Scott Huff highlights SOL athletes who excelled at the PIAA Indoor Track Championships.
By Scott Huff
The Pennridge Ram women’s track team is blessed to begin the upcoming outdoor season with an extremely talented team. The highest profile group on this brilliant squad is the 2011-2012 Pennsylvania Indoor champion relay team that captured a gold medal in the 4 x 200 relay with an astounding clocking of 1:42.39.
“We knew going into the indoor season that we were going to have a good relay team,” said Pennridge head coach Bill Smith. “But to be able to win an indoor state title exceeded all expectations.”
The fearless foursome that accomplished that championship sprint – in order of the leg run – included lead runner Taylor Chapman, second leg Ariana Przybylowski, third leg Casey O’Brien, and anchor Natalia Pinkney. Both Chapman and Przbylowski are just freshmen, while O’Brien is a senior, and Pinkney is only a junior.
“We knew all about Taylor and Ariana before the season,” said Smith. “Both of them came through our middle school program, and our middle schools compete on our track. That hurts us a little with practice time, but I get to see the younger kids compete and get a chance to build a relationship with them.
“Taylor is a very strong runner who also competes in the 100, 200, and 400,” added Smith. “And Ariana was considered to be one of our jumpers – which she is – but she has excelled on the track and earned herself a spot on the relay.
“Casey is the ‘old-lady’ of the group and has overcome some injuries from previous years and has been very successful so far,” continued Smith. “And Natalia has the mindset of wanting to be the anchor – she loves it. She is our best sprinter and is running quite well.”
The Lady Rams have already tucked away a school record in the 4 x 100 this outdoor season with a clocking of 48.7 – and Pennridge accomplished that feat without O’Brien who was on a recruiting trip to South Carolina. Sophomore Sara Damon replaced O’Brien and the Rams were still able to record a school record.
“The handoffs were perfect,” said Smith. “Sara is one of our hurdlers, and although she might not be one of our fastest runners, she is great with the handoffs. We have a tremendous amount of depth on this team, and we are excited about the meets that we have ahead of us.”
The Pennridge Ram men’s track team is also blessed to begin the upcoming outdoor season with a fine team. The highest profile group of this team is the 2011-2012 Pennsylvania Indoor champion relay team that captured a gold medal in the 4 x 800 relay with a terrific time of 7:51.74.
The talented quartet of runners for the Rams included seniors Craig Benton, Nick Stenderowicz, Austin Kohler, and Joey Logue.
Quakertown’s Jody-Ann Evans and Abington’s Jordan Matthews also gathered gold at the state indoor tournament. Evans – who finished second in the 200 meters – won gold in the 60 meters with a blazing clocking of 7.57. Matthews – who finished eighth in the 200 meters – mined gold in the long jump with a magnificent leap of 18 feet – 10 inches.
There isn’t a sportthat translates to numbers the way that track and field does. On the track the stopwatch is the deciding factor, while in the jumps and throws the tape measure decides it all.
Perhaps the best indicator of how things will go this spring season in the Suburban One League is the outcome of the Pennsylvania State Indoor tournament.
Perhaps.
The results are the following:
Men
First Place Finishers
1. Pennridge Rams – 4 X 800 relay – [7:51.74]
Second Place Finishers
2. Wissahickon Trojans – 4 X 400 relay – [3:21.49]
2. Neshaminy Redskins – 4 X 200 relay – [1:29.6]
2. Sam Hibbs – Hatboro-Horsham – 300 meters – [8:45.78]
Third Place Finishers
3. Corey Hackett – Hatboro-Horsham – 400 meters – [49.36]
Fourth Place Finishers
4. Pennsbury – 4 X 200 relay – [1:30.31]
4. North Penn – 4 X 800 relay – [7:58.28]
4. Tevin Kirby – Hatboro-Horsham – shot put – [55-09-25]
4. Harley LaCroix – Cheltenham – long jump – [22-04-5]
4. Jalen Ramsey – Norristown – high jump – [6-4]
Fifth Place Finishers
5. Francis Ferruzzi – Upper Dublin – 300 meters – [8:51.94]
5. Max Hairston – Wissahickon – 60 meter hurdles – [8.07]
5. Central Bucks West – 4 X 800 relay – [7:58.36]
5. Pennridge Rams – 4 X 400 relay – [3:24.14]
5. Council Rock North – Distance Medley Relay – [10:40.4]
Women
First Place Finishers
1. Jody-Ann Evans – Quakertown – 60 meters – [7.57]
1. Pennridge Rams – 4 X 200 meters – [1:42.39]
1. Jordan Matthews – Abington – long jump – [18-10]
Second Place Finishers
2. Jody-Ann Evans – Quakertown – 200 meters – [25.03]
2. Megan McGovern – North Penn – 3000 meters – [9:57.10]
2. Katelynn Williams – Plymouth Whitemarsh – 60 hurdles – [8.98]
2. Taylor Morgan – Upper Dublin – high jump – [5-8]
