Denny Dyroff recaps the highlights of the 2015 PTFCA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
By DENNY DYROFF
It may be the “Year of the Sheep” in the Chinese Zodiac, but it was the “Year of the Panther” at the 2015 PTFCA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
In the big annual meet, which was held on March 1 at Penn State University’s Multisport Indoor Facility, the Cheltenham boys’ and girls’ teams collected 10 gold medals and won both team championship trophies.
“We entered the meet as defending champs so I would say that was extra motivation,” said Cheltenham’s veteran coach Dr. Robert Beale. “It’s easy to let your guard down when you’ve reached the top. It’s harder to defend.
“Our kids worked exceptionally hard this season. Over the past few weeks, I told them that it’s important to put the past behind you --that it’s a brand new day. You have to stay focused. You’ve done a great thing in the past but you have to do it again and again.
“Our guys stayed focused and worked very, very hard all season. My job as a coach is to keep them motivated -- and not overwork them. They’ve devoted themselves to the program for four years. I feel fortunate and blessed to be associated with these guys.”
Setting the pace for the Panther boys was John Lewis who set a new U.S. Number One time in the 800 meter run with a clocking of 1:50.57.
“That was an exciting race between John and (Germantown Academy’s) Sam Ritz,” said Beale. “Ritz is a super athlete who ran a 4:09 mile in the meet and set a new state record.”
Ritz finished third in the 800 with a time of 1:51.79 and Fox Chapel’s Elias Grace snagged the silver medal at 1:50.86.
“John ran the nation’s top time,” said Beale. “He had to in order to win the race. The runner from Fox Chapel slipped in between John and Sam. But John had built such a lead and he held it. It was a very intense pace. “
Lewis had a busy day in the meet at State College. He teamed with Christian Bassett, Cordell Richardson and Saahir Bethea on the 4x200 team that won the gold medal at 1:28.81. He also joined with Kyle Davis, Brissett and Richardson on the 4x400 relay that placed first with a time of 3:20.27.
Brissett finished the day as the meet’s only quadruple-winner. He took first in the 200 with a time of 21.88 and crossed first in the 60 with a clocking of 6.82.
“We were expecting that,” said Beale. “He believed that he could win both of his individual races. Last year, he won the (60) dash in fine time and medaled in the 200.He bettered those times this year and had indoor personal bests at the state meet.”
Bethea and Richardson both also fared well individually. Bethea won the gold medal in long jump with a U.S. Number One distance of 22-10 and added a bronze medal in the triple jump with a distance of 44-5.5. Richardson captured the fourth-place medal in the 60 hurdles with a time of 8.11. Also, Richard Abram-Austin placed sixth in triple jump at 44-0.25.
“Cordell had a personal best in the 60 hurdles,” said Beale. “He made tremendous strides this season. Last year, he didn’t make the finals at states.
“I’m very pleased with what Saahir did. He jumped 23-4.5 two months ago and then had trouble with his ankle. I’m happy that he won at states over a fine field. His triple jump was a personal best --but he is capable of going much farther.”
Plans are still up in the air for Cheltenham’s participation at the New Balance Indoor Nationals, which will be held at The Armory in New York City from March 13-15.
“We have made any final plans yet,” said Beale. “Our 4x400 is still undefeated or we could go in the sprint medley relay. And, Christian has the sprint.”
Brissett has already competed at The Armory this season. On February 14, he won the gold medal in the 55-meter dash. He posted a time of 6.41 to narrowly defeat DeMatha’s Darryl Harraway, who was second at 6.43.
Another Brissett returned home from last weekend’s indoor state championships with a gold medal in the 60-meter dash. Chanel Brissett, Christian’s sister, took first in the 60 with a time of 7.47.
She also teamed with Nicole Burke, Alexis Crosby and Ciara Leonard on the 4x200 which won the gold medal at states with a 1:39.58. Additionally, Burke, Leonard and Crosby hooked up with Arianna Wallace to nab the silver medal in the 4x400 with a time of 3:53.00.
Not surprisingly, the talent-laden Panthers took the team title -- for the second year in a row.
“Being defending champion was a significant factor,” said Cheltenham girls coach Kelly Jensen. “This year, they wanted to win it outright.
“Last year, we got disqualified in the 4x200 which we finished first in. The officials claimed our girl stepped on the line. Because of that, we didn’t win the meet. Later, they reviewed the video and it showed that we should have won. So, they rescinded the DQ and that meant we won the race and the meet championship.
