This week’s notebook features the North Penn girls’ first place showing at the Jim Kelly Invitational as well as Wissahickon’s Black sisters, Lotte and Lieke. To view photos of the Wissahickon/Upper Moreland meet by Kathy Leister Photography as well as photos of the Jim Kelly Invitational, please click on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/g/2015-16t
By DENNY DYROFF
North Penn’s girls’ track and field team has for years been one of the premier programs in the district -- and the state.
This year’s squad is again one of the top teams in the state. It might just be the second-best team in the state -- and the second-best team in District 1 -- and the second-best team in the Suburban One League.
The best team in the league, district and state? -- Cheltenham.
Last Saturday, the Maidens captured the team championship at the Jim Kelly Invitational at Hatboro-Horsham High School. North Penn took the top spot with 142 points -- eight points better than the next-best finisher, which was Cheltenham with 134.
“That result is deceiving,” said North Penn coach Dick Swanker. “We beat Cheltenham by a few points but that was because of the extra relays the meet had. We took first in the shuttle hurdles relay and the distance medley relay, and Cheltenham didn’t have entries in those events.”
North Penn is loaded from top to bottom and already has qualifiers in almost every event for next month’s District 1 Championships -- many of whom will be seeded at or near the top.
One event that doesn’t fall into this category is the distance medley relay -- only because the DMR is not contested in PIAA post-season meets. The Maidens’ loaded DMR features Ariana Gardizy, Uche Nwogwugwu, Mikaela Vlasic and Phoebe Clowser.
At the Jim Kelly meet, the Maidens crossed first at 12:33.95 with the foursome of Clowser, Michaela Moseley, Amelia Eshraghi and Gardizy. The other half of the loaded lineup ran in the 4x800-meter relay in the meet at Hatboro-Horsham and took first with a time of 9:26.80.
North Penn has posted times good enough to qualify for next week’s 121stannual staging of the Penn Relay Carnival in both the 4x800 and the distance medley relay.
“We could have gone to Penn Relays in either but teams can only enter one race or the other,” said Swanker. “We chose to do the 4x800.”
The Maidens’ primary 4x800 foursome includes Gardizy, Clowser, Nwogwugwu and Vlasic.
“They ran a 9:05 indoors at Nationals at the Armory in New York,” said Swanker. “That’s the fastest female time in Pennsylvania ever. They finished fifth by four one-hundredths of a second. We also won indoor states at 9:18 with Natalie Kwortnik, Gardizy, Clowser and Vlasic.”
At last weekend’s meet, Vlasic, Kortnik and Nwogwugwu teamed with Jessica Brenfleck to place second in the 4x400 at 3:55.08 behind Cheltenham (3:51.46). The Maidens also took third in the 4x100 at 49.80 -- topped only by Cheltenham (47.82) and Central Bucks South (49.07).
“The 4x100 is in a little disarray because we can’t get the four people we want together due to injuries and illness,” said Swanker. “On Saturday, with Stephanie Broadhurst out, we had to use a javelin girl -- Dela Matthew on our 4x100.”
Based on relays alone, North Penn is showing impressive depth this season.
In the sprints, the Maidens can rely on Brenfleck, Stevenson and Broadhurst. In the 400 and 800, North Penn is led by Nwogwugwu.
“Uche (Nwogwugwu) is the indoor 400 champion,” said Swanker. “She also is a key jumper for us. She placed at outdoor states last year and indoor states this year in triple jump.”
The Maidens have state-caliber talent in the middle distance/distance events with Vlasic in the 800, Gardizy in the 800, 1600 and 3200 and Clowser in the 1600 and 3200.
“When the time comes, Ariana and Phoebe will have choices to make -- 1600 or 3200,” said Swanker. “They obviously can’t do both and also run the relays.
“In the 800, Jenna Webb, a ninth-grader, has qualified for districts with a 2:21.6 -- and she led off out 4x800 in a meet with a 2:20.9. And, we have Olivia Dyer, who has qualified for districts in the 3200.
