Check back for coverage and photos of SOL athletes competing on Saturday. Please check the Photo Gallery for photos of Thursday and Friday’s action.
By Dave Conard for SOL Sports
PHILADELPHIA-Council Rock North’s Ross Wilson was a patient man on Friday at the Penn Relays held in the confines of historic Franklin Field.
After all, he had to be.
If the fact that hundreds of heats and more than 75 events took place before he got a chance to toe the line for the Boys 3000-meter championship presented by Clear Channel, didn’t test his patience, then dealing with the other 28 runners that clogged up the track would be a piece of cake.
Wilson, who jumped up into the lead pack of five runners in the first two circuits, patiently settled in behind the leaders, keeping ever mindful of the elite field nipping at his heels while stalking the top spot.
At the halfway mark, the top six, which included Wilson, started to break away from the huddled masses a bit, opening a five-meter gap of clean air to work with as the final 1400 meters where in sight
With 800 meters remaining, things started heating up, and the SOL standout found himself in fourth place and still in touch with eventual winner Andrew Hunter (VA) and runner-up Justyn Knight (CAN), but having to deal with Darien, Connecticuit’s Alexander Ostberg (8:20.14) and pesky Dominic DeLuca (Dallas, PA) 8:21.89, who finally nipped Wilson at the line claiming the fifth place medal, as Wilson finished with a time of 8:23.56.
Wilson was not the only SOL entry in the big show as CB East’s Jake Brophy would come home with a time 8:41 and change.
Panthers Shine in 4x100
Coming into action on Friday, Cheltenham’s Jalen Coriano-Nix, Saahir Bethea, Issac Lewis and Christian Brissett had run fast before, like 43 seconds fast in the 4 x 100 relay many times, but it came as no surprise Friday that they were capable of dropping below that 43 second mark in the biggest race of the year.
“I thought we were pretty fast,” said anchorman Christian Bissett. “We have run 43’s a bunch of time, but to come in and get it down to 42 is pretty awesome. We trust each other and know what we have to do out there. Jalen got a great start, and we all took it from there.”
The time of 42.21 places the Panthers fab-four second overall out of almost 300 small schools nationwide that make the trek to Philly and gives them a great chance to claim a medal in Saturday’s Championship of America small schools 4 x 100 presented by Kingston College.
“I hope we get a chance to run in the final,” said a confident Jalen Coriano-Nix. “We should be in great shape. The way the season has progressed, I knew we would be in one of the inside lanes, which makes it a little tougher, but we found a way to get it done.”
The Panthers will line up against four Jamaican schools including St Elizabeth, Munro College, Excelsior and Garvey Maceo along with St. Jago, which was the only team to eclipse Cheltenham’s qualifying time, posting a 41.42 finish.
“I think we can top that if we get a chance tomorrow, we would like to get under 42.00: said Isaac Lewis. “If we get a good start and have a decent lane, we should be able to have great chance to win it. We feel very confidant right now and to get a chance to run tomorrow with the Olympic athletes here and the huge crowd is just unbelievable.”
Unbelievable, that’s a pretty good word to describe the Penn Relays.
Varichione leaves mark in discus
Andrew Varichione placed 10th in the discus with a throw of 49.41 meters (162-1). Only the top eight advanced to the finals, but it was a new personal best for the Quakertown senior.
Running Rams break loose to qualify for show!
Pennridge boys’ track coach Bob Hosier is not what you would call a superstitious man. If he were, he would probably tell the Rams’ bus driver on Saturday morning to take a different route to Franklin Field than his 4x800 squad did two years ago when they qualified for the Championship of America.
“We were in this spot two years ago,” said Hosier, whose running Rams posted a time of 7:50.43 on Friday to earn a spot in the big dance again. “We have been on a roll the past few years, and it is a testament to our seniors and the leadership they have provided.”
