This week’s track notebook features of the SOL’s top ‘sister acts’ and also highlights some of last weekend’s top performances.
By Scott Huff
Sister Act – Part Four
There was quite a show put on by a foursome of Suburban One League sister combinations in the recent Central Bucks West Relays held last weekend. On display on the winner’s stand were the Pennsbury tandem of Sara and Olivia Sargent; the Council Rock South pair of Allison and Shannon Taub; the Central Bucks South couple of Amber and Brianna Stratz; and the Pennridge duo of Katrina and Ariana Przybylowski.
The Sargent girlstook first place in the Distance Medley (12:27.93) along with Erin O’Connell and Nini Rogers – and also took first place in the 4 x 1600 relay (20:49.96), this time running with Hannon Molloy and Erica Gray.
“Both Sara and Olivia are tremendous competitors and that competition wears off on the rest of the team,” said Pennsbury head coach Tim Cass. “Both of them have the mile as their best event, but both of them have different form.
“Sara likes to run from the front and will not allow anyone to dictate the race to her,” added Cass. “She always runs her ‘A’ game and has lived up to the hype that she came with as a young runner.
“Olivia has phenomenal times, but her sister is there and she doesn’t get to win races,” continued Cass. “She is having a great year, and next year should be her breakthrough year – not that this year isn’t.”
Sara is a senior and one of the premier runners in the state, and she will be attending the University of Virginia next year.
“It was an extremely difficult decision, and it came down to Virginia and Villanova,” said Sara. “I would like to go to the McIntyre School of Business and then move on to law school.
“I know that I have matured a lot as a runner, and that every race is different,” added Sara. “I love to run with the lead, but I have also learned that I can use a kick at the end of the race if I need to do that to win the race.
“Running this year with Olivia has been a lot of fun,” continued Sara. “We only get the one year to do this, and we want to enjoy it as much as possible.”
Olivia is a freshman and has three more highly successful years to look forward to at the scholastic level.
“This year is a very special year being able to run with Sara,” said Olivia. “She has been able to guide me through some of the things that I need to know running at this level.
“Our goals are pretty much the same – qualify for districts and states,” added Olivia, as she will join Sara and most likely Gray and O’Connell on the Falcon 4 x 800 relay at the Penn Relays. “But we both want to make this a special year.”
The Taub twins took first place at the CB West Relays in the high jump with a combined effort of 10-4. Both Allison and Shannon cleared the bar at 5-2.
“Last year, as freshmen, they competed only in the high jump,” said Council Rock head coach Deric Lynch of his talented sophomores. “But this year they have exploded in scoring points in other events. Allison has qualified for districts in the high jump, the triple jump, the shot put, and the javelin. Shannon has qualified in both the high jump and the triple jump, and is close in the long jump.
“The thing I love about both of them is that they are super nice kids – and super competitors,” added Lynch. “They are truly each other’s biggest competitors and biggest fans.
“Allison picked up a javelin for the first time recently and told me she could compete in that event,” continued Lynch. “And in only her second meet – she qualified for districts.”
“I didn’t think that coach thought I could compete in the javelin, but I wanted to prove him wrong,” said Allison. “Last year we just competed in the high jump, and both of us wanted to do more this year.
“My sister provides a great deal of motivation for me,” added Allison. “We both compete in every event with the idea of winning.”
“We have been competing against each other – and training with each other – since the first grade,” said Shannon. “I would say that I am Allison’s #1 competitor – and #1 supporter. This has been an awesome experience for the both of us.”
The Stratz sisters took first place for Central Bucks South in the 4 x 800 relay along with Jenn Horner and Alexa Knapinski with a clocking of 9:34.45, while the Przybylowski sisters took top honors for Pennridge in the long jump with a combined leap of 32-5.75.
And then there is the talented Pennridge distance running Sheva sisters named Marissa and Caitlyn … another day and another story.
Central Bucks West Relay Gold Medal Winners
Women
- Central Bucks East – Sprint Medley (4:13.39) – Merideth Lahetta, Julia Leventhal, Alexis Knipe & Dara Lindsey.
- Pennsbury – Distance Medley (12:27.93) – Erin O’Connell, Nini Rogrs, Sara Sargent & Olivia Sargent.
- Pennridge – 4 x 100 relay (48.37) – Taylor Chapman, Ariana Przybylowski, Lindsey Sheehan & Zoe Williams.
