Scott Huff highlights some of the top performances at the indoor state meet as well as the New Balance Indoor Nationals.
By Scott Huff
Bensalem head coach Mary Ellen Malloy has been coaching the men’s track and field team since 1987 when she was an assistant coach under Ken Worthen – and she has been the head coach of the Owls since 1997.
“When I first started coaching the boys, there was a little bit of hesitation,” said Malloy who was recently selected as Coach of the Year for the indoor season in the state of Pennsylvania. “You know, girls don’t know how to coach guys. But that has all changed, and the idea of me coaching guys is just accepted.
“I’ve been involved in track ever since I was racing against the boys when I was a little kid,” continued Malloy. “I ran at Cardinal O’Hara in high school, and I ran at Villanova in college. I love the sport.”
The Bensalem guys took the team indoor state title with a total of 41 points that was five points better than second place Garnet Valley. Other Suburban One League teams in the top 20 were Pennridge (3rd- 31), Pennsbury (6th – 19), Neshaminy (7th – 18), Cheltenham (8th – 16), Council Rock North (12th – 14), Wissahickon (14th – 12), and Norristown (14th – 12).
“Any time you win any type of title, everything has to come together on a given day,” said Malloy. “We knew going into the meet that it was possible for us to win it all, but you still have to go out and perform.”
The superlative first place performances for the Owls in the meet came in the 800 meters, the 400 meters, and the 4 x 800 meter relay. Bensalem took second place in the 4 x 400 meter relay.
Bensalem senior Brad Rivera collected the gold medal in the 800 meters with a time of 1:52.43. Upper Merion’s Christian Sanders took second place honors with a clocking of 1:53.20.
“Brad is like a son to me, I have coached him since the second grade,” said Malloy. “He is a student of the sport and is extremely coachable. We have a great chemistry, and he has tremendous speed for a distance runner.”
Owl senior Ohyle Elijah collected the gold medal in the 400 meters with a clocking of 48.76. Pennridge’s Nick Stenderowicz took second place honors with a time of 48.79.
“Ohlye doesn’t realize how fast he really can be,” said Malloy. “He really didn’t become serious about the sport until the last year, and he has great potential.”
The Bensalem foursome of Rivera, senior Matt French, senior Armand Cox-Finn, and junior Kyle Francis collected the gold in the 4 x 800 relay with a clocking of 7:51.80 ahead of second place West Chester Henderson (7:54.73). The Owl quartet of Rivera, junior Kerron Holley, Cox-Finn, and Elijah finished in second place in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 3:20.75 behind first place Pennridge (3:19.47).
“I love the indoor season when it is the indoor season, and I love the outdoor season when it is the outdoor season,” said Malloy. “There are more big meets in the outdoor season, so we are anxious to get outside and compete.”
The SOL women’s teams also did well in the indoor championship meet as Cheltenham finished in second place with 38 points. Other top 20 SOL finishers were Pennridge (4th – 28), Pennsbury (5th – 27), Quakertown (9th – 16), Central Bucks West (12th – 11), Central Bucks South (13th – 10), and Council Rock South (13th – 10).
2013 Indoor Track & Field All-State Teams
Women’s First Team
Jody Ann Evans – Quakertown – 60 meter dash
Kayla Coyley – Cheltenham – 60 meter hurdles
Katelyn Jackson – Cheltenham – 200 meter dash
Marissa Sheva – Pennridge – One mile run
Amanda Benninghoff – Council Rock South – Pole Vault
Men’s First Team
Ohyle Elijah – Bensalem – 400 meter dash
Brad Rivera – Bensalem – 800 meters
Norristown – 4 x 200 meter relay
Pennridge – 4 x 400 meter relay
Bensalem – 4 x 800 meter relay
Women’s Second Team
Katelyn Jackson – Cheltenham – 60 meter dash
Pennridge – 4 x 200 meter relay
Pennsbury – 4 x 800 meter relay
Taylor Hojnacki – Central Bucks South – Shot Put
Men’s Second Team
Cody Minnig – Neshaminy – 60 meter dash
Tyler Whitmore – Upper Moreland – 200 meter dash
Nick Standeorwicz – Pennridge – 400 meter dash
Christian Sanders – Upper Merion – 800 meters
Pennridge – 4 x 200 meter relay
Bensalem – 4 x 400 meter relay
Council Rock North – Distance Medley Relay
Women’s Third Team
Natalia Pinkney – Pennridge – 60 meter dash
Jody Ann Evans – Quakertown – 200 meter dash
Sara Sargent – Pennsbury – One mile run
Pennsbury – 4 x 400 meter relay
Men’s Third Team
Jeffrey Wiseman – Council Rock South – 800 meters
Cody Minnig – Neshaminy – Long Jump
Women’s Honorable Mention
Ciera Leonard – Cheltenham – 60 meter hurdles
Husniyyah Rogers – Pennsbury – 400 meter dash
Veronica Elder – Central Bucks East – 3000 meters
Cheltenham – 4 x 200 meter relay
Central Bucks West – 4 x 400 meter relay
Men’s Honorable Mention
Joey Logue – Pennridge – 800 meters
James Zingarini – Council Rock North – One mile run
Cheltenham – 4 x 200 meter relay
Cheltenham – 4 x 400 meter relay
Pennsbury – 4 x 800 meter relay
Tim Deley – Central Bucks South – High Jump
Kyree Willis-Lear – Cheltenham – Triple Jump
New Balance Indoor Nationals Held @ The Armory in NYC
The best performance at this prestigious meet was turned in by the Pennridge 4 x 400 meter relay team that achieved All-American status with a clocking of 3:17.10. The Ram foursome consisted of Joey Logue, John Kim, Michael Class, and Nick Stenderowicz. Pennsbury placed sixth in the 4 x 200 meter relay to earn its All-American status. The Falcon quartet was comprised of Francis Jajua, Anthony Bullaro, Montel Johnson-Troupe, and Charles Snorweah who finsiehd with a time of 4:52.14.
The most outstanding women’s performances included an All-American fourth place finish by Sara Sargent of Pennsbury in the mile run (4:52.14) and a fifth place All-American performance by Jody-Ann Evans of Quakertown in the 60-meter dash (7:52). The Pennridge 4 x 200 meter relay team of Taylor Chapman, Ariana Przbylowski, Lindsey Sheehan, and Natalia Pinkney stopped the watches in 1:41.46 which earned a fourth place finish and All-American status.
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