Scott Huff highlights some of top SOL girls’ performances at the PIAA Track & Field Championships last weekend.
By Scott Huff
The Suburban One League did not have a girls’ team champion crowned at the PIAA Class AAA track and field championships at Shippensburg last weekend. But the SOL proved to be among the elite programs in the state with four schools finishing in the top five in final team standings.
Hempfield won the state championship with a total of 52 points. Cheltenham (41), Central Bucks West (28), Pennridge (28), and Central Bucks South (25) captured second, third, fourth, and fifth place.
The SOL might not have had a team champion, but the league did have an impressive eight gold medal performances.
Marissa Sheva of Pennridge (3200 meters), Ciara Leonard of Cheltenham (100 meter hurdles), Katleyn Jackson of Cheltenham (100 & 200 meters), Maddie Villalba of Central Bucks West (800 meters), and Taylor Hojnacki of Central Bucks South (discus)all won individual gold for the SOL.
The Central Bucks South 4 x 800 meter relay team set a state record and the Central Bucks West 4 x 400 meter relay team also mined gold at SHIP U.
PIAA Class AAA Gold Medal ‘Snapshot’
Central Bucks South 4 x 800 Meter Relay
The Central Bucks South 4 x 800 Meter Relay entered the PIAA Class AAA championships as a strong favorite to exit Shippensburg University with a gold medal. And the Lady Titans didn’t disappoint by setting a new state record with a blistering time of 8:51.49 to easily win the event.
“All we really wanted to do was focus on winning the race – not on setting the record,” said Central Bucks South head coach Rachel Beck. “We always talk about the fact that you can’t set a record unless you win the race. But I can’t really say that breaking the record wasn’t in the back of our minds.
“Once Kaitlyn (Poiesz) ran the first leg three seconds under her personal best, I started to get excited,” added Beck. “And when Amber (Stratz), Alexa (Kwapinski), and Brianna (Stratz) all ran their personal bests I knew they were going to not only beat the record – but shatter the record.”
The ‘splits’ for the recording setting run were 2:15.3 for Poiesz; 2:12.3 for Amber Stratz; 2:12.9 for Kwapinski, and 2:10.9 for Brianna Stratz.
“What some people don’t know is the sacrifice that the girls made to run the relay,” said Beck. “They all had the talent to succeed in individual events, but they gave up individual glory. They decided as a group to focus on the 4 x 800 and run as a team.
“Both Kaitlyn (La Salle) and Alexa (Lafayette) are seniors and will be greatly missed,” continued Beck. “But both the Stratz girls are back and will be seniors next season. It has been a long season, and now we can celebrate the win.”
An impressive state championship – record setting – victory at that.
PIAA Class AAA Gold Medal ‘Snapshot’
Katelyn Jackson – Cheltenham – 100 & 200 Meters
All season long Cheltenham’s marvelous senior sprinter Katelyn Jackson had to take a back seat to Neshaminy’s sensational sophomore Daisa Pressley. Pressley entered the PIAA Class AAA championships with the best time in the state in both the 100 and 200 meters.
“Dasia has been great competition all year, but it was time that I showed that I was the senior – and this was my time,” said Jackson who defeated Pressley in both the 100 (11.78) and 200 (23.93) to earn a pair of gold medals. “She has gotten better times all year, and the last few weeks I have worked very hard on my starts. I knew that I would have to get out of the blocks faster if I wanted to beat her.
“Coach (Kelly) Jensen has been working with me on staying low out of the blocks,” added Jackson. “And as I got into the blocks for both events – I kept repeating ‘stay low’ to myself.”
“Our objective the last three weeks was to exclusively work on her starts,” agreed Jensen. “She had great starts in both races and really moved herself to the next level with those wins at states.”
The next level for the talented Jackson will be next fall when she begins her collegiate career at UCLA.
“I am super excited – (UCLA head coach) Johnson talked with me last week and told me that this was the best recruiting class in a while,” said Jackson. “He told me that this class was the future of the program, and to be in shape to run from September on.”
Jackson was more than ready to run at Shippensburg – and the two gold medals around her neck are proof of that fact.
1st Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
3200 Meters
Marissa Sheva (Pennridge) 10:25.85
100 Meter Hurdles
Ciara Leonard (Cheltenham) 13.89
100 Meters
Katelyn Jackson (Cheltenham) 11.78
800 Meters
Maddie Villalba (Central Bucks West) 2:09.65
200 Meters
Katelyn Jackson (Cheltenham) 23.93
Discus
Taylor Hojnacki (Central Bucks South) 140-7
4 x 800 Meter Relay
Central Bucks South (8:51.49) * state record*
4 x 400 Meter Relay
Central Bucks West (3:47.82)
2nd Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
100 Meters
Dasia Pressley (Neshaminy) 11.94
200 Meters
Dasia Pressley (Neshaminy) 24.24
3rd Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
100 Meters
Chanel Brissett (Cheltenham) 12.17
High Jump
Shannon Taub (Council Rock South) 5-7
4 x 400 Meter Relay
North Penn (3:48.49)
4th Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
Long Jump
Ariana Przyblowski (Pennridge) 18-0
100 Meters
Taylor Chapman (Pennridge) 12.22
200 Meters
Taylor Chapman (Pennridge) 24.83
400 Meters
Jamila Branch (Central Bucks West) 56.36
Shot Put
Taylor Hojnacki (Central Bucks South) 42-7
4 x 100 Meter Relay
North Penn (48.60)
5th Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
Discus
Taylor Campbell (Norristown) 132-03
1600 Meters
Kaelyn Heinicke (Council Rock North) 4:52.80
200 Meters
Chanel Brissett (Cheltenham) 24.88
Pole Vault
Anecia Alexaki (Upper Merion) 12-0
4 x 400 Meter Relay
Central Bucks East (3:55.82)
6th Place finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
1600 Meters
Marissa Sheva (Pennridge) 4:55.69
800 Meters
Olivia Berry (Central Bucks West) 2:13.88
4 x 800 Meter Relay
Pennsbury (9:10.67)
7th Place Finishers @ State Finals
Shippensburg University
High Jump
Victoria Matthews (Abington) 5-5
3200 Meters
Elizabeth Morris (Central Bucks East) 10:56.31
400 Meters
Uche Nwogwugwa (North Penn) 58.34
300 Meter Hurdles
Uchechi Onuoha (Pennsbury) 44.87
Pole Vault
Dominque Franco (Council Rock South) 12-0
4 x 400 Meter RelayWissahickon (3:56.94)
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