This week’s notebook highlights several athletes who excelled at last weekend’s SOL championships and also lists the winners for each conference.
By Scott Huff
The blueprint for success runs in the family.
Central Bucks South senior Ryan Hynes will compete in the PIAA District One championships in both the 300-meter hurdles and the long jump – along with a possible relay or two – and is fresh off a spectacular performance in the Suburban One League Continental Conference championship last weekend. Hynes won the 200-meters (22.16), 300-meter hurdles (38.09), the long jump (22-0.75), and anchored the winning 4 x 100 relay (42.48).
Ryan is the younger brother of both Duane and Derek Hynes who were prominent track and field athletes for the Titans. Duane is a graduate of Princeton University where he excelled as a decathlete, while Derek is a senior at Princeton and is an accomplished pole vaulter. So it was no surprise that Ryan is headed for – Cornell?
“My brothers wanted me to go to Princeton, but my parents and I talked and we felt that Cornell had the major that I was most interested in,” said Hynes who will major in Business with a concentration in Hotel Administration. “I made a trip to the school, talked with the coach, and really felt welcomed there.”
The immediate future will focus on his efforts in both the 300-meter hurdles and the long jump this Saturday at Coatesville High School, but his collegiate future at Cornell will showcase his talents in the decathlon.
The decathlon is a ten-event grind that includes: (1) 100 meters; (2) Long Jump; (3) Shot Put; (4) High Jump; (5) 400-meters; (6) 110-meter hurdles; (7) Discus; (8) Pole Vault; (9) Javelin; and (10) 1500-meters.
“I know that I might not be the best in any one event, but I also know that I am decent at a bunch of events,” said Hynes who finished 11th in the AAU Nationals in the decathlon last summer. “My brother Duane was the paving stone for me to get into the decathlon. I feel that I am strong in both the hurdles and the long jump, and I am going to work hard getting better in the other events.
“Derek has given me some drills to do to become a better pole vaulter,” added Hynes. “My brothers train with me when they can, and they have shown me the ropes. I still have a lot to learn, but I can’t wait.”
Hynes best event this 2012 spring season has been the 300-meter hurdles, and his blistering time of 37.7 in a dual meet and is the eighth best time in the state.
“Ryan has been flying under the radar for most of the season,” said Central Bucks South head coach Jason Gable. “He seems like he is one of the better athletes that no one seems to talk a whole lot about. I think he might enjoy the underdog role.
“Ryan has really stepped up in the big meets and has excelled when the competition pushes him the hardest,” added Gable. “He is going to compete in his individual events in districts, and we are still deciding how we are going to use him in our relays. We are going to make a team decision, and that involves the best way for our relays to move on to states.”
Cheltenham junior Kayla Coley enters the PIAA District One meet @ Coatesville with the best times in the state in both the 100-meter (14.43) and 300 meter hurdles (43.28).
“When we talk about expectations, we always talk about competing to the best of her ability,” said Cheltenham head coach Kelly Jensen. “If that means you cross the line first, second, or third – if you gave it your best effort, that’s really all that you can do.
“Kayla is healthy – has a great attitude - and is a very powerful young lady,” added Jensen. “She really didn’t become a serious hurdler until last November, and then she was forced to overcome injuries during the indoor season. She has developed into one of the best hurdlers in the state. She was able to overcome adversity, and that creates character.
“In her last race (SOL American Conference Championship) she trailed going into the fifth hurdle, but she turned it on and won the race,” continued Jensen. “Her strong will allowed her way to win the race.
“Right now, she is getting herself noticed,” added Jensen. “Division One schools from the ACC and Big Ten are interested, but she is still a year away from making that decision. She will focus on what is right in front of her the next two weeks.”
Pennridge senior Tori Gerlach and Ram freshman Marissa Sheva had a lot to do with Pennridge winning the SOL Continental Conference championship last week.
“We felt that this was our year to be able to beat North Penn,” said Pennridge head coach Bill Smith. “Our goal was to win a league title, and both Tori and Marissa had a lot to do with that.”