“Lauren Follis is our top hurdler. She got off to a slow start this season but now is finally getting under 16.0 in the 100 hurdles. Last year, she ran 46s in the 30 hurdles.”
North Penn has a lot of potential post-season points in the jumps.
“Uche also does high jump and she did 5-5 last year,” said Swanker. “In triple jump, we have two state medalists -- Allison Williams and Uche. They both have done 38-0. In long jump, both Kwortnik and Stevenson have already qualified for districts this season.”
Scoring potential for the Maidens also exists in the weight events.
“In shot put, Sydnee Towns has thrown 35 a number of times this season and has qualified for districts,” said North Penn’s veteran coach. “Anisa Gardizy, Ariana’s twin, is strong in discus with a p.r. (personal record) of 94 and Dela Matthew has already thrown 107 in javelin.”
The Maidens have two good pole vaulters -- Alyson Sharkey and Morgan Kull -- but neither has made the district cut yet this season.
Individual finishes for the Maidens at last Saturday’s meet were Nwogwugwu (first, 400; third, 200), Kwortnik (fifth, 200; fifth, long jump), Clowser (first, 1600), Vlasic (first, 800), Ariana Gardizy (first, 3200), Jenna Webb (third, 800), Dyer (second, 3200), Williams (second, triple jump), Brenfleck NP (fifth, 100), Morgan Rohr (sixth, 100 hurdles), Follis (fourth, 300 hurdles), Morgan Brett (fourth, high jump), Matthew (fourth, javelin), Kull (fourth, pole vault), Sharkey (sixth, pole vault), Towns (fourth, shot put), Kelly MacNamara (fifth, shot put) and Kaitlyn Carrelli (sixth, discus).
“It’s almost the same team as last year,” said Swanker, referring to the 2015 squad which won the SOL Continental Conference and finished third at the District 1 Class AAA Championships and third at the PIAA Class AAA Championships.
“We graduated some but we’ve been able to replace them. We still have the same make-up. I’m very pleased. We’ve gotten people to step up. This year, we finished second to Cheltenham at the indoor state championships. We’re in pretty good shape.
“Districts will be interesting. Cheltenham is the obvious favorite. To beat them, we’ll have to be awesome and they’ll have to have something happen. Their young ladies are really, really good.”
*****
Over the years, Wissahickon’s track and field teams have been blessed with a number of talented siblings on their rosters -- from the Baptistes in the early 2000s to the Marcelis brothers a few years ago with many pairs and trios along the way.
The latest example of talented siblings competing for the Trojans can be found on this year’s girls’ squad -- Lotte and Lieke Black.
The Dutch-American sisters -- their father graduated from Wissahickon and their mother is a native of Amsterdam, Netherlands -- cover different areas of the team’s list of events. Lotte, a senior who has been one of the Suburban One League American Conference’s top competitors for the last four years, is a distance/middle distance runner. Lieke, a freshman, specializes in the hurdles.
“The two Black sisters are very different,” said Wissahickon coach Heidi Butt. “I’m very lucky to have both of them. It’s a delight to watch them train and compete. They’re so full of energy. The Blacks are the most athletic sisters I’ve had on the team since I’ve been head coach.
“I’ve been head coach for 18 years and I’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of good sisters. In recent years, there have been Teresa and Gen Schwemmer, Jess and Kendall Quesenberry and the Lutter sisters -- Ashley, Kristen and Michelle.”
The Black sisters are naturally talented. It’s in their DNA.
“Our parents are both very athletic,” said Lotte, whose name is pronounced “LOT-ah.” “Our mom Benita is from Holland where she played volleyball competitively. Our dad Scott was into every sport -- but not on school teams.
“My mom had me doing ‘diaper derbies’ -- 100 meter races -- when I was four years old. We were all runners and still are -- except for my little brother who plays basketball and soccer.
