Scott Huff highlights some of the top SOL boys’ performances at the PIAA Track & Field Championships last weekend.
By Scott Huff
We Are The Champions!!
Cheltenham was crowned the PIAA Class AAA boys championlast weekend with a spectacular performance at Shippensburg University. The Panthers captured 41 team points and easily outdistanced second place Carlisle who registered 29 points.
“I thought going into the meet that we had more than a good shot at winning the championship,” said Cheltenham head coach Dr. Robert Beale. “They have worked real hard all winter in the indoor season, and they have worked just as hard this spring in the outdoor season.
“Track can be an individual thing in a lot of ways,” continued Beale. “But the boys really felt that if everyone could do their job we could win a team title. Things can happen, but we ran smart and did the things we needed to be state champions.”
It doesn’t get any better than that!
Springfield was crowned the PIAA Class AA boys champion last weekend with a terrific performance at Shippensburg University. The Spartans captured 38 team points and edged both Hickory and Delaware Valley Charter who tallied 32 points.
“We had only two boys score points – Chris Stone and Jhaloni Johnson – but we did the math before the meet and felt that we could still win a state championship,” said Springfield head coach Chris Mazurek. “Chris took first in the high jump, second in the pole vault, and seventh in the javelin. Jhaloni took first in the 200 meters and second in the 100 meters. It added up to 38 points, which was enough to win the meet.
“We didn’t win our league title (SOL American Conference), and we didn’t win districts (District One),” added Mazurek. “But we won states – and winning there is what it’s all about.”
It doesn’t get any better than that!
PIAA 3200 Meter Gold Medal ‘Snapshot’
Ross Wilson – Council Rock North
Ross Wilson ran the perfect race in winning the PIAA Class AAA 3200 meter championship. Wilson edged nemesis Tony Russell from West Chester Henderson with a state record clocking of 8:56.29 – just ahead of Russell’s time of 8:58.26.
“I was determined not to lose to him again,” said Wilson. “He had beaten me the last eight or nine times, and I was tired of coming in second. Second in districts – second in states – second every time I ran against him.”
Wilson – who will run next year at the University of Pennsylvania - did not lead the race until the final 50 meters.
“This might have been the best tactical race I have ever run,” said Wilson. “Every time I line up to compete – I see myself winning. Even in all those races against him (Russell) – I saw myself winning. This was my last high school race – and I wanted to come out the winner.”
“You don’t replace state record holders,” said Council Rock North head coach Dave Marrington. “He is a tremendous leader and will missed.
“Ross went out a winner in a state championship meet,” added Marrington. “It was great to see that his last race at the high school level was near perfect.”
It doesn’t get any better than that!
PIAA 800 Meter Gold Medal ‘Snapshot’
Kyle Francis – Bensalem
Kyle Francis never ran the 800 meters with fresh legs. And when he did – Francis captured the gold in the PIAA Class AAA championship in a wonderful dual with Jeffrey Wiseman from Council Rock South. Francis broke the tape in 1:49.57 while Wiseman was a heartbeat behind with a clocking of 1:50.37. Joey Logue of Pennridge was third with a clocking of 1:51.45.
“I told Kyle that this was his time to show that he was the elite runner,” said Bensalem head coach Mary Ellen Malloy. “All year he was the ultimate team player and ran multiple events in order to help the team score points.
“I insisted that he not run the 4 x 800 relay at states,” added Malloy. “I told him that he did his part to carry the team all year – now it was time for his team to step up and do their part for him.”
“I knew that by just running the 800 meters at states that the sky was the limit,” said Francis. “I didn’t have to save any energy for any other events, and I could concentrate on what I had to do in the 800.
“I decided to stay close to the leaders – sit and kick the last 200 meters,” added Francis. “And that strategy seemed to work out well. It was an awesome race the last 60 meters with both Jeff and I running an all-out sprint to the finish line. It was a great way to end my career.”
It doesn’t get any better than that!
1st Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
Class AAA
200 Meters
Christian Brissett (Cheltenham) 21.52
800 Meters
Kyle Francis (Bensalem) 1:49.57
3200 Meters
Ross Wilson (Council Rock North) 8:56.29
4 x 100 Meter Relay
Cheltenham (3:17.18)
2nd Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
Class AAA
400 Meters
David Stellato (Wissahickon) 48.31
800 Meters
Jeffrey Wiseman (Council Rock South) 1:50.37
High Jump
Randall Johnson (Central Bucks South) 6-7
4 x 100 Meter Relay
Cheltenham (41.40)
3rd Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
Class AAA
100 Meters
Christian Brissett (Cheltenham) 10.68
110 Meter Hurdles
Dave Marrington (Neshaminy) 38.04
800 Meters
Joey Logue (Pennridge) 1:51.45
4 x 800 Meter Relay
Central Bucks East (7:43.70)
4 x 400 Meter Relay
Pennridge (3:18.23)
4th Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
Class AAA
400 Meters
John Lewis (Cheltenham) 48.73
4 x 800 Meter Relay
North Penn (7:45.35)
5th Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
Class AAA
800 Meters
Alex Sauer (Pennsbury) 1:54.38
Pole Vault
Brandon Ruguz (Central Bucks South) 14-0
4 x 800 Meter Relay
Pennridge (7:48.78)
6th Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
Class AAA
3200 Meters
Sam Webb (Pennsbury) 9:08.11
1600 Meters
Ryan Grace (North Penn) 4:18.43
4 x 800 Meter Relay
Pennsbury (7:50.75)
7th Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
Class AAA
400 Meters
Charles Snorweah (Pennsbury) 49.42
Long Jump
Saahir Bethea (Cheltenham) 22-10 ½
***Springfield Spartans Top 7 Performers***
Shippensburg University
Class AA
First Place
200 Meters
Jhaloni Johnson [21.83]
High Jump
Chris Stone [6-7]
Second Place
100 Meters
Jhaloni Johnson [10.86]
Pole Vault
Chris Stone [15-0]
Seventh Place
Javelin
Chris Stone [173-02]
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