An enthusiastic quartet of runners led by a sensational second leg from Dan Williams (1:57.63) and a blistering final leg by Joey Lougue (1:52.27), Pennridge was able to dig out of any early hole to finish fourth in their heat behind record setting Calobar (7:42.94), Chaminad (NY) 7:44.2 and South Brunswick, NJ 7:44.46 getting the invite to the final.
“I didn’t like what happened to us today,” added Hosier. “We got boxed in from the start and really had to fight our way out of it. Tomorrow the plan will be to get clear as soon as possible. That way we can dictate how we want to run.”
The senior-laden Rams squad has not only raised the bar but has established the ground work for years to come as the freshman squad from Pennridge Central ran away with the 4 x 100 9thgrade race with Nico Araneta, Matt Moyer, Austin Herrilinger and Matt Ludlow posting a time of 46 second flat crossing the line ahead of Spring-Ford (46.72) and Coatesville (46.79).
“Yeah, our freshman won today,’ said Hosier. “These seniors made an impact when they were freshmen, now our ninth graders are picking it right up. It’s just fantastic to see their work pay off.”
“Our guys got really keyed up today,” added Hosier. “That’s their mentality. They won’t be denied. Hopefully we are ready tomorrow. Two years ago, the second day was like everyone brought out their A teams, the pace really picked up.”
With another huge crowd expected Saturday, Pennridge will have another chance to carry the SOL banner into battle as they square off against the best the nation has to offer in the 4x800m Championship of America presented by Grace Foods, with the backdrop of USA versus the world going on as well.
“This means a lot to these young men,” added Hosier. “To get a chance to run with 50,000 eyes on you, on the biggest stage is something they or I will never forget. Of course, it is an honor to make it, but we want to do much more than that. Let’s see how far we can go and see if we can finish it.
Suburban One League finishers
Heat two
4-Pennridge-Alex Masgai (2:01.59), Dan Williams (1:57.63), Matt Schulberger (1:58.95), Joey Logue (1:52.27)
12-Central Bucks East 8:00.57 -Oliver Boucher (1:59.08), Mike Donnello (1:57.28), Frank Brophy (1:57.18), Atta Shahideh (2:07.04)
15- Bensalem 8:08.43 Alex Ramirez (2:05.66), Rahi Shah (2:03.47), Tyji Mays (2:02.75), Kyle Francis (1:56.56)
SOL’s Future Stars Excel at Penn Relays
In early action, the “Young Guns” of the Suburban One league sent a message to the area that they mean business as Pennridge claimed the top honor in the 9thgrade boys’ 4 x 100 relay finishing at 46.00 while North Penn cruised to a sixth place finish with a time of 48:29.
In the ladies 9thgrade bracket, the team of Deja Parket, Asha Rucker, Serene Bender and Neeyah Turner of Cheltenham ran away with the win in the 4 x 100, posting a time of 51.22.
Holland Middle School’s time of 53.42 in the 4 x 100 relay, put up by Sara McDonald, Elka Knecht, Daniela Masone, and Brittany Gable was good enough to take home sixth place right behind Norristown Area who grabbed the third spot with a time of 51.44 thanks to a great effort by Siani Sanders, Lorraine Boggs, Charity Guy and Jayana Webb.
Antaun Lloyd, Rasheed Wright, Marlyn Johnson and Shamere Dunswell of Wissahickon Middle School set the tone for the boys’ 4 x 100 finishing runner-up 48:20. Pennridge Central 48.68 (CJ Weiman, Joe Devine, David Geitz, Josh Pinkney) and Norristown Area 48.80 (Tygee Leach, Oscar Hughes, Tyrese Leach, Tyler McCray ) were both in the mix as they competed on the biggest stage for track in the tri-state area.
North Penn, powered by the combined efforts of Joe LeConey (3:15.90), Tyler Johnston (50.34), Brian Piscitelli (2:04.02), Ryan Grace (4:34.58), got the opportunity to compete in the high school distance medley Championship of America presented by Blue Cross and emerged with a time of 10:44.83, which claimed 14thspot overall against the best in the nation.
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