The SOL dominated Saturday’s District One Track and Field championships at Coatesville High School. Photos provided by Denn Dyroff.
By DENNY DYROFF
CALN TOWNSHIP -- You could say that the Suburban One League dominated this year’s District 1 Class AAA Track and Field Championships but that would be an understatement -- a gross understatement.
There were four team championship trophies handed out on the infield at Coatesville High’s stadium immediately following Saturday’s meet and three of them were claimed by SOL teams. Cheltenham’s boys won the Class AAA title and so did the Cheltenham girls. Springfield, paced by a quadruple-gold performance from Chris Stone, captured the Boys’ Class AA crown.
There were 144 medals awarded in the Boys Class AAA meet and 61 of them went to SOL athletes. Of the 18 gold medals, seven were snagged by Suburban One athletes including four by members of Cheltenham’s team.
The league’s dominance was even heavier in the Girls Class AAA meet. SOL girls captured 95 of 143 medals -- more than 60 percent. They also won two-thirds of the 18 gold medals with Cheltenham leading the way with five.
The gold medalists for the Panther girls were Chanel Brissett in the 100-meter dash (11.85), Ciara Leonard in the 100 hurdles (13.67), Madison Langley-Walker in long jump, the 4x100 team of Alexis Crosby, Janiel Slowly, Brissett and Leonard (46.88) and the 4x400 foursome of Nicole Burke, Arianna Wallace, Dior Alston and Crosby (3:51.99).
Leonard was involved in two record-breaking performances. In the 100 hurdles, she broke her own record of 13.70 set last year. In the 4x100, the Panthers erased the old league standard of 47.14 set by Upper Darby in 2003.
“It was a good race because it was faster than last year by .2 seconds,” said Leonard, who was also silver medalist in the 300 hurdles at 43.74. “My start was really good. I was aggressive to the first hurdle and aggressive until the end.
“I was defending champion but I wanted to get better. I was running against the clock. My p.r. is the 13.66 I ran at states last year. In the 300 hurdles, I didn’t have enough time to cool off from the 100s and then warm up again. I was exhausted at the end.”
Brissett, who was also silver medalist in the 200 with a time of 24.03, said, “The 200 went pretty well but the 100 was phenomenal. I had a great start and I finished well. We also had a phenomenal 4x100 and broke the record. But, our handoffs could still use some work.”
Pennsbury had two girls return home from Chester County with a gold-silver combo. Daria Pressley nabbed the gold in the 200 at 24.00 and was runner-up in the 100 with a clocking of 11.92. Olivia Sargent snared the gold medal in the 3,200 in the morning with a time of 10:36.35 and then came back in the afternoon to pick up the silver medal in the 1,600 at 5:02.89.
“The 3,200 was a really good race and I ran a p.r.,” said Sargent. “We didn’t take it out hard at all. We stayed in a pack for a really long time. Then, the race broke up with about 950 to go. (C.B. East’s) Lizzie Morris took it out and then (Pennsbury’s) Hannah Molloy took over. I took the lead with 800 meters left.
“No-one came up on me and I felt pretty strong up to the end. My goal was just to p.r. I didn’t have any expectations. It was only my second 3,200 of the season. The 1,600 was a good race. Karli (Nazareth Academy’s Kari Visconto who finished .17 seconds faster) got me just at the end.”
The Falcons’ other gold medalist was Uche Onuoha, who crossed first in the 300 hurdles at 43.54.
“I got out well and my first two hurdles were good,” said Onuoha. “Then, I hit the fourth hurdle and stuttered a bit. It was just a little glitch. It was a tough race. My last two hurdles felt good. I could feel Ciara (Leonard) coming on so I tried to open my stride.
The SOL’s other two gold medalists in Saturday’s Girls Class AAA competition were Central Bucks West’s Maddie Villalba, who was first in the 800 at 2:09.47, and North Penn’s Allison Williams, who won triple jump with a distance of 38-5.
