Scott Huff highlights CB West’s Corey Smith and Upper Dublin’s Taylor Morgan in this week’s notebook.
By Scott Huff
Central Bucks West senior pole vaulter Corey Smith won’t have to be a spectator at the Penn Relays this year.
“Last year I went to the Penn Relays to watch and was amazed at how good the pole vaulters were – especially at the college level,” said Smith. “I just got my confirmation from the Penn Relays that I will be competing there this year, and it’s a great feeling. I’m really excited.”
Smith – who vaulted a personal best 14-feet, 9-inches to win the Council Rock Kiwanis Invitational last week – will attend East Stroudsburg University next year and will continue to vault. The 14-9 also established a new CB West school record in the pole vault.
“My next goal is to reach 15 feet,” said Smith who began his pole-vaulter career as a sophomore with absolutely no vaulting experience. “Coach (Scott) Sherwood has been a great teacher, and I think his personal best is 15 feet. It would be great to be able to match his best.”
“Scott Sherwood has done a tremendous job with the development of Corey,” said Central Bucks West head coach Greg Wetzel. “Corey went from a young and inexperienced kid to a total stud. Corey has invested time and energy into becoming much stronger and he has chipped away a few inches at a time in improving his performance. He is a real student of the sport.
“But the best attribute Corey has is that he is a true role model for the rest of the team,” added Wetzel. “Our team doesn’t have to look far to see a hero – they can see one when the look at Corey Smith.”
Smith is without question a blue chip pole-vaulter, but he has helped the Bucks during the dual meet season in both the triple jump and the high jump. His best triple jump is 36 feet, while he has cleared 5-foot, 8-inches in the high jump.
“Corey will do whatever he can to help the team,” said Wetzel. “We lean on him to help get us points in the dual meets.”
Smith has made a continual progression during his development as a pole-vaulter. He cleared 11-feet as a sophomore in the spring season, improved to 12 feet-6 inches in the winter of his junior season, improved to a district qualifying 13-feet in the spring of his junior year, and made states this winter with a jump of 14-feet.
“Corey has been extremely consistent with his preparation since he started his sophomore season,” said Wetzel. “There is nobody who works any harder to improve than him. He has earned his success.”
And has earned a trip to the 2012 Penn Relays – as a contestant.
Council Rock Kiwanis Invitational
Individual Honor Roll
5000 Meters
1. Sam Hibbs – Hatboro-Horsham – 15:24.21
2. Connor Quinn – Hatboro-Horsham – 15:20.25
400 Meter Hurdles
1. Ryan Hynes – Central Bucks South – 56.40
2. Paul Wahlman – Council Rock North – 57.-6
3. Greg Rosario – Central Bucks East – 59.30
100 Meters
2. Mark Thompson – Cheltenham – 10.99
3. Corey Hackett – Hatboro-Horsham – 11.11
3. Vince Thompson – Central Bucks East – 11.11
1500 Meters
1. Drew Magaha – Upper Moreland – 4:00.10
2. Nico Metzler – Central Bucks West – 4:08.80
400 Meters
1. Nick Stenderowicz –Pennridge – 50.75
2. Kerron Holley – Bensalem – 51.65
3. Austin Kline – Central Bucks West – 51.70
110 Meter Hurdles
1. Paul Wahlman – Council Rock North- 14.87
2. Harley LaCroix – Cheltenham – 14.96
800 Meters
1. Austin Kohler – Pennridge – 1:56.22
2. Joey Logue – Pennridge – 1:57.53
3. Jeffrey Wiseman – Council Rock South – 1:58.71
200 Meters
1. Ryan Hynes – Central Bucks South – 21.89
3. Bryan Reice – Neshaminy – 22.28
Javelin
1. JD LaSalle – Hatboro-Horsham – 169-10
3. Travis Young – Hatboro-Horsham – 145-10
High Jump
2. Randall Johnson – Central Bucks South – 6-0
Long Jump
1. Jacob Solitis – Upper Moreland – 21-11.25
2. Saite Staples – Cheltenham – 21-08
3. Cody Minnig – Neshaminy – 21-02.25
Pole Vault
1. Corey Smith – Central Bucks West – 14-09
3. Bob McIntosh – Central Bucks South – 12-6
Shot Put
2. Tevin Kirby – Hatboro-Horsham – 51-09
Triple Jump
2. Harley LaCroix – Cheltenham – 46-05.50
Discus
2. Seyran Avakme – Bensalem – 147-08
3. Ken Crawford – Pennridge – 124-09
Upper Dublin senior Taylor Morgan has followed her magnificent second place finish in the high jump in the Pennsylvania state indoor season with a terrific spring season.
“Taylor jumped 5-8 at states and is one of the best high jumpers in the state,” said Upper Dublin head coach Matt Dwyer. “And she has already qualified for districts in the 110 and 300 hurdles, the high jump, and the triple jump. She is an extremely gifted, all-around athlete. She simply does everything the right way.
“In the dual meets she helps out and will run any relay we need her to run,” added Dwyer. “She has nice splits in both the sprint medley (25.8) and the lead off split in the 4 x 400 (61.5) in the last meet (PW Colonial Relays)– plus she won both the high jump (5 feet-4 inches) and the triple jump (37 feet).”
Morgan has been recruited by Division One schools from both the Big Ten and the Ivy League.
“No question that she is a division one athlete, and there is no question that she is an Ivy League student,” said Dwyer. “She is a natural athlete that also has great leadership qualities. The freshman on the team really look up to her, and there are times when she is coaching them in the high jump. She does it all.”
And does it well.
Plymouth Whitmarsh Colonial Relays
National Elite Times/Distances
(Girls)
4 x 800 Relay
North Penn – 9:41.24
High Jump
Taylor Morgan – Upper Dublin – 5-4
Triple Jump
Taylor Morgan – Upper Dublin – 37-0
Long Jump
Ciara Andrews – Cheltenham – 17-8
Sprint Medley
Upper Dublin – 4:16.82
Triple Jump
Sydnee Jacques – North Penn – 37-3.50
On the Schedule
Lady Skins Invitational – Neshaminy
Saturday – 4/14/12
Abington
Bensalem
Central Bucks East
Council Rock North
Council Rock South
Neshaminy
North Penn
Pennsbury
Upper Moreland
William Tennent
42nd Annual Coatesville Invitational
Saturday – 4/14/12
Central Bucks West
Cheltenham
Hatboro-Horsham
North Penn
Upper Dublin
Wissahickon
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