“This year, our girls knew that they had to step up if they wanted to beat Pennsbury. Their attitude was that they wanted to win the title again. They wanted to show people what we’re made of. They’re very determined and they worked really hard.”
The relays demonstrated just how determined the Panthers were.
“Nicole led off the 4x200,” said Jensen. “She sets the tone in the relay. In the 4x400, we were second at 3:53.0. We’ve run faster this season. They ran a 3:52.5 at The Armory last month when they were fresh and that put them at Number 12 in the country.
“Chanel set a personal record in the 60 at states and ran the sixth-fastest time in the country. She’s happy, but she knows she has more work to do. And, as the anchor of our 4x200, she has a lot of weight on her shoulders.”
Other individual medalists for Cheltenham at indoor states were Madison Langley-Walker, who was first in long jump at 17-11 and seventh in the 60 hurdles with a time of 8.93 and Leonard, who was first in the 60 hurdles with a clocking of 8.39.
“Ciara set a state record in the 60 hurdles,” said Jensen. “She pulls the rabbit out of the hat whenever she wants to. In the semifinals, some girl (Harrisburg’s Sierra Brabham-Lawrence) runs an 8.40 and crushes the old state record of 8.45 set by Leah Nugent. Then, in the finals, Ciara runs an 8.39, which is the Number One time in the country.
“Madison has a personal record in the 60 hurdles. It was her first time under 9-flat. She won long jump at 17-11, but she’s done better. Her best jump this season was an 18-4.”
Another gold medalist in the meet at Penn State was Springfield’s Chris Stone. The Spartans’ veteran senior topped the field in high jump with a height of 6-6.
Norristown’s girls’ 4x200 finished eighth with a time of 1:44.0, and Jayyana Webb placed fourth in the 60 at 7.75 and fifth in the 200 with a time of 25.10.On the boys’ side, the Eagles’ Andrew Dillon took fourth in the 400 at 49.76.
Other medal-winners in boys’ events from American Conference schools were Wissahickon’s fourth-place 4x400 (3:24.40) and Darien Williams, who was eighth in the 200 at 22.38, Upper Dublin’s Kieran Moore, who was fifth in shot put at 52-8 and Upper Moreland’s Tyler Whitmore, who won silver medals in the 200 at 22.0 and the 400 at 49.60.
National Conference
Pennsbury carried the banner for the National Conference at this year’s Indoor State Championships.
As expected, the Falcon girls looked very strong in distance events. The foursome of Erin O’Connell, Maddie Sauer, Hannah Molloy and Olivia Sergeant claimed the bronze medal in the 4x800 with a time of 9:30.61.
In the 3000, Molloy finished third at 9:56.20 and Sargent was fourth with a 10:01.34. Sargent also placed second in the mile with a clocking of 4:55.95
“I was exhausted by the end of the meet having run three events,” said Sargent. “I was happiest with my mile. It was my best race and I came really close to getting first.”
The race was won by Pennridge’s Marissa Sheva, who clocked a 4:54.46.
“The mile went out pretty slow,” said Sargent. “After the 800, I took the lead and held it until there was less than 400 left. That’s when Marissa passed me. I spent the entire last lap trying to catch up to her.”
Sargent’s stellar indoor season also featured a gold medal in the mile at the New Balance Games at 4:55.17 and a runner-up finish in the mile at the prestigious Milrose Games in New York at 4:51.02. Both meets were held at The Armory, the site of next week’s national championships.
“The 3000 at states was hard,” said Sargent. “It went out faster than I expected. Plus, I only had a two-hour break from when I ran the mile. I just went out and held on the best I could. It was a very fast race. I fought until the end.”
Molloy said, “I didn’t expect to break 10-flat. I just wanted to go under 10:10 so that I would qualify for the Penn Relays. I didn’t go out really fast. I waited and then started passing people in the last 1000. I caught Olivia in the last 800.
“I tried to catch the girl in front of me (Cumberland Valley’s Mady Clahane). I surged in the final 400, but she ran a 9:55 and I ran a 9:56. On the last straightaway, she looked over, saw me and kicked. I still think I had a pretty good race.”
Pennsbury coach Tim Kass said, “We had a good meet. We always use the indoor season mainly as a way to qualify for the Penn Relays. Our 4x800 had a good race and three of the four girls ran in earlier races that day.”
Other medalists for Pennsbury’s girls were Uche Onuoha, who was second in triple jump at 37-3 and sixth in the 60 hurdles with a time of 9.03, and Husniyyah Rogers, who finished eighth in the 400 with a clocking of 58.19.
