By Scott Huff
The wonderful element of track and field is that an individual or relay represents both himself or herself and represents the colors with the school name on the laundry.
The PIAA District One meet was held in the rain, mist, and mostly unfavorable conditions at Coatesville High School last Thursday and Friday.
There were three District One records broken – all by Suburban One League athletes.
Abington set the record in the 400-meter relay as the Ghosts stopped the clock in 3:48.85. The time bested the time set by Chester in 1982, which ran a 3:49.30. The foursome consisted of Nicole Grasty, Rachel Strother, Leah Nugent, and Jordan Matthews.
Upper Moreland junior Drew Magaha set the record in the 1600-meters as he clocked in with a time of 4:10.99. His time broke the record held by Dan McKay of Hatboro-Horsham who ran a 4:13.09 back in 1998.
Wissahickon senior Hong Cho set the record in the 800-meters as stopped the watches in 1:50.92. Cho broke the existing record held by Central Bucks South’s Tom Mallon run in 2010 in a time of 1:52.71.
The next – and very last – stop on the Suburban One League outdoor tour comes in the PIAA State Meet to be held on the campus of Shippensburg University. The meet will be held this Wednesday (5/28) and Thursday (5/29).
Women’s Team Results
Top Ten Schools from the SOL
1. Abington Ghosts – District Champions – 52 points
2. North Penn Maidens – 38
6. Central Bucks West Bucks – 30
6. Quakertown Panthers – 30
8. Pennridge Rams – 28
12. Cheltenham Panthers – 23
13. Council Rock South Golden Hawks – 21
15. Plymouth Whitemarh Colonials – 20
18. Norristown Eagles – 18
18. Pennsbury Falcons – 18
The fact that Quakertown senior Alicia Evans won the 400-meters at the District One meet came as a revelation to absolutely nobody.
“Alica is a great competitor and a real team leader,” said Quakertown head girls’ coach Jason Anderson. “We are very lucky to have her on the team – she is a key to our relays and also is wonderful in the individual events. And she is just a great kid.
“We had a dual meet with Central Bucks East and a girl pulled up with a hamstring injury in the same race that Alicia was running,” added Anderson. “And she was the first one there to see if there was anything should could do to help the girl. That act was very indicative of the quality way she handles herself.”
In addition to her gold medal performance in the 400 meters with a winning clocking of 55.18, Evans took a silver medal in the 200 meters with a time of 25.10. Evans also helped the Panther 4 x 100 relay qualify for the state meet at Shippensburg University as the relay stopped the watches in 48.84.
Abington won the team title behind superlative individual performances from Leah Nugent (gold in the 300 hurdles), Jordan Matthews (gold in the long jump), and Nicole Grasty (bronze in both the 100 and 200 meters). The 4 x 400 set a district record with Nugent, Matthews, Grasty, and Rachel Strother composing the team.
Event Winners
Gold Medal Winners
Emerald Walden – Plymouth Whitemarsh – 100 meter hurdles
Tori Gerlach – Pennridge – 1600 meters
Alicia Evans – Quakertown – 400 meters
Norristown Eagles – 4 x 100 relay
Leah Nugent – Abington – 300 hurdles
Meghan McGovern – North Penn – 3200 meters
Abington Ghosts – 4 x 400 relay
Anne Holland – Pennridge – High Jump
Haley Gorenflo – Plymouth Whitemarsh – Pole Vault
Jordan Matthews – Abington – Long Jump
Silver Medal Winners
Taylor Williams – Hatboro-Horsham – 100 meters
Cheltenham Panthers – 4 x 100 relay
Alicia Evans – Quakertown – 200 meters
Tori Gerlach – Pennridge – 3200 meters
Central Bucks West – 4 x 400 relay
Kelly Anne Stuetz - Cheltenham – High Jump
Sydnee Jacques – North Penn – Triple Jump
Tyra Roberts – Bensalem – Shot Put
Jen Comfort – Central Bucks West – Javelin
Bronze Medal Winners
Central Bucks West – 4 x 800 relay
Kayla Charles – North Penn – 100 hurdles
Nicole Grasty – Abington – 100 meters
Sarah Holl – Upper Dublin – 1600 meters
Paige McDowell – Council Rock South – 300 hurdles
Nicole Grasty – Abington – 200 meters
Sara Sargent – Pennsbury – 3200 meters
Amanda Benninghoff – Central Bucks East – Pole Vault
Event Breakdown with ALL athletes making state qualifications @ District One Meet
Relays
There were a pair of SOL teams qualify for the 4 x 800 relay as CB West took second in 9:17.56 and CB South finished fifth in 9:23.26.