- Pennridge – 4 x 200 relay (1:41.54) – Taylor Chapman, Ariana Przybylowski, Lindsey Sheehan & Zoe Williams.
- Central Bucks West – 4 x 400 relay (3:57.88) – Lizanne Furst, Olivia Berry, Zoe Bremier & Jamila Branch.
- Central Bucks South – 4 x 800 relay (9:34.45) – Amber Stratz, Jenn Horner, Alexa Knapinski & Brianna Stratz.
- Pennsbury – 4 x 1600 relay (20:49.96) – Olivia Sargent, Erica Gray, Hannah Molloy & Sara Sargent.
- Pennsbury – 300 intermediate hurdles (1:34.33) – Uche Onucha & Sara Hludzinski.
- Council Rock South – High Jump (10-4) – Allison Taub & Shannon Taub.
- Pennridge – Long Jump (32-5.75) – Katrina Przybylowski & Ariana Przybylowski.
- Council Rock South – Pole Vault (22-0) – Amanda Benninghoff & Katie Hirthler.
- North Penn – Shot Put (66-4.25) – Christine Johnson & Kristen Morrison.
- Central Bucks West – Discus (197-5) – Lauren Livezey & Cait Mautz.
- Central Bucks West – Javelin (183-4) – Lauren Livezey & Cait Mautz.
Men
- Central Bucks West – Sprint Medley (3:38.66) – Greg Branch, Ethan Lowe, Jamie Valdez & Austin Kline
- Pennsbury – Distance Medley (10:38.26) – Sam Webb, Alex Sauer, Liam O’Connell & Connor Harriman.
- Pennsbury – 4 x 100 relay (42.80) – Ty Nelson, Anthony Bullaro, Montel Johnson & Francis Jajua.
- Neshaminy – 4 x 200 relay (1:28.96) – Cody Minnig, Dave Marrington, Joe Sulon & Renard Howell.
- Pennridge – 4 x 400 relay (3:18.91) – Joey Logue, John Kim, Michael Class & Nick Stenderowicz.
- Pennsbury – 4 x 1600 relay (18:06.97) – Sam Webb, Alex Sauer, Liam O’Connell & Connor Harriman.
- Pennridge – 300 intermediate hurdles (1:19.81) – Colby Trauger & Nick Koehler.
- Central Bucks South – High Jump (12-4) – Tim Deley & Randall Johnson.
- Pennridge – Long Jump (41-4) – Michael Class & Nick Stenderowicz.
- Truman – Triple Jump (80-6.75) – Eric Parson & Julien Freeman.
- Central Bucks South – Pole Vault (23-6) – Brandon Goguz & Bob McIntosh.
- Central Bucks West – Discus (257-10) – Ian Fortna & John Williams.
It was an outstanding day for Cheltenham in the Jack Armstrong Invitationalheld at Abington High School last Friday. The Lady Panthers captured first place in seven events, while the Panther men collected four gold medals.
Women
- Cheltenham – Katelyn Jackson – 100 meters (12.33)
- Cheltenham – Katelyn Jackson – 200 meters (25.13)
- Cheltenham – Hannah Gilliam – 800 meters (2:19.96)
- Cheltenham – Ciara Leonard – 100 hurdles (14.64)
- Cheltenham – Kayla Coley – 300 hurdles (44.27)
- Cheltenham – 4 x 100 relay (48.18)
- Abington – Victoria Matthews – High Jump (5-0)
- Council Rock South – Amanda Benninghoff – Pole Vault (11-6)
- Bensalem – Tyra Roberts – Shot Put (42-8.5)
- Cheltenham – Mecca Smith – Discus (98-3)
- Council Rock South – Allison Taub – Javelin (105-5)
Men
- Upper Moreland – Tyler Whitmore – 100 meters (11.16)
- Council Rock North – James Zingarini – 1600 meters (4:22.71)
- Cheltenham – 4 x 100 relay (42.88)
- Upper Dublin – Andrew McNutt – High Jump (5-8)
- Council Rock South – PJ Succi – Pole Vault (12-0)
- Cheltenham – Saire Staples – Long jump (21-8.5)
- Cheltenham – Saire Staples – Triple Jump (42-0)
- Cheltenham – Paul Sommerville – Shot Put (47-3.5)
- Hatboro-Horsham – Sean Locke – Discus (169-3)
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