Saturday Meet Summary
Video by theazn of the 2007 PIAA T&F State Championships
The stars and emerging stars of Pennsylvania high school track & field lit up the field, runways and circles of Shippensburg University with an intensity reserved for the biggest meet of the season, and for some, of their careers. The intensity of their performances left indelible memories for those privileged enough to watch. But there was a different kind of intensity that left its mark as well – and that was the physical challenges for athlete, official, coach and fan when hit with the season's first hot and humid days.
While Brehanna Jacobs, Chanelle Price, Ryann Krais, Neely Spence, Brandon Bing and Andrew Rotz grabbed AAA headlines, it was a team of young AA girls who showed poise and grit under the harsh conditions.
AA GIRLS:
One of PA's emerging stars had just completed her 8th race of the weekend with a state title in the 200. She never made the awards stand because she was spending unwanted time in the trainer's tent under ice and careful observation awaiting transport to the Chambersburg Hospital as a precautionary measure. According to Swenson assistant coach Tim Hickey, freshman Shanae Bailey was fine. "Her vital signs were normal and she never lost consciousness." Fortunately, her reaction to the heat and the intensity of her effort was the exception rather than the rule. But this freshman star contributed two individual titles (12.02 100 & 24.58 200) and ran on the record-setting 4x100's 47.84 (Swenson, 47.84 - Quaker Valley, 48.36 - former record holder). Those 30 points proved to be 60% of Swenson's 50 point winning total.
Also helping the District 12 school's cause was sophomore Anthonia "Mouse" Ballard, who contributed 14 individual points behind a 5th place 15.20 (14.93 semi) in the 100 hurdles to go with her 10 point win in the 300 hurdles at 43.96. She also ran on the winning 4x100. Freshman Vanessa Mack was on that relay as well, with fellow frosh Jayee Wright. Mack added six individual points by taking 3rd in the 200 in 25.48. That's 50. And that's a state title. West Chester's newest high school, Bayard Rustin, took 2nd with 44 points behind Shante Evans' 44-06.25 shot put win. Teammate Alanna Owens was 4th with a throw of 40-10.25.
Ryann Krais wins the 300 hurdles, her 3rd gold of the meet.
The other sprint star of AA was Schuylkill Valley junior Devan Coon, who came into the day with three sub-25 200's in her bank from her district meet. Her 24.84 took 2nd to Bailey. Earlier in the afternoon she had PRed big-time in the 400, going 55.46. But you could tell down the stretch that she was reaching over the final 20 meters. She held off Rustin's Nicole Powell, by just .02.
The 3200 saw returning champ Kara Millhouse against returning runner-up Carly Seymour, and Seymour left nothing to chance, taking and extending a lead from the gun. Her 2:29 half naturally slowed through the race, but she finished in a strong 10:38.33. Lauren Zarger, Harbor Creek, hung on Millhouse for much of the race before pulling away over the final two laps to a 10:57.42. Millhouse surged over the final 200 to pull away from a closing pack to take 3rd in 11:06.26.
Other AA Girls Highlights:
4x400: Carver Engineering & Science, 3:56.27
4x800: it was Saint Basil taking top honors in 9:23.53. Lewisburg second in 9:27.57. Boiling Springs third, 9:29.14 behind a 2:15+ anchor by Millhouse.
100 hurdles: Rachel Houseknecht, Hughesville, 14.49
Triple jump: Fallon Heddings, Bloomsburg, wins with a 37-09.50.
800: Benita Taylor, Engineering & Science 2:14.83
Team: Swenson 50, Bayard Rustin 34.Hughesville 27, Carver E&S 24
AAA GIRLS
On paper, this was Easton's meet to lose. And it wasn't all accomplished with wins by one talented junior. It was depth at the relays and a big win in the pole vault. Everyone knew that Chanelle Price would dominate the open 800. She ran 2:11.60 in Friday's trials, then opened Saturday with a 2:06.4 anchor from the front to lead her 4x800 to a 9:09.43 win. In the much anticipated 800 final, Price clearly had her sights set on the 1980 AAA record of 2:05.47 run by the legendary Kim Gallagher. Price came through the 400 in 59-4 (29.2-30.2), and was on pace until the final 50 meters, missing by just .38 of a second in 2:05.85. In the equally anticipated 4x400 showdown between anchors Price and Ryann Krais of Methacton, Price won the battle... but it was for 2nd place, as a spirited group of girls from Harrisburg; running with two alternates; blew away the field in 3:50.45 (see the theazn video). Easton was 2nd in 3:51.56 (64.8, 57.93, 60.19, 53.26-Price), with Methacton 3rd in 3:53.16 (59.00, 59.6, 60.00, 54.4-Krais).