Pennsbury’s boys also fared well at the meet in State College -- especially the bronze medal 4x800 team. Eric Kersten, Sam Webb, Matt Mulvaney and Alek Sauer combined for a time of 9:30.61.
Other medalists for the Falcons were Charles Snorweah, who was first in the 400 at 49.56 and fourth in the 200 at 22.26; Kornelius Klah, who was third in the 60 hurdles at 8.06; Webb, who was third in the mile at 4:13.67; and Sauer, who was fourth in the 800 at 1:52.99.
The National Conference also accounted for six other medals at the state meet -- Bensalem’s Caleb Appiah-Owusu, who was eighth in triple jump at 43-3.25; Neshaminy’s 4x400,which was third at 3:22.59,and Sean Conway, who was sixth in the 400 at 50.22; and Abington’s 4x400, which was sixth at 3:24.79, Isaiah Smith, who was third in the 400 at 49.73,and the 4x80, which was eighth at 8:03.78.
Continental Conference
It was so nice, she had to do it twice.
Pennridge’s Marissa Sheva won the gold medal in the mile at the indoor state championships two years ago as a sophomore. This year, she did it again to become one of the few runners to ever accomplish the feat of winning the mile more than once.
Sheva crossed the finish line in the meet at Penn State at 4:54.46 -- just ahead of Pennsbury’s Olivia Sargent at 4:55.95.
“I ran a 4:57 when I won as a sophomore,” said Sheva, who will run track and play soccer for Penn State University next year. “Both races were tactical races and tactical races don’t allow for fast times.
“I raced Olivia Sargent and we both had similar game plans. We went out comfortably and conservatively. It was the same place that the girls ran in the slow heat. It was all about how fast can we run the second half of the mile.
“By the second half of the mile, it was just pretty much us and the girl from Mount Lebanon (Kelsey Potts). Olivia took the lead with 600 left. I sat on her shoulder until two laps to go and then kicked past her.
“Going for a second gold medal in the mile was definitely a motivating factor. I also wanted to do well because Penn State runners and coaches were in the stands watching. They had just gotten back from the Big 10 Championships.
“My indoor season started out really well and is ending well. But, I was sick for a good portion of the middle. I’m excited about how it ended. It was my third state gold medal after winning the outdoor 3,200 last year.
“Now, I’ll be going to Nationals for the first time. My goals are to break 4:50 and to be an All-American. With a Number 3 national ranking, I’ll be in the fast heat.”
Two other Pennridge girls medaled at the state meet -- Ariana Przyblowski, who was silver medalist in long jump at 17-10.75, and Taylor Chapman, who was second in the 60at 7.51 and second in the 200at 24.74.
“Ariana missed first place by a quarter-inch,” said Pennridge girls coach William Smith. “Unfortunately, she did not get on the board all night. She had jumps over 18 but she wasn’t on the board. Taylor had good races. In the 200, I thought she had won but a girl in the other heat had a faster time.”
On the boys’ side, Pennridge took fifth place in the 4x800 with a time of 7:58.84. The quartet featured Justin Musco, Alex Masgai, Jeff Espinal and Danny Williams.
“Justin got off to a good start,” said Pennridge boys coach Bob Hosier.” After that, and then everyone ran their best race of the season.”
North Penn’s girls had a good meet with a fourth-place finish in the 4x800 at 9:33.83, a seventh-place finish in the 4x200 at 1:43.89 and an eighth-place finish in the 4x400 at 4:01.95. Also, Uche Nwogwugwu was fifth in the 400 at 57.54 and Allison Williams was eighth in triple jump at 36-1.25.
There were several other medalists from the Continental Conference in the girls meet including Central Bucks West’s Maddie Villalba, who was seventh in the 800 at 2:15.53, and the Bucks’ 4x400 relay, which was fifth at 4:00.36; Central Bucks East’s Grace Becker, who was sixth in high jump with a leap of 5-4, and the 4x800, which was sixth at 9:38.45; and Souderton’s Moira O’Malley, who was eighth in high jump at 5-2.
Other Continental Conference medal-winners in boys’ events were Central Bucks West’s 4x800, which was fourth at 7:57.87; Central Bucks East’s distance medley relay, which was eighth at 10:37.10, and Jake Brophy, who was fifth in the mile at 4:17.16; Hatboro-Horsham’s Casey Comber, who was third in the 3000 at 8:37.65; and North Penn’s 4x400, which was seventh at 3:27.54.
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