“The race went out really slow,” said Villalba. “I wanted to go out in 63 and we went out in 66. In the last 200, I like to kick as hard as I can and I had a good kick today. My previous p.r. was 2:09.65 so it’s exciting to run today’s time even with the slow start.”
In the boys’ meet, Cheltenham’s gold lode featured Christian Brissett in the 100 (10.91), John Lewis in the 800 (1:49.15), Saahir Bethea in long jump (24-3) and the 4x400 quartet of Cordell Richardson, Kyle Davis, Bethea and Lewis.
Lewis not only won the gold medal in the 800, he shattered the meet record. The prior record was 1:50.92 set by Wissahickon’s Hong Cho in 2011.
“I didn’t really have a goal time,” said Lewis, who will run for Clemson University next year. “I wasn’t thinking about the record either. I just wanted to get a p.r. My old p.r. was 1:50.01.
“I got into my stride really quickly. I like to get out fast in the first 200 and then find a good pace. I tried to kick it in after the last curve. I just wanted to maintain my form and keep everything together.”
Brissett, who also picked up the silver medal in the 200 at 21.75, said, “The 100 felt pretty good. It was me and the same guy from the 200 (Downingtown East’s Dan Chisena). I thought it was a faster race than what the time showed. The 200 felt good but I got a little tired at the end.”
Bethea, who teamed with Richard Austin (21-11.5) to give the Panthers a one-two finish in long jump, said, “My first jump in the trials was 24-3. My second jump was 23-10. My coach told me to stop there because I should just throw it all in next week at states.”
The SOL’s other two gold medalists in Saturday’s portion of the two-day district meet were Neshaminy’s Dave Marrington, who won the 300 hurdles with a time of 37.36, and the Pennsbury foursome of Eric Kersten, Alek Sauer, Sam Webb and Matt Mulvaney that won the 4x800 at 7:43.50.
In Boys’ Class AA action, Springfield’s Chris Stone finished first in javelin at 177-9 on Thursday and then came back Saturday to place first in long jump (22-7.25), pole vault (15-9) and high jump (6-6).
Stone, who will compete collegiately at Auburn, said, “I was happiest with javelin. It was the only event I did my freshman year and I was able to ‘four-peat’ it. But, it wasn’t close to my personal best which is 187-7 from my sophomore year.”
The Spartans also had two relay gold medalists -- Ben Fisher, Kyle Wyche, Sean Stovall and Marcus Purnell in the 4x400 (3:28.32) and Eric Westray, Martin Worgan, Wyche and Fisher in the 4x100 (43.53).
GIRLS’ DISTRICT ONE AAA (Team Rankings)