The strongest showing by the SOL came in the 4 x 100 relay, which was won by Norristown in 47.83. Cheltenham (48.13), Quakertown (48.84), Central Bucks East (49.38), Central Bucks South (49.40). Pennridge (49.46), Pennsbury (49.47), Central Bucks West (49.75), and North Penn (49.94) all qualified for the state meet.
There were a total of four teams that will go to Shippensburg in the 4 x 400 relay. Abington won the event in 3:48.85, while CB West took second in 3:49.97. North Penn (3:59.46) and CB East (4:01.22) also met state marks.
Sprints
There were five qualifiers from the SOL in the 100-meters. Taylor Williams (Hatboro-Horsham – 12.24), Nicole Grasty (Abington – 12.26), Zakiyyah Richardson (Pennsbury – 12.36), Jody Evans (Quakertown – 12.36), and Katelyn Jackson (Cheltenham – 12.58) will all make the trip out west.
There were four state qualifiers from the SOL in the 400 meters. Alicia Evans (Quakertown - 55.18), Jordan Matthews (Abington – 56.60), Jamila Branch (CB West – 56.66), and Michelle Stranix (CB East – 57.86) all will go to states.
There will be five runners in states from the SOL in the 200 meters. Alica Evans (Quakertown – 25.10), Nicole Grasty (Abington – 25.28), Taylor Williams (Hatboro-Horsham – 25.40), Zakiyyah Richardson (Pennsbury – 25.71), and Katelyn Jackson (Cheltenham – 25.44) are all on that list.
Hurdles
There are three qualifiers for Shippensburg in the 100-meter hurdles. That list includes Emerald Walden (Plymouth Whitemarsh – 14.33), Kayla Charles (North Penn – 14.86), and Leah Nugent (Abington – 14.12). Nugent was DQ’d in the finals for touching a hurdle.
There are four runners that qualified in the 300-meter hurdles – Leah Nugent (Abington - 43.11), Paige McDowell (Council Rock South - 44.88), Kelly Knauer (CB East – 46.03), and Emerald Walden (Plymouth Whitemarsh – 46.10).
Distances
It was a good day for the SOL in the 1600 meters as five runners qualified for states. That list includes Tori Gerlach (Pennridge – 4:59.28), Sarah Holl (Upper Dublin – 5:04.69), Kathleen Stewart (CR South – 5:06.94), Morgan Perry (Pennsbury – 6:07.98), and Meghan McGovern (North Penn – 5:12.84).
There were only two runners who will head west in the 800 meters – Heather Selheimer (North Penn – 2:16.09) and Tabitha DeHart (Cheltenham – 2:18.25).
The 3200 meters will have four runners from the SOL. Meghan McGovern (North Penn – 10:39.17), Tori Gerlach (Pennridge – 10:49.14), Sarah Sargent (Pennsbury – 10:52.41), and Kate Scott (Council Rock North – 10:59.62) all met state marks.
Field Events
There are four state qualifiers in the high jump. That list includes Anne Holland (5-7), Kelly Anne Stuetz (Cheltenham – 5-4), Taylor Uzedzinski (CR South – 5-3), and Taylor Morgan (Upper Dublin – 5-3).