2. Amanda Benninghoff – Council Rock South – pole vault – [12-0]
Third Place Finishers
3. North Penn – Distance Medley Relay – [12:20.44]
Fourth Place Finishers
4. Central Bucks West – 4 X 400 relay – [3:58.87]
4. Pennridge – Distance Medley Relay – [12:21.78]
Fifth Place Finishers
5. Zakiyyah Richardson – Pennsbury – 60 meters– [7.82]
5. Marissa Sheva – Pennridge – mile – [5:02.16]
5. Tori Gerlach – Pennridge – 300 meters – [10:09.98]
5. Kayla Coley – Cheltenham – 60 hurdles – [9.11]
5. Central Bucks South – 4 X 800 relay – [9:28.36]
Men Top 20 Finishers (by event – places 6-20)
60 meters
6. Tyler Whitemore – Upper Moreland – [7.08]
9. Adam Lewis – Pennsbury – [7.11]
9. Ryan DePinto – Neshaminy – [7.11]
200 meters
6. Ryan Hynes – Central Bucks South – [22.12]
14. Tyler Whitemore – Upper Moreland – [22.45]
17. Ohyle Elijah – Bensalem – [22.54]
19. Bryan Reice – Neshaminy – [22.56]
20. Adam Lewis – Pennsbury – [22.57]
20. Austin Gardener – Neshaminy – [22.57]
400 meters
7. Cornell Dixon – Wissahickon – [50.04]
8. Ohyle Elijah – Bensalem – [50.14]
11. Francis Jajua – Pennsbury – [50.32]
12. Bryan Reice – Neshaminy – [50.45]
19. Tyrone Leach – Norristown – [51.66]
800 meters
9. Brad Riveria – Bensalem – [1:57.19]
10. Ryan Dickson – Central Bucks South – [1:57.34]
12. Sam Brooks – Wissahickon – [1:58.23]
13. Chris Trimble – North Penn – [1:58.32]
18. Jeffrey Wiseman – Council Rock South – [1:59.30]
20. Connor Harriman – Pennsbury – [2:04.86]
Mile
7. Jack Macauley – North Penn – [4:23.22]
13. James Zingarini – Council Rock North – [4:26.45]
19. Connor Harriman – Pennsbury – [4:31.51]
60 meter hurdles
10. Paul Wahlman – Council Rock North – [8:39]
4 X 200 Relay
6. Norristown – [1:30.96]
9. Wissahickon – [1:31.35]
10. Pennridge – [1:31.58]
13. Council Rock North – [1:31.97]
14. North Penn – [1:32.28]
16. Bensalem – [1:32.89]
18. Central Bucks South – [1:33.13]
4 X 800 Relay
10. Central Bucks East – [8:05.99]
12. Bensalem – [8:11.56]
14. Abington – [8:16.84]
4 X 400 Relay
9. Bensalem – [3:26.67]
11. Upper Moreland – [3:27.28]
14. Pennsbury – [3:28.12]
16. Central Bucks West – [3:28.28]
17. Norristown – [3:28.47]
18. North Penn – [3:28.59]
20. Central Bucks South – [3:28.91]
Shot Put
12. Evan Mao – Upper Dublin – [49-9-5]
Long Jump
6. Cody Minnig – Neshaminy – [22-1-5]
8. Jacob Soltis – Upper Moreland – [21-10-75]
9. Ryan Hynes – Central Bucks South – [21-8-50]
14. Dan Gevirtz – North Penn – [21-5-50]
High Jump
6. Carlos Bennett – Plymouth Whitemarsh – [6-2]
Triple Jump
6. Harley LaCroix – Cheltenham – [45-4-0]
7. Chris Spadaro – Council Rock South – [45-2-25]
Pole Vault
8. Corey Smith – Central Bucks West – [14-0]
11. James Harcher – Quakertown – [13-0]
16. Tom Sternberg – Council Rock South – [13-0]
Women Top 20 Finishers (by event places 6-20)
60 meters
6. Natalia Pinkney – Pennridge – [7.83]
11. Rowanda Watson – Norristown – [7.89]
14. Taylor Chapman – Pennridge – [7.98]
200 meters
7. Elizabeth Daniels – Central Bucks East – [25.56]
8. Jordan Matthews – Abington – [25.60]
11. Alexis Bell – Norristown – [25.88]
13. Zayna Milligan – Norristown – [26.00]
400 Meters
8. Jamila Branch – Central Bucks West – [58.07]
9. Uchechi Unouha – Pennsbury – [58.08]
Mile
13. Rachel Brown – North Penn – [5:16.45]
15. Kathleen Stewart – Council Rock South – [5:17.09]
3000 meters
7. Sara Sargent – Pennsbury – [10:11.17]
60 hurdles
8. Paige McDowell – Council Rock South – [9.31]
4 X 200 Relay
7. Norristown – [1:45.34]
8. Pennsbury – [1:45.62]
10. Central Bucks East – [1:45.96]
12. Quakertown – [1:46.18]
15. Neshaminy – [1:46.60]
17. Council Rock South – [1:47.14]
4 X 400 Relay
7. Pennsbury – [4:02.09]
10. Pennridge – [4:04.05]
13. Abington – [4:04.78]
14. Bensalem – [4:04.89]
15. Council Rock South – [4:05.10]
17. Central Bucks East – [4:05.48]
4 X 800 Relay
6. Pennsbury – [9:32.14]
7. Council Rock North – [9:40.76]
Distance Medley Relay
12. Central Bucks West – [13:08.21]
Shot Put
14. Taylor Hojnacki – Central Bucks South – [35-7-75]
High Jump
14. Kelly Anne Stuetz – Cheltenham – [5-2]
15. Shannon Taub – Council Rock South – [5-2]
Triple Jump
12. Syndee Jacquez – North Penn – [35-5-25]
15. Lauren Sulke – Quakertown – [35-2-75]
17. Ebony Grasty – Wissahickon – [34-0-75]
Pole Vault
9. Stacey Nagele – Quakertown – [11-0]
The 28th Annual Pennsylvania Track Classic will be held on Saturday (3/31/12) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. There will be a number of excellent Suburban One League schools that will compete on one of the finest track and field facilities in the area. That list includes: Central Bucks West; Cheltenham; Council Rock North; Council Rock South; Hatboro-Horsham; Neshaminy; Norristown; Pennridge; Plymouth Whitemarsh; Upper Dublin; Upper Merion; Upper Moreland; and Wissahickon.
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