1. Cheltenham (89)
2. Pennsbury (81)
3. North Penn (60)
4. Council Rock South (50)
5. Methacton (37)
6. Pennridge (34)
7. Coatesville (24)
8. Unionville (20)
8. Central Bucks West (20)
10. Central bucks South (17)
Girls 100m Dash
1. Chanel Brissett Chelt (11.85)
2. Dasia Pressley Pbury (11.92)
3. Taylor Chapman Pridge (12.17)
5. Evelina Sloboh HST (12.52)
7. Phideli Guillobel HST (12.70)
8. Taylor Kennedy CBE (12.71)
Girls 200m Dash
1. Dasia Pressley Penns (24.00)
2. Chanel Brissett Chelt (24.03)
3. Jayana Webb Ntown (24.26)
5. Taylor Chapman Pridge (25.04)
7. Ariana Przybylowski Pridge (25.37)
8. Allison King NP (25.90)
Girls 400m Dash
2. Uche Nwogwugwu NP (54.85)
3. Husniyyah Rogers Penns (56.58)
5. Alexis Crosby Chelt (57.07)
7. Nicole Burke Chelt (57.65)
Girls 800m Run
1. Maddie Villalba CBW (2:09.47)
3. Brianna Stratz CBS (2:13.38)
5. Amber Stratz CBW (2:14.40)
7. Mikaela Vlasic NP (2:16.16.81)
Girls 1600m Run
2. Olivia Sargent Pbury (5:02.89)
3. Marissa Sheva Pridge (5:04.14)
4. Mary Webb Pbury (5:05.68)
5. Phoebe Clowser NP (5:07.35)
8. Madeline Ocamb Qtown (5:11.64)
Girls 3200m Run
1. Olivia Sargent Pbury (10:36.35)
3. Hannah Molloy Pbury (10:41.14)
4. Marissa Sheva Pridge (10:49.46)
7. Elizabeth Morris CBE (10:55.20)
Girls 100m Hurdles
1. Ciara Leonard Chelt (13.67)*
3. Madison Langley-Walter Chelt (14.61)
5. Uche Onuoha Pbury (14.85)
6. Alyssa Zukowski Nesh (15.08)
7. Janiel Slowly Chelt (15.34.)
*Meet Record
Girls 300m Hurdles
1. Uche Onuoha Pbury (43.54)
2. Ciara Leonard Chelt (43.74)
3. Madison Langley-Walker (44.07)
4. Taylor O’Brien PW (44.64)
7. Jessica Milligan Pridge (45.97)
8. Sierra Camburn Qtown (46.06)
Girls 4x100m Relay
1. Cheltenham (Ciara Leonard, Janiel Slowly, Alexis Crosby, Chanel Brissett) 46.88*
2. Norristown (Dymon Lee, Jonae Cook, Kanitra Hill-Stewart, Charity Guy) 47.18
3. Pennsbury (Niasia Boone, Uche Onuoha, Husniyyah Rogers, Dasia Pressley) 47.21
5. North Penn (Jessica Brenfleck, Kathleen Stevenson, Leiana Dean, Allison King) 49.79
6. Pennridge (Taylor Chapman, Ariana Przybylowski, Zoe Williams, Madison Morgan) 47.90
8. Central Bucks South (Jasmine Noble, Amber Stratz, Brianna Strat, Lydia Fielding) 48.72
*Meet Record
Girls 4x400m Relay
1. Cheltenham (Nicole Burke, Arianna Wallace, Dior Alston, Alexis Crosby) 3:51.99
2. North Penn (Uche Nwogwugwu, Leianna Dean, Mikaela Vlasic, Allison King) 3:52.22
3. Central Bucks South (Amber Stratz, Lydia Fielding, Jasmine Noble, Brianna Stratz) 3:52.28
4. Central Bucks West (Maddie Villalba, Aly Logue, Lauren Olsen, Quinn Shiffler) 3:54.36
7. Souderton Area (Nikki O’Donnell, Sue Frustino, Cara Jackson, Moira O’Malley) 3:57.28
8. Abington (Victoria Collins, Victoria Matthews, Kelly Jawork, Marissa Heath) 3:58.31
Girls 4x800m Relay
2. North Penn (Stephanie Bresadola, Ali Valenti, Mikaela Vlasic, Phoebe Clowser) 9:02.86
4. Pennsbury (Erin O’Connell, Maddie Sauer, Meridith Twomey, Lizzy Kirk) 9:17.71