There was a pair of athletes will qualified for the pole vault – Haley Gorenflo (Plymouth Whitemarsh – 11-6) and Amanda Benninghoff (CR South – 11-0).
The long jump also had a pair of qualifiers – Jordan Matthews (Abington – 18-9.75) and Ciara Andrews (Cheltenham – 17-10.75).
The lone qualifier from the SOL in the triple jump was Syndee Jacques (North Penn – 37.05.25).
Going to Ship in the shot put as the lone qualifier will be Tyra Roberts (Bensalem – 38-02.25).
There will be two javelin throwers from the SOL – Jen Comfort (CB West – 128-10) and Bridget Coffey (North Penn – 126-00)
Men’s Team Results
Top Ten Teams from the SOL
1. Central Bucks West Bucks – District Champions – 45.5
4. Norristown Eagles – 33
7. Council Rock North Indians – 30.5
8. Cheltenham Panthers – 26
10. Wissahickon Trojans – 25
10. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters – 25
10. Abington Ghosts – 25
14. North Penn Knights – 22.5
17. Council Rock South Golden Hawks – 18.5
18. Upper Moreland Golden Bears – 15
It is only fitting that Central Bucks West would win its first district title with a marvelous effort in the relays.
“All season we have emphasized how important it was to be able perform in the relays,” said veteran head coach Tom Conboy. “The relay teams all work extremely hard as a team, and they have come to expect excellence from each other.
“All throughout the season, they worked tirelessly on hand offs,” continued Conboy. “If they didn’t have an exchange down, they would work extra time to get them to be the best they could be.”
The Bucks took first place in both the 4 x 100 and the 4 x 800 relay, while the 4 x 400 relay finished in second place.
The foursome in the 4 x 100 consisted of Dan Ernst, Bill Bell, Greg Branch, and Rashaad Williams. The quartet in the 4 x 800 consisted of Nico Metzler (who ran for the injured Mike May), Matt McGarvey, Matt Bee, and Connor Manley. Manley, Bee, Austin Kline, and McGarvey were the foursome in the 4 x 400 relay.
“There are no weaknesses on those teams – we have both outstanding runners and very solid runners on each team,” said Conboy. “I felt good about the quality of our relays going into districts, and I thought we might have a shot at winning the meet.
“I was really surprised with the team total of 45.5,” added Conboy who has coached at CB West for the last 28 years. “I thought we could get 39 or maybe 40 points. We had a great meet.”
Connor Manley – who was unbeaten in the outdoor season until districts – played a huge role in the team title.
“Manley was the real story of the day,” said Conboy. “He proved that he is just a phenomenal athlete. Connor came up with great efforts in both the league championships, and the districts.
“Now we move on to states,” continued Conboy. “Our mindset isn’t to win a state championship, but we just want to go out and do the best we can as both individuals and a team.”
Event Winners
Gold Medal Winners
Central Bucks West - 4 x 800 Relay
Drew Magaha – Upper Moreland – 1600 meters
Matt Gilmore – Cheltenham – 400 meters
Central Bucks West – 4 x 100 Relay
Hong Cho – Wissahickon – 800 meters
Matt Gilmore – Cheltenham – 200 meters
Abington – 4 x 400 Relay
Terrance Edwards – Norristown – Shot Put
Silver Medal Winners
Tyler Smith – Norristown – 100 meters
Colin Dempster – Hatboro-Horsham – 400 meters
Connor Manley – Central Bucks West – 800 meters
Central Bucks West – 4 x 400 Relay
Joe Smith – Norristown – long jump
Bronze Medal Winners
Brandon Mercer – North Penn – 100 meters
Chris Campbell – Council Rock North – 1600 meters
Norristown – 4 x 100 meters
Ryan Hynes – Central Bucks South – 300 meter hurdles
Josh Mindlin – Council Rock North – 200 meters
Sam Hibbs – Hatboro-Horsham – 3200 meters
Wissahickon – 4 x 400 relay
Jay Jabat – Pennsbury - High Jump
Harley LaCroix – Cheltenham – Triple Jump
Tevin Kirby – Hatboro-Horsham – Shot Put
Event Breakdown with ALL athletes making state qualifications @ District One Meet
Relays
The SOL has five teams that qualified for Shippensburg in the 4 x 800 relay. Those teams are CB West (7:46.07), CB South (7:55.86), Abington (7:56.17), Pennridge (7:56.95), and North Penn (7:57.31).
