The Bensalem men’s track team made history, capturing the school’s first ever District One title. To view photos of Saturday’s action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Dave Conard, Special to SuburubanOneSports.com
CALN—Anyone who has seen Bensalem coach Mary Ellen Malloy in action over her more than twenty years at the helm knows that she is not the type that’s lets pressure get to her.
On Saturday, that “coolness under fire” was put to the test when her boys 4 x 400 relay team took the track trailing Pennsbury by nine points in the battle for the 2013 PIAA District One overall team championship.
In the event that would propel Bensalem to its first ever District One team Track Championship, Pennridge jumped out to an early three-second lead after the first leg despite a fantastic effort by junior Kerron Holley.
When Holley handed the baton to senior Brad Rivera, the momentum of the race shifted as the Owls’ experience began to shine through with a personal best leg from Rivera before giving way to fellow senior Armand Cox-Finn.
Trailing by about five meters as the bell lap got underway, Cox-Finn was flawless in passing the wand to anchor man Qhyle Elijah who instantly began to work his magic.
“I think he does it just to give me nervous fits,” said Malloy. “He does that to me just to see if I’ll have a heart attack, I swear. I am so proud of these boys. This is definitely a first for us. Wow, what a day.”
“I can’t look behind me,” said Elijah of his strong finish. “I just focused on catching the runner in front of me.
“Once I caught him at the last turn I just kept kicking. This was a great race for our team. They really gave me the chance to win it by running so strong.”
Malloy never got to run her “4 x Kyle relay” (an idea she had since four members of her team are named Kyle in one way or another) during the regular season, and it’s doubtful that she will give it a go at next week’s PIAA State championship meet.
“Maybe we will do it sometime for fun,” said Malloy. “We have gotten some great races from everyone today. Who would have thought little old Bensalem would knock off the big boys for the District One title.”
The Owls also won the boy’s 4 x 800 relay earlier in the day with a time of 7:48.03, finishing ahead of Pennsbury (7:51.45), which was led by Anthony Bullaro, Cheltenham (7:55.15) and Central Bucks East (7:57.73).
It was almost necessary to call a security detail for the Falcon’s Bullaro, who also claimed a silver medal in the 110 (14:48) and 300 hurdles (38:54) to go along with his relay medals, posting Pennsylvania state qualifying time in both events.
“It’s been a pretty good day,” said Bullaro, who finished with four medals. “This has been awesome, it would have been great to win both hurdles, but he (Zaza Wellington –Garnet Valley) is just so tough.”
Elijah was a busy Owl as the 4 x 400 win closed out a busy day where he also claimed a gold medal in the 400-meter dash (47:81) and the runner-up spot in the 200-meter dash 21.92 just behind Ridley’s Malik Jones.
In other action, Council Rock South distance man Jeffery Wiseman snagged the gold in the 800 meter run, finishing with a time of 1:52.95 which bested Bensalem’s Rivera (1:53.70) and Pennridge sophomore Joseph Logue (1:53.73) who rounded out the top three spots, all three with state qualifying times followed up by a fifth place finish by Cox-Finn who will also be competing in the half mile next week at Shippensburg with a qualifying time of 1:55.66.
Neshaminy senior Cody Minnig took gold in the 100-meter dash (10.95), and Upper Moreland sophomore Tyler Whitmore (11.04) and Cheltenham sophomore Christian Brissett (11.08) gave the SOL a clean sweep of the top three spots in that event. All three qualified for states.
Pennsbury took the gold in the 4x100 relay (41.94). Council Rock North’s Ross Wilson finished first in the 3200 meter run with a state qualifying time of 9:14.81. Council Rock North senior James Zingarini was the SOL’s top finisher in the 1600 meter run, finishing third with a state qualifying time of 4:15.23.
William Tennent sophomore Horace Spencer (6-06.00) and Quakertown junior Ismael Wright (6-05.00) finished one-two in the high job with both advancing on to states. North Penn senior Vincent Esposito won gold in the pole vault with a state qualifying vault of 15-04.00.
Wissahickon senior Nkosi Jones (22-10.00) and Council Rock South senior Chris Spadaro finished two-three in the long jump. North Penn senior Jared Alston was second in the triple jump (47-00.75).
In Class AA competition, Springfield captured gold in the 4x100 relay (43.44) and qualified for states. Sophomore Chris Stone took home three individual gold medals. He was golden in the high jump with a state qualifying leap of 6-07.00, the javelin throw (187-07.00), also good enough for states, and pole vault (13-00.00). Junior Jhaloni Johnson won a pair of individual golds, finishing first in the 100 meter dash (10.87) and 200 meter dash (22.26). He qualified for states in both events. Springfield finished second to Church Farm School in the overall team standings.
Men’s Team Rankings (Top 10)
1. Bensalem (59)
2. Coatesville (58.50)
3. Pennsbury (51)
4. North Penn (37.50)
5. Garnet Valley (37)
6. Cheltenham (36)
7. Ridley (26)
8. Haverford (24)
8. Pennridge (24)
10. Council Rock South (21)
10. Spring-Ford (21)
10. Neshaminy (21)
10. Strath Haven (21)
For complete results from the boy’s action at the District One meet in Coatesville click at
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