Gerlach won the 3200 meters in 10:33.33 – no surprise – but Sheva crossed the finish line just ahead of Gerlach in both the 800 meters (2:14.76 – 2:16.20) and the 1600 meters (4:54.98 – 4:57.03).
“It was a unique situation in that the two top runners in both races were from the same team,” said Smith. “I’m not saying that Marissa wouldn’t have beaten Tori in either or both of those races, but the incentive to battle to the end wasn’t there. Both are very confident runners, and as team mates they absolutely did what was best for the team.
“I would be lying if I said that I wouldn’t want us to compete for a district title,” continued Smith. “But really, the goal is to get individuals into states. We can’t wait to compete.”
‘We Are The Champions’ - Queen
SOL National Conference – (Girls) – Pennsbury Falcons
100 meters – Zakiyyah Richardson – Pennsbury – 12.14
200 meters – Zakiyyah Richardson – Pennsbury – 25.09
400 meters – Jordan Matthews – Abington – 57.27
800 meters – Alex Wheatley – Council Rock South – 2:18.33
1600 meters – Sara Sargent – Pennsbury – 5:04.24
3200 meters – Kate Scott – Council Rock North – 11:23.16
100 hurdles – Paige McDowell – Council Rock South – 16.34
300 hurdles – Paige McDowell – Council Rock South – 46.22
4 x 100 Relay – Harry S Truman – 48.92
4 x 400 Relay – Pennsbury – 3:55.93
4 x 800 Relay – Pennsbury – 9:34.32
High Jump – Shannon Taub – Council Rock South – 5-2
Long Jump – Jordan Matthews – 18-11
Triple Jump – Victoria Miskel – Pennsbury – 35-11.5
Pole Vault – Amanda Benninghoff – 12-0
Shot Put – Tyra Roberts – Bensalem – 37-2.5
Discus – Tyra Roberts – Bensalem – 108-01
Javelin – Alysha Siezak – Council Rock North – 102-4
SOL National Conference – (Boys) – Bensalem Owls
100 meters – Bryan Reice – Neshaminy – 11.21
200 meters – Ohyle Elijah – Bensalem – 22.11
400 meters – Ohyle Elijah – Bensalem – 48.61
800 meters – Jeffrey Wiseman – Council Rock South – 1:57.91
1600 meters – Connor Harriman – Pennsbury – 4:21.30
3200 meters – Mac Emery – Council Rock North – 9:36.44
110 hurdles – Paul Wahlman – Council Rock North – 14.96
300 hurdles – Paul Wahlman – Council Rock North – 38.87
4 x 100 Relay – Neshaminy – 42.04
4 x 400 Relay – Bensalem – 3:22.27
4 x 800 Relay – Bensalem – 8:10.31
High Jump – Horace Spencer – William Tennent – 6-4
Long Jump – Cody Minnig – Neshaminy – 22-10
Triple Jump – Seyran Avakame – Bensalem – 45-2.75
Pole Vault – Tom Sternberg – Council Rock South – 14-0
Shot Put – Keith Froggett – William Tennent – 48-7.75
Discus – Keith Froggett – William Tennent – 152-1.50
Javelin – Robert Walker – Abington – 160-10
SOL Continental Conference – (Girls) – Pennridge Rams
100 meters – Jody-Ann Evans – Quakertown – 12.01
200 meters – Natalia Pinkney – Pennridge – 24.77
400 meters – Jamila Branch – Central Bucks West – 56.89
800 meters – Marissa Sheva – Pennridge – 2:14.76
1600 meters – Marissa Sheva – Pennridge – 4:54.98
3200 meters – Tori Gerlach – Pennridge – 10:33.33
100 hurdles – Sydnee Jacques – North Penn – 14.78
300 hurdles – Sydnee Jacques – North Penn – 44.94
4 x 100 Relay – Pennridge – 48.07
4 x 400 Relay – Central Bucks West – 3:53.15
4 x 800 Relay – Pennridge – 9:18.12