6. Central Bucks West (Olivia Berry, Cecilia Davies, Laura Roth, Vanessa Barrow) 9:21.26
7. Abington (Marissa Heath, Kelly Jawork, Kara Travers, Cassie Smith) 9:21.26
8. Upper Dublin (Sarah Smith, Sofie Mercurio, Emily Stewart, Marissa Holl) 9:26.85
Girls High Jump
1. Shannon Taub CRS (5-08.00)
2. Grace Becker CBE (5-07.00)
3. Uche Nwogwugwu NP (5-05.00)
4. Victoria Matthew Aton (5-03.00)
5. Sarah Gray WT (J5-03.00)
7. Regie Robinson UMer (5-01.00)
8. Taylor O’Brien PW (J5-01.00)
Girls Pole Vault
1. Dominique Franco CRS (11-06.00)
2. Savannah Wood CRS (J11-06.00)
3. Samantha Starosta UD (10-06.00)
5. Kaitlyn Deissler CRS (10-00.00)
6. Alexis Mongiello Pbury (J10-00.00)
7. Gianna Lescas CRN (J10-00.00)
8. Sarah Wiener NP (J10-00.00)
Girls Long Jump
1. Madison Langley-Walker Chelt (18-05.25)
3. Ariana Przybylowski Pridge (17-00.00)
7. Hannah Sexton CBW (17-06.00)
Girls Triple Jump
1. Allison Williams NP (38-05.00)
2. Uche Nwogwugwu NP (38-04.00)
4. Shannon Taub CRS (37-08.50)
5. Jaclyn Timoney CRs (37-07.25)
Girls Shot Put
4. Allison Taub CRS (38-06.50)
6. Ashley Alexander Chelt (37-03.50)
8. Amelia Ali Bens (36-11.50)
Girls Discus Throw
3. Amelia Ali Bens (129-01.00)
7. Elayna VanArsdale Bens (113-09.00)
Girls Javelin Throw
5. Allison Taub CRS (123-03.00)
7. Erica Rummel CRN (119-10.00)
BOYS’ DISTRICT ONE AAA (Team Rankings)
1. Cheltenham (72)
2. Upper Darby (49)
3. Downingtown West (48)
4. Pennsbury (33)
5. Downingtown East (30)
6. Conestoga (28)
7. Coatesville (26)
8. Spring-Ford (24)
9. Holy Ghost Prep (22)
9. Abington (22)
Boys 100m Dash
1. Christian Brissett Chelt (10.91)
3. Darien Williams Wiss (11.06)
8. David Bryant UD (11.40)
Boys 200m Dash
2. Christian Brissett Chelt (21.75)
3. David Gumino CRN (22.01)
6. Andrew Dillon Ntown (22.39)
Boys 400m Dash
2. Isaiah Smith Aton (49.28)
5. Dante Watson NP (50.06)
7. Austin Howell Pridge (50.72)
Boys 800m Run
1. John Lewis Chelt (1:49.15)*
2. Alek Sauer Pbury (1:53.08)
7. Dan Williams Pridge (1:56.37)
*Meet Record
Boys 1600m Run
2. Casey Comber HH (4:16.34)
3. Sam Webb Pbury (4:16.69)
Boys 3200m Run
2. Jake Brophy CBE (9:17.30)
4. Casey Comber HH (9:19.11)
7. Joe Maguire CRS (9:26.44)
8. Connor McMenamin Ston (9:28.82)
Boys 100m Hurdles
3. Kornelius Klah Pbury (14.49)
4. Cordell Richardson Chelt (14.76)
5. David Marrington Nesh (15.00)
8. Ethan Dolberry-Wescott Wiss (15.71)
Boys 300m Hurdles
1. David Marrington Nesh (37.36)
2. Andrew Dillon Ntown (38.34)
4. Cordell Richardson Chelt (38.99)
6. Kornelius Klah Pbury (39.65)
Boys 4x100m Relay
4. Council Rock North (David Gumino, Sean Mazlin, Tyler Loc, Sam Wong) 42.60
6. Wissahickon (Rasheed Wright, Ethan Dolberry-Wescott, Darren James, Kyuande Johnson) 42.83
8. Pennridge (Cody Dillinger, Carson VanHart, Josh Pinkney, Quinn Tompkins) 43.49
Boys 4x400m Relay
1. Cheltenham (Kyle Davis, Andrew Crosby, Saahir Bethea, Christian Brissett) 3:16.11
2. Abington (Josh Coleman, Jordan Neely, Martin McCall, Keion Broadus) 3:18.46
