This week’s track notebook highlights SOL athletes who will be competing in the Penn Relays as well as some of last weekend’s top performances.
By Scott Huff
The prestigious individual invitations to the Penn Relays have been sent out and nine girls and eight boys in the Suburban One League enthusiastically accepted.
The impressive SOL girls’ guest list will include:
- Sara Sargent (Pennsbury) – Mile Run
- Marissa Sheva (Pennridge) – Mile Run
- Veronica Elder (Central Bucks East) – 3000 Meters
- Kayla Coley (Cheltenham) – 400 Meter Hurdles
- Kelly Anne Stuetz (Cheltenham) – High Jump
- Amanda Benninghoff (Council Rock South) – Pole Vault
- Taylor Hojanacki (Central Bucks South) – Discus
- Cait Mautz (Central Bucks West) – Javelin
- Ella Fox (Pennridge) – Javelin
Central Bucks East senior Veronica Elder is on her journey to Auburn University next year, but the exceptional Patriot distance runner will make a stop at the University of Pennsylvania to run the 3000 meters at the Penn Relays.
“Veronica is very excited and eager to do her best at the Penn Relays,” said Central Bucks East head coach Sam Losorelli. “Her attitude is to have fun, but be competitive. I have no doubt that she will accomplish both.
“Mentally she knows how to run a race, and she takes a ‘no prisoner’ approach to her running,” added Losorelli. “Veronica knows how to break down a race and figure out what it is going to take to win that race.
“She has really matured as a runner – now her last lap is faster than her first lap,” continued Losorelli. “If there is just one word to describe Veronica – it would be awesome.”
The impressive SOL boys’ guest list will include:
- Joey Logue (Pennridge) – Mile Run
- Connor Harriman (Pennsbury) – Mile Run
- Conner Quinn (Hatboro-Horsham) – 3000 Meters
- Ross Wilson (Council Rock North) – 3000 Meters
- Chris Spadaro (Council Rock South) – Long Jump
- Joe Smith (Norristown) – Long Jump
- Cody Minnig (Neshaminy) – Long Jump
- Jared Alston (North Penn) – Triple Jump
Pennridge junior Joey Logue might have garnered his Penn Relays invitation in the mile run, but the talented harrier just might be a better competitor in the 800 meters.
“I would have to say that Joey is a proven quality runner anywhere from 200 meters to the mile,” said Pennridge head coach Bob Hosier. “But if you asked him, he might tell you that his best event is the 800 meters. We put him in the 1500 meters at the last minute of the Council Rock Kiwanis meet so that he could qualify for the Penn Relays.”
Logue has also proven to be an exceptional member of the Pennridge relay teams. Last year, Logue anchored the Rams in their third place finish at states in the 4 x 800 relay and also anchored Pennridge’s 4 x 400 relay that finished with a fourth place finish at states.
“Joey is a special runner in that he can help the team get points in a number of events,” said Hosier. “He practices well and competes well. His has his eyes set on the big meets at the end of the season.”
And those eyes will be on the Penn Relays as well.
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The Pennridge boys’ team enjoyed a wonderful showing in the Council Rock Kiwanis Invitational last Saturday with a first place finish. The Rams totaled 110 points in the meet – 27 more points than second place Neshaminy.
“We had a great afternoon, and we really had to scramble at times and change some things around,” said Pennridge head coach Bob Hosier. “We made some last minute changes in a few events – worked on getting good matchups – and things all seemed to work out. I was happy with both the effort and the performance.
“Our goal is always to compete well in the invitationals and win each of our dual meets,” added Hosier. “And of course we don’t lose sight of the league meet, the district meet, and states. We have some quality kids and we should be able to compete at the highest level.”
The Rams took first place honors at the CR Kiwanis Invitational in the 800-meter sprint medley, while Joey Logue (1500 meters) and Mike Class (long jump) captured first place finishes in individual events. The Pennridge freshman relay also took a first place, while the Rams took second in the Distance Medley, the 4 x 100 relay, and the 4x400 relay.
“I really has a good feeling about us winning the sprint medley,” said Hosier of his foursome that included senior Kyle Haggerty, freshman Matt Firuta, senior John Kim, and senior Nick Stenderowicz who stopped the watches in 1:35.54. “This is a group that has worked well together and their success was not a surprise.
“Joey, of course, was no surprise either,” added Hosier. “And Mike Class is just a special athlete who gives great effort and also competes well.”
Two of the most impressive showings might have come in losing efforts and the Rams fell to Neshmainy in the 4 x 100 relay and to Bensalem in the 4 x 400 relay.
“Those are two pretty impressive relay teams, and they were just a little bit better than us on that day,” said Hosier. “Both races were exciting to watch, and I felt that we ran well in both even though we didn’t come in first.”
The Pennridge 4 x 100 relay (43.24) was comprised of Kim, Haggerty, Colby Trauger, and Class, while the Ram 4 x 400 relay (3:17.72) was the quartet of Logue, Kim, Class, and Stenderowicz.
A real pleasant surprise for the Green and White was the first place finish of its freshman team. The foursome of Dillon Henry, Owen Elsen, Devon Balmer, and Matt Firuta captured first place with a clocking of 45.67.
“This group really meshed well together considering they haven’t really practiced all that much,” said Hosier. “In fact, they only ran as a group once against Quakertown. Quakertown didn’t run a team – and we still didn’t win. We were disqualified for a bad handoff.”
Pennridge senior Mike Tatarowicz took a second place for the Rams in the triple jump with a leap of 43-11.
“Mike did not compete in the winter because he had a broken heel,” said Hosier. “But he has really come on and is having a great spring so far.
“This is a team that has shown it can compete with a confidence that you need to be successful,” added Hosier. “They are not arrogant or cocky – they are a team that people can really stand up and root for.”
Suburban One League ‘Gold Medalists’ @ Council Rock North Kiwanis Invitational
- Renard Howell (Neshaminy) 100 Meters [10.64]
- Renard Howell (Neshaminy) 200 Meters [21.76]
- Paul Sommerville (Cheltenham) Shot Put [49-10.5]
- Paul Sommerville (Cheltenham) Discus [139.10]
- David Harrington (Neshaminy) 110 Meter Hurdles [15.5]
- Ohyle Elijah (Bensalem) 400 Meter Hurdles [55.37]
- 4x 800 Relay (Bensalem) 8:00.66
- 4 x 400 Relay (Bensalem) 3:17.18
- 4 x 100 Relay (Neshaminy) 43.10
- Kadeen Shine (William Tennent) 400 Meters
- Ross Wilson (Council Rock North) 3000 Meters [8:40.96]
- Randall Johnson (Central Bucks South) High Jump [6-0]
- D’Andre Pollard (Neshaminy) Triple Jump [44-10]
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The North Penn girls’ had an outstanding meet last Saturday in Whitehall as the Maiden captured first place in the Zephyr Relays. The following were the first place finishes for North Penn.
- 4 x 200 Relay (North Penn) – Chloe Johnson-Hyde, Ally King, Leiana Dean, & Haley Sienkiewicz [1:48.18]
- Distance Relay (North Penn) – Ali Valente, Brianna Mengini, Melanie Vlasic, & Phoebe Clowser [12:59.82]
- 4 x 100 Relay- (North Penn) – Dominique Mosley, Ally King, Leiana Dean, & Chloe Johnson-Hyde [50.64]
- 4 x 800 Relay – (North Penn) – Rachel Oberholtzer, Melanie Vlasic, Phoebe Clowder & Ali Valenti [9:55.84]
- Long Jump Relay – (North Penn) – Megan McGeehan & Brianna Mengini [31-5.5]
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