High Jump – Kailah Holmes – North Penn – 5-1
Long Jump – Bailey Kratz – Souderton – 17-7.75
Triple Jump – Sydnee Jacques – North Penn – 37-1.75
Pole Vault – Stacey Nagele – Quakertown – 11-0
Shot Put – Taylor Hojnacki – Central Bucks South – 36-6.5
Discus – Taylor Hojnacki – Central Bucks South – 127-6
Javelin – Cait Mautz – Central Bucks West – 133-11
SOL Continental Conference – (Boys) – Pennridge Rams
100 meters – Corey Hackett – Hatboro-Horsham – 10.79
200 meters – Ryan Hynes – Central Bucks South – 22.16
400 meters – Corey Hackett – Hatboro-Horsham – 49.16
800 meters – Austin Kohler – Pennridge – 1:54.42
1600 meters – Sam Hibbs – Hatboro-Horsham – 4:15.96
3200 meters – Chris Berry – Central Bucks West – 9:35.02
100 hurdles – Chris Harling – Pennridge – 15.17
300 hurdles – Ryan Hynes – Central Bucks South – 38.09
4 x 100 Relay – Central Bucks South – 42.48
4 x 400 Relay – Pennridge – 3:22.11
4 x 800 Relay – Pennridge – 7:51.94
High Jump – Tim Deley – Central Bucks South – 6-2
Long Jump – Ryan Hynes – Central Bucks South – 22-0.75
Triple Jump – Jared Alston – North Penn – 43-2.75
Pole Vault – Corey Smith – Central Bucks West – 14-6
Shot Put – John Garland – North Penn – 53-7.50
Discus – Blake Romanowski – Souderton – 150-0
Javelin – JD LaSalle – Hatboro-Horsham – 178-10
SOL American Conference – (Girls) – Cheltenham Panthers
100 meters – Zayna Milligan – Norristown – 12.44
200 meters – Zayna Milligan – Norristown – 24.87
400 meters – Jill Blackshaw – Upper Moreland – 59.64
800 meters – Amber McAteer – Upper Merion – 2:21.79
1600 meters – Sarah Holl – Upper Dublin – 5:07.84
3200 meters – Brittany Finn – Upper Moreland – 11:51.79
100 hurdles – Kayla Coley – Cheltenham – 14.43
300 hurdles – Kayla Coley – Cheltenham – 43.28
4 x 100 Relay – Norristown – 47.94
4 x 400 Relay – Cheltenham – 4:05.18
4 x 800 Relay – Upper Dublin – 9:41.89
High Jump – Taylor Morgan – Upper Dublin – 5-6
Long Jump – Ciara Andrews – Cheltenham – 17-3.25
Triple Jump – Ebony Grasty – Wissahickon – 38-1.1
Pole Vault – Anecia Alexaki – Upper Merion – 10-6
Shot Put – Ming Seawright – Cheltenham – 36-5
Discus – Essen Milligan-Williams – Norristown – 106-11
Javelin – Justine Morgan – Upper Dublin – 94-2
SOL American Conference – (Boys) – Wissahickon Trojans
100 meters – Tyler Whitmore – Upper Moreland – 10.92
200 meters – Tyler Whitmore – Upper Moreland – 21.89
400 meters – Dave Stellato – Wissahickon – 49.47
800 meters – Drew Magaha – Upper Moreland – 1:55.42
1600 meters – Francis Ferruzzi – Upper Dublin – 4:27.57
3200 meters – Francis Ferruzzi – Upper Dublin – 10:20.62
110 hurdles – Max Hairston – Wissahickon – 14.22
300 hurdles – Max Hairston – Wissahickon – 38.33
4 x 100 Relay – Cheltenham – 42.99
4 x 400 Relay – Norristown – 3:24.72
4 x 800 Relay – Upper Moreland – 8:01.56
High Jump – Jalen Ramsey – Norristown – 6-9
Long Jump – Harley LaCroix – Cheltenham – 22-1
Triple Jump – Harley LaCroix – Cheltenham – 45-5.25
Pole Vault – Aaron Rodriguez – Wissahickon – 12-6
Shot Put – Tanoh Kpassagnon – Wissahickon – 47-3.5
Discus – Simba Allen – Upper Dublin – 142-6
Javelin – Tyler Fox – Upper Dublin – 164-7
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