4. Neshaminy (Ben Matzke, Anthony Murray, Kyle O’Connell, Sean Conway) 3:21.15
5. Upper Dublin (George Weems, Kyle McMullen, Matt Knowles, Thomas Henning) 3:22.00
6. North Penn (Brett Fenstermacher, Janeel Solanki, Chris Jefferies, Daniel Santiago) 3:22.80
Boys 4x800m Relay
1. Pennsbury (Eric Kersten, Sam Webb, Matt Mulvaney, Alek Sauer) 7:43.50
2. Central Bucks West (Andrew Baker, Jake Claricurzio, Carter Zerweck, Rock Fortna) 7:45.72
3. Abington (Jordan Neely, Jake Good, Cameron Mitchell, Keion Broadus) 7:49.17
4. Pennridge (Alex Masgai, Jeff Espinal, Dan Williams, Tucker Desko) 7:50.26
Boys High Jump
7. Shamar Jenkins Ston (6-01)
Boys Pole Vault
2. Chad Ziegler Ston (13-06.00)
3. Jason Douple CBW (J13-06.00)
4. Edmond Lu CRN (J13-06.00)
6. Nicholas Marino HH (13-00.00)
7. Ronald Cubbage Qtown (J13-00.00)
8. Ryan Mill CBE (12-06.00)
Boys Long Jump
1. Saahir Bethea Chelt (24-03.00)
2. Richard Austin Chelt (21-11.50)
5. Alex Parasky CBE (21-04.00)
Boys Triple Jump
3. Saahir Bethea Chelt (45-09.00)
4. Shamar Jenkins Ston (45-05.00)
5. Cale Appiah-Owusu Bens (44-07.25)
6. Eric Parson HST (44-05.25)
8. Alex Parasky CBE (43-11.75)
Boys Shot Put
2. Kieran Moore UD (54-07.25)
8. Brian Miller CBW (45-06.75)
Boys Discus Throw
1. Sam Collazo WT (156-02.00)
6. Kieran Moore UD (146-01.00)
7. Josh Schwarz Qtown (144-05.00)
8. Ryan Tiffany Bens (140-05.00)
Boys Javelin Throw
5. Tommy Haas HH (173-06.00)
8. Connor Borkert CBE (164-04.00)
GIRLS’ DISTRICT ONE AA (Team Rankings)
5. Springfield Township (50)
Girls 200m Dash
3. Tara Murphy Sfield (27.15)
Girls 400m Dash
2. Sydni Stovall Sfield (1:00.48)
Girls 800m Run
1. Sydni Stovall Sfield (2:23.70)
8. Victoria Ebner Sfield (2:32.92)
Girls 1600m Run
4. Olivia Blackton Sfield (5:32.96)
Girls 4x100m Relay
3. Springfield Township (Tara Murphy, Alanna Kelly, Chelsea Wyche, Sharra Hardy) 53.12)
Girls 4x400m Relay
3. Springfield Township (Victoria Ebner, Tara Murphy, Olivia Blacton, Sydni Stovall) 4:15.60
Girls Shot Put
7. Jasmine Small Sfield (29-01.25)
Girls Javelin Throw
5. Maeva Corbett Sfield (79-00.00)
BOYS’ DISTRICT ONE AA (Team Rankings)
1. Springfield Township (107)
Boys 100m Dash
6. Martin Worgan Sfield (11.84)
7. Sheir-Ron Whittaker Sfield (11.94)
Boys 200m Dash
3. Eric Westray Sfield (23.17)
Boys 400m Dash
2. Kyle Wyche Sfield (51.40)
Boys 800m Run
1. Aaron Morris Sfield (1:56.58)
Boys 1600m Run
1. Sean Stovall Sfield (4:39.79)
Boys 300m Hurdles
2. Brennan Grimes Sfield (43.17)
Boys 4x100m Relay
1. Springfield (Eric Westray, Ben Fisher, Kyle Wyche, Martin Worgan) 43.53
Boys 4x400m Relay
1. Springfield (Kyle Wyche, Ben Fisher, Sean Stovall, Aaron Morris) 3:28.32
Boys High Jump
1. Chris Stone Sfield (6-06.00)
Boys Pole Vault
1. Chris Stone Sfield (15-09.00)*
*Meet Record
Boys Long Jump
1. Chris Stone Sfield (22-07.25)
Boys Javelin Throw
1. Chris Stone Sfield (177-09.00)
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