The 4 x 100 relay teams that qualified from the SOL are Central Bucks West (42.40), Norristown (42.56), Council Rock North (42.64), North Penn (42.71), Pennsbury (43.14), and Wissahickon (43.27).
The SOL qualified four teams in the 4 x 400 relay. That quartet of teams is Abington (3:18.65), Central Bucks West (3:21.23), Wissahickon (3:23.09), and North Penn (3:21.78).
Sprints
The SOL will send five runners to states in the 100 meters. That list includes Tyler Smith (Norristown – 10.88), Brandon Mercer (North Penn 11.01), Paulus Gipla (Truman – 11.05), Rashaad Williams (Central Bucks West – 11:07), and Brandon Shippen (Norristown – 11.28).
The 400-meter state qualifiers are Matt Gilmore (Cheltenham – 48.34), Colin Dempster (Hatboro-Horsham – 48.58), Will Taylor (Abington – 49.17), and Macey Watson (Abington – 49.60).
The SOL will send five runners to Shippensburg in the 200-meters. Matt Gilmore (Cheltenham – 21.95), Josh Mindlin (CR North – 22.33), Ian McIntyre (CR South – 22.44), Dan Ernst (Central Bucks West – 22.46), and Paulus Gipla (Truman – 22.43).
Hurdles
There will be two hurdlers that will go west to compete in states in the 110-meter hurdles. Max Hairston (Wissahickon – 14.67) and Jeff Krystek (CR North – 15.01) both met state qualifications.
The SOL will send three hurdlers to states in the 300-meter hurdles. That trio includes Ryan Hynes (CB South – 39.21), Max Hairston (Wissahickon – 39.22). and Derek Newsome (Hatboro-Horsham – 39.65).
Distances
There will be five members of SOL schools to compete in states in the 1600-meters. That list includes Drew Magaha (Upper Moreland – 4:10.99), Austin Gregor (CB South – 4:17.60), Joey Waddington (CB South – 4:24.20), Connor Harrington (Pennsbury – 4:20.22), and Ben Ravetz (Wissahickon – 4:23.51).
The SOL will send a total of eight runners to Ship in the 800-meters. That group consists of Hong Cho (Wissahickon – 1:50.92), Connor Manley (CB West – 1:51.50), Drew Magaha (Upper Moreland – 1:53.64), Brad Rivera (Bensalem – 1:53.88), Michael Doyle (CR South – 1:56.04), Kodi Burns (Hatboro-Horsham – 1:56.08), Chris Trimble (North Penn – 1:56.11), and Kyle Moran (Abington – 1:56.22).
There will be a trio of runners in the 3200-meters – Sam Hibbs (Hatboro-Horsham – 9:22.42), Alex Izewski (CB East – 9:24.36), and Dillon Farrell (Wissahickon – 9:26.63)
Field Events
There was one state qualifier in the high jump – Jay Jabat (Pennsbury – 6-5).
There was one state qualifier in the long jump – Joe Smith (Norristown – 22-6.50)
There were two state qualifiers in the triple jump - Harley LaCroix (Cheltenham – 46-01.50) and Trevell Moxey (North Penn – 43.3.50)
There were two state qualifiers in the shot put – Terrance Edwards (Norristown – 56-03.25) and Tevin Kirby (Hatboro-Horsham – 53-11.75).
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