On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Souderton seniors. Destini Smith, Janae Pettaway, Isiyah McFadden & Elizabeth James were recognized for committing to compete in track & field at the collegiate level.
Elizabeth James – Elizabethtown College (Track & Field)
Major: Criminal Justice
Final list of colleges: Elizabethtown, Moravian, Alvernia
Reasons for choosing Elizabethtown: “I chose Elizabethtown College because of my intended major of criminal justice, and they also partner with the Pennsylvania State Police Academy.”
Coach Anthony Pace: “Elizabeth James did high jump and javelin, so she was mainly in the field. The great thing about Elizabeth – she shared a story today where I wore a wig that she had, and we agreed – if you hit your PR or at least tie it, I will wear a wig, and no lie, I did wear this bright red wig at CB West in front of their team and coaches. We had a little fun with it. The main thing about Elizabeth James – she was the one who checked on me all the time about my mental health because I battled some stuff with my mom recently having cancer. She would always check on me as a person, as a friend, as a coach – ‘Hey, coach, what can I do, know I’m going through this as well. Let’s help each other out.’ She would always check on me and vice versa. That means a lot, and that’s the thing I’m going to miss most about her.”
About Elizabeth:
Favorite food: Everything except peas
Favorite movies: Pride & Prejudice and Zombies
Favorite artist: Luke Bryan
Isiyah McFadden – Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Track & Field)
Major: Interior Design
Final lists of colleges: IUP, Kutztown, Queens University of Charlotte
Reasons for choosing IUP: “I chose IUP because I could see my family in the 
team, and I tend to get homesick, so to know I have people who remind me of my family made me feel safe.”
Coach Anthony Pace: “Isiyah McFadden has been another one of my day ones. Janae, Bryce, Isiyah – I’ve been coaching them since seventh/eighth grade. Isiyah has been my spirit animal. She’s my rock. She gets all the other teammates involved. Freshmen, sophomores – she takes them under her wing. The thing I’m going to miss most about her is her soul. When she leaves, part of the team will be crippled in a way that won’t be able to be described because she’s like the rock, soul and heart of the school and organization.
“She’s literally the same height as the hurdles, yet she’s somehow able to jump over them and get district time. She’s a hard worker. She shared a story – in ninth grade, she was cheerleading, so she gave up track and field. I came up to her (to the high school) and I started begging her – ‘Hey Isiyah, come back, let’s have fun – we’ll have a great time.’ Her first day back – I remember it like it was yesterday. She ran 21 seconds in the hurdles. I’m like all right, we’ll still have some fun, but then all of a sudden, it started clicking these last handful of years where she got from 21 seconds all the way down to 15. She’s been at states, she’s been at nationals. She’s the first girl (in the program) ever to make nationals in the hurdles. She’s helped set some school records, but her soul is what stands out the most.”
About Isiyah:
Favorite food: Penne Pasta
Favorite TV show: Bel-Air
Favorite artist: Kendrick Lamar
Janae Pettaway – Temple University (Track & Field)
Major: Psychology
Final list of colleges: Temple, St. Joseph’s, La Salle, Albany
Reasons for choosing Temple: “I chose Temple because I got along well with the coaches and all the girls on the team.”
Coach Anthony Pace: “Janae is another one of my day one people. I coached her in seventh and eighth grade. She was my team MVP back then. She was named team MVP in the winter. She’s set so many school records and is probably the fastest sprinter in Souderton history on the girls’ side. She has the school record in the 100, 200, 60 indoor and outdoor. She has been part of state medal winners in the 4x4 relay.
“She has a crazy work ethic. Not only does she work hard here, but she’s part of another athletic club. Her dad is a fitness expert, so she’s the one that always puts in the work, always puts in the grind, and she has that swagger about her. She’s got that charisma, that attitude, that swag that helps stand out and just puts her above everyone. She has extreme confidence, knows what she can do, and she’s helped so many of our younger people just to get to that next level.”
About Janae:
Favorite food: Wings
Favorite movie: Sinners
Favorite artist: Drake
Destini Smith – Kansas State University (Track & Field)
Major: Business Management
Reasons for choosing Kansas State: “I was looking at a couple other D1 schools, but I ended up choosing Kansas State because of their coaching staff and the winning of the rings.”
Coach Anthony Pace: “She’s just an all-world athlete, someone I think will be in the Olympics in four years in L.A. She’s a
hard worker, humble – which is the biggest thing. She’s so great but doesn’t put that on anyone else. Even today (at the college signing recognition), she was asked what other schools, and she said, ‘I was considering some other D1 schools.’ She had 35 colleges giving her full rides and the keys to the city, but she’s completely humble. She excels in everything. She’s a great person, a great leader. She’s going to be truly missed. I think she’ll go down as the greatest athlete in Souderton school history maybe even PA history for jumping. She’s just phenomenal.”
Assistant coach/jumps coach Rick Hess: “Destini is arguably the greatest women’s athlete based on national, state records, and also the male athletes – none of them have the accomplishments she had. She transferred in as a sophomore and did all this in three years. What the people don’t see – from the time she went to outdoor Nationals in June, she’s been working basically three days a week through the entire summer and fall. A lot of people play high school sports. They do offseason conditioning, but she’s literally been training like a D1 or professional athlete for the past two years.”
About Destini:
Favorite food: Wings
Favorite movie: The Princess & the Frog
Favorite music/artist: Rap/Gah Gah Boom
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