Check back later this week for additional track and field coverage. To view photos of Sunday’s action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Dave Conard for SuburbanOneSports.com
At one point in life, everyone has heard the phrase “it’s just an honor to be here,” but whether referring to an Academy Award, a celebrity award or even the Super Bowl, it’s human nature to doubt the sincerity of such a cliché.
For Suburban One League track and field athletes that have the “honor” of competing in the District One championships, held at Coatesville High School for the last eight years, truer words could not be spoken.
Judging from the dominating performances of SOL athletes Sunday, to save time, they may want other conference standouts to compete in the SOL championships as on the girls’ side of the ledger Suburban One entries won an astounding 11 of 12 finals on the day, claiming at least three of the top five spots in every event.
In the 100-meter dash, SOL runners produced a clean sweep of the top seven spots with Cheltenham senior Katelyn Jackson enduring a -1.8 wind factor to score a first place time of 12.02 followed closely behind by Dasia Pressley from Neshaminy (12.08) and freshman teammate Chanel Brissett who claimed the bronze with a time of 12.10. All seven qualified for next week’s Pennsylvania State Championships at Shippensburg University.
“We have so much leadership on this team,” said Panthers’ head coach Kelly Jensen. “The seniors have just taken our younger runners along with them, they have drawn them into their world, pushing each other with the seniors setting the standard with how hard they work and train for events like this.
“Katelyn (Jackson) is just so selfless and great about sharing her experience, and a freshman like Chanel (Brissett) is so willing to listen and learn that we can’t help but succeed as a team. I am very proud of how they all work together.”
Pressley won gold in the 200-meter dash, posting a time of 24.31, but the Panthers’ dynamic duo was at it again, snagging the runner up and bronze positions. Jackson recorded a 29.46 while Brissett posted a time of 25.15, fueling Cheltenham’s run to the team championship, which they won going away.
Ciara Leonard (Cheltenham) grabbed the gold in the 100-meter hurdles (13.10) while Pennsbury junior Uchechi Onuoha ran a 14.68 and also scored a silver finish in the 300-meter hurdles with a 43.80, maintaining the momentum started by sophomore Olivia Sargent’s second place finish in the 3,200-meter run with a 10:48.52. Sargent, who helped lead the Falcons to a second place finish, was second only to Pennridge distance sensation Marissa Sheva who soared to a 10:30.15 finish in the 3,200 after also winning the gold in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:53.97 earlier in the day.
Fresh off of her “best in the US” finish (3rd overall) at the Penn Relays, Central Bucks South senior and future Quaker Taylor Hojnacki set the stage for her second consecutive PIAA state title in discus with a distance of 141-09.00, which easily garnered her top honors ahead of Strath Haven sophomore Rachel Vresilovoc (123-06.00).
“The Penn Relays were ridiculously intense,” said the Titans throwing phenom, who will attend the University of Pennsylvania next fall. “Throwing all year against the girls in our league like Amelia (Alia from Bensalem who tossed the disc 121-09.00) and Tajera (Campbell, Norristown- 121-8.00) and Essence (Milligan-Williams, Norristown- 114-00.00) helps me prepare for events like this.”
“I am looking forward to going back to Shippensburg for a second consecutive year, but I have to make sure I focus on what I need to do. I have to keep off my feet as much as I can and be rested and ready to go.”
One day earlier, Hojnacki won gold in the shot put with a throw of 42-02.25.
No stranger to the pressure of a big meet, Central Bucks West senior Jamila Branch again led the way for the Bucks when she scored a second place finish in the 400-meter dash, putting the Bucks into the mix for the team title, which was further advanced by an outstanding 4 x 400 performance.
Trailing North Penn by almost two seconds after the second lap, the Bucks, led by 800-meter run winner Maddie Villalba, kicked it into gear to emerge with a 3:48.28 first place finish, just ahead of the Maidens 3:49.17, Strath Haven 3:51.25 and fifth place Wissahickon 3:57.41.
Villalba (2:09.98) and junior teammate Olivia Berry set the tone in the 800-meter run with Villalba, who came across the stripe in fourth place after the first circuit, finishing the last 200 meters strong en route to a first place finish and a state championship berth along with Berry who came home in fifth, despite leading early on, with a finish of 2:15.40.
“It’s great running a race like this with a teammate like Olivia,” said Villalba, who will be making her first PIAA state appearance in the 800 as she did not run track last year. “It’s awesome to work with each other all day and go out and run together for as long as we did, I am very excited about going to states next week especially since we will there together.”
“Running with Maddie is amazing,” said Berry, who is making her second trip to Ship. “We support each other and it is great to have someone to talk to and warm up with. Next week that will be very important because we have a lot of time before and after runs.”
In a banner day for the Suburban One League, the SOL contingent next week at Shippensburg will be nothing short of staggering as the league will have at least four entries in more than 11 events with six teams represented in the 200-meter dash and four in the 4 x 800, led by nationally ranked C.B South, which won the top spot with a time of 8:58.18, more than six seconds ahead of runner-up Strath Haven.
“I am from the Oregon area,” added district one team champion Cheltenham head coach Kelly Jansen. “I’ll tell you honestly that this district meet equals what most ‘state meets’ have as far as competition”
“Of course, there are some teams from the western part of the state to be reckoned with, but I really feel that we get to see the teams we will have to beat right here in our own district championship, and we saw that today with the times that were run and how tight some of the race were. ”
On Saturday, Council Rock South junior Shannon Taub (5-05) and Abington junior Victoria Matthews (5-05) finished one-two in the high jump. Neshaminy senior Lisa Patterson (5-03) and CB East junior Grace Becker (5-03) were tied for this. Upper Merion senior Anecia Alexaki (11-06.00) captured silver in the pole vault while Cheltenham senior Dara Liss was third (11-00). In long jump, Pennridge’s Ariana Przybylowski won silver with a leap of 18-10.00.
North Penn sophomore Allison Williams was second in the triple jump (37-07.00) while Taub was third (37-04.50).
In Class AA, Springfield freshman Sydni Stovall captured gold in both the 400-meter run (58.65) and 800-meter run (2:17.60), qualifying for states in both events.
For complete meet results click on the following Penn Track link: http://pa.milesplit.com/meets/166775/results/307637
Team Rankings
1. Cheltenham 56
2. Pennsbury 47
3. Pennridge 41.50
4. Central Bucks West 36
5. Strath Haven 31
5. Neshaminy 31
7. North Penn 30
7. Central Bucks South 30
9. Central Bucks East 26
10. Council Rock South 25
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