2:22.90
1600 Meters
1. Marissa Sheva – Pennridge – 5:02.85
2. Caitlyn Sheva – Pennridge – 5:07.25
3200 Meters
3. Brianna Mengini – North Penn – 12:16.95
100 Meter Hurdles
1. Kayla Coley – Cheltenham – 14.30
2. Ciara Leonard – Cheltenham – 14.34
300 Meter Hurdles
1. Kayla Coley – Cheltenham – 43.27
4 x 100 Meter Relay
2. Cheltenham – 48.59
4 x 400 Meter Relay
2. Cheltenham – 4:08.47
3. Upper Merion – 4:09.80
4. North Penn – 4:10.80
4 x 800 Meter Relay
1. North Penn – 9:42.02
5. Upper Merion – 9:59.21
Distance Medley
1. North Penn – 12:46.19
4. Upper Merion – 13:55.76
High Jump
3. Sammy Lochner – Abington – 5-02
Pole Vault
2. Anecia Alexaki – Upper Merion – 9-06
Long Jump
1. Kayla Coley – Cheltenham – 17-05.24
2. Ariana Przybylowski – Pennridge – 17_02.50
Triple Jump
2. Kailah Holmes – North Penn – 35-09.50
4. Ariana Przybylowski – Pennridge – 35-00.00
Shot Put
2. Christine Johnson – North Penn – 36-01
3. Kristen Morrison – North Penn – 34-09.25
5. Ashley Alexander – Cheltenham – 32-05.50
Discus
2. Kristen Morrison – North Penn – 105.06
4. Christine Johnson – North Penn – 93-01
5. Essen Milligan-Williams – Norristown – 93-0
Javelin
3. Ella Fox – Pennridge – 125-09
4. Cait Mautz – Central Bucks West – 124-05
5. Julie Wisniewski – Central Bucks West – 119-07
Top Five Men’s Results
100 Meters
1. Joe Smith – Norristown – 11.04
2. Tyler Whitemore – Upper Moreland – 11.09
3. Mark Thompson – Cheltenham – 11.10
4. Christian Brissett – Cheltenham – 11.11
5. Mike Brown – Norrristown – 11.21
200 Meters
2. Mark Thompson – Cheltenham – 21.88
4. Christian Brissett – Cheltenham – 22.30
400 Meters
2. Dave Stellato – Wissahickon – 49.19
4. Isiah Smith – Abington – 51.54
800 Meters
1. Jeffrey Wiseman – Council Rock South – 1:58.19
2. John Lewis – Cheltenham – 1:58.95
1600 Meters
3. Francis Ferruzzi – Upper Dublin – 4:30.96
3200 Meters
3. Jack Maccauley – North Penn – 9:24.39
110 Meter Hurdles
4. Jared Alston – North Penn – 15.17
300 Meter Hurdles
4. Riley Gaibler – North Penn – 40.28
5. Andrew Dillon – Norristown – 41.24
4 x 100 Meter Relay
4. Norristown – 44.38
5. Wissahickon – 44.42
4 x 400 Meter Relay
2. Wissahickon – 3:26.24
4 x 800 Meter Relay
3. Abington – 8:11.05
4. Cheltenham – 8:11.08
5. Council Rock South – 8:16.94
Distance Medley Relay
3. Upper Dublin – 10:54.42
Pole Vault
2. Vincent Esposito – North Penn – 14-0
Long Jump
2. Joe Smith – Norristown – 21-04
3. Chris Spadaro – Council Rock South – 21-03
4. Byron Coleman – Plymouth Whitemarsh – 20-11
5. Nkoski Jones – Wissahickon – 20-00
Triple Jump
2. Jared Alston – North Penn – 44-08
4. Chris Spadaro – Council Rock South – 43-09
Shot Put
4. Paul Sommersville – Cheltenham – 48-05
Discus
3. Paul Sommerville – Cheltenham – 134-04
Javelin
2. Sean Locke – Hatboro-Horsham – 159-09
4. Travis Young – Hatboro-Horsham – 153-02
5. Ed La Salle – Hatboro-Horsham – 151-08
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