“I’ve been running with AOC (Ambler Olympic Club) as long as I can remember. They were like my family when I was growing up. AOC coach Larry Wilson is one of the best coaches around. He really cares about the sport and all of his runners.”
Lotte began competing scholastically when she was in middle school.
“In middle school, I did cross country,” said Lotte, who just signed to attend the University of Rhode Island on a track scholarship.
“In track, I mostly did longer races -- the mile, the two-mile and occasionally the 4x400. In high school, I’ve only run the two-mile once. I compete in events from the 400 to the mile -- mostly the mile and 4x400. I didn’t start running the 800 until this year.
“This year, my coach wanted me to try the 800. I’ve always been pretty competitive. It’s the nature of our family. We don’t like to lose -- but there’s a good competitive spirit between us. Occasionally, our mom will even run road races with us.”
In the 800, Lotte produced one of the most scintillating finishes of this young season. At the 2016 Panther Classic, which was held April 8 at Cheltenham High, Lotte captured the gold medal in a finish that amazed most spectators.
With around 200 meters left, it appeared that Penn Wood’s Agnes Mansaray had the win wrapped up and that Lotte, who was back in fourth place, was definitely out of contention. But, Black somehow found another gear and slammed her race into it.
Black continued to close the gap and then passed Mansaray just before the finish line. Black’s winning time was 2:20.29 while the Penn Wood girl was runner-up with a 2:20.89.
“Prior to the Panther Classic, our coach had us doing a lot of speed work,” said Lotte. “The longest distance we did in practice was 300 meters. I already had the endurance.
“At the Panther meet, it was so cold I couldn’t even feel my legs. They felt frozen. I guess my arms were what pulled me through. I felt good in the final 200 and got the girl with less than 50 meters to go.”
At the Neshaminy Track Classic, which was held last Saturday in Langhorne, Lotte delivered another gold-medal performance. This time, she took first in the 1,600 with a clocking of 5:14.39. She showed versatility with a sixth-place finish in high jump at 4-6.
In the same meet, Lieke Black snared the bronze medal in the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.26 and picked up a fifth-place medal in the 200 at 26.73.
At the Panther Classic, Lieke, whose name is pronounced “LEEK-ah,” was fourth in the 300 hurdles at 49.85 and seventh in the 100 hurdles at 17.42.
“Lieke is good at hurdles and sprints,” said Butt. “She’s good in the 4x400. She can sprint well and she’s a natural hurdler. She’s also a soccer player so she’s fearless. She’s naturally athletic and naturally aggressive. She’s going to do some amazing things in hurdles.”
Not surprisingly, Lieke was attracted to track by her older sister’s exploits.
“I ran at Ambler Olympic and was motivated by Lotte,” said Lieke. “When we were little, she’d run and I would follow her footsteps. I’ve been looking forward to being on the team at Wissaickon with her for a while. She motivated me to be on the team -- and to try to beat her.
“I ran cross country in eighth grade. In track, I’m a sprinter who just started hurdles last year. They’re different -- but they’re fun. I’ve also been playing soccer for a while -- usually right wing. I played club soccer for Whitpain and now I’m with Methacton.
“Which sport do I like better -- I’d say soccer because you’re running with a purpose. Running in middle school set me up to run in high school. I ran the 100 and 200 before and now I’ve had some pretty good times in the 400.
“I never ran the 800. But, I’d like to try. I’d like to see if I’d be close to Lotte. Being on the same team, she motivates me to get a p.r. every time. I think the best race for us to compete against each other would be the 400.”
Lotte said, “I’ve definitely been looking forward to this year -- to run on the team with Leike. I really love my sister and I’m always there for her. For example, when she runs the 400, she looks to me for advice.
“The 400 would be the best race for us to run against each other. If she trains for the 400, it could be a close race.”
But, it’s safe to say that the talented sisters would much rather be in different events cheering for each other than in the same event competing against each other.
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