The two points proved to be the difference as Easton edged Methacton 38-36. With the win, Harrisburg moved into 3rd with 32, edging A Breehana Jacobs'-powered Laurel Highlands, 4th with 31. A critical ten points had come for Easton in the day's morning pole vault session when Abby Schaffer was the only girl over 12-06.00. Five others were over 12', including Beki Finn of Liberty, Tory Worthen of Council Rock South (tied 2nd), Amanda Palenchar of Derry Area, Joselyn Witmer of Penn Manor, and Stephanie McDougal of North Penn.
All Jacobs had done was dominate the three open, hurdle-less sprint events, running a wind-legal (1.7) 11.64 100, a US#3 53.58 400 and a 24.10 200.
Krais, for her part, had done everything in her power to get points over the two days, winning the 100 hurdles in 13.73 (1.7w) to improve on her AAA record-busting 13.88 in the semis earlier in the day - record was Dawn Burrell's 13.96 from 1991). Krais had run a 41.84 on Friday in her chase to top her own state all-time best of 41.46 she had run in 2006. Her Saturday 42.04 easily outdistanced the field. This was, of course, on top of her 18-07.75 long jump on Friday afternoon.
Running in only her second-ever PIAA state championship meet, Shippensburg junior Neely Spence (Photo by Don Rich) won heer second state title. Her 4:50.98 is among the top 15 in the US this season. Former state champ Sarah Morrison, Chambersburg, closed her states prep career with a 2nd place 4:56.18, an outdoor PR, and her 2nd fastest at the distance ever.
Big Spring's Lara Crofford won her first state title with a powerful 10:31.44 in the 3200. Henderson's Carly Hamond was 2nd in 10:44.83.
McDowell showed their field prowess again through senior Ajla Glavesevic. Her 39-09.50 triple jump was a PR by over a foot, and one of the season's best in the US. On Friday, she had captured a 5th place in the long jump with a 17-11.50 leap, and a 6th in the shot put with a throw of 40-09.
Westmont Hilltop senior Karlee McQuillen defended her AAA state title with her season-best and 3rd best ever throw of157-06 in the javelin.
An 11-inch PR of 149-09 in the discus by Kim Kanala, Hempfield (7), held off state leader Karen Shump, Penncrest, 147-09. The places were reversed on Friday as Shump won the shot put with a throw of 47-02.50, with Kanala 2nd at 42-06.00, a PR by over a foot.
Other AAA Girls Highlights:
Linsdey Shertzer, Lancaster Mennonite 4:55,92
AA boys: Carver E&S wins. 7:54.70 Jamal Jones split 1:52.9. Trinity 2nd, 7:57.29, Lakeland 3rd, 7:57.49.
Newly minted AAA squad Gwynedd Mercy showed why they were always winning in AA, coming in at 2nd in 9:14.19. Council Rock North and Hempfield Area also under 9:20.
Team: Easton 38, Methacton 36, Harrisburg 32, Laurel Highlands 31
AAA BOYS
The sub-47 second club in not a big one. But it grew by one on Saturday as Cheltenham senior Brandon Bing (photo by Timothy O'Dowd, IrishRunner.com) zinged his way to a 46.84. He followed that gem with a 21.33 win in the 200. Both were PR's, but in the 400, he skipped the 47's entirely.
McDowell won their state title in a way the purists must surely love. Lots of athletes sharing the load, pulling points from the sprints, the jumps, and the throws. Senior Brice Myers contributed nine of the team's 39 with a 2nd place 14.20 in the 100 hurdles and an 8th place 38.74 in the 300 hurdles. The team's 4x400 took 3rd in 3:18.77 for six points. Five point contributions came from Emmanuel Overare, a 46-02.25 triple jump for 4th. Chad Noce (56-01.75) and Dan Kwiatkowski (55-08.25) were 4th and 5th in the shot put for a combined nine points. Johnny Dogun ran 22.07 for 4th in the 200. Aaron Fitzpatrick was 6th in the 400 in 49.24 for three. And the McDowell 4x100 ran 43.34 for 7th and two points, which cushioned their 39-36 win over 2nd place North Penn.
It was a battle of the 800 specialists as North Penn's Zach Montigo and Baldwin's Chris Wolfe got the batons together with two laps to the PA title. With Wolfe sitting on Montigo until the final turn, it looked as if Baldwin may take the prize, but that legendary North Penn 800 pride kicked in as Montigo kicked to a 1:53.4 split, with Wolfe at 1:53.9. North Penn's 7:43.22 was one of the best in school history. Baldwin ran 7:44.08, with an Andrew Rotz-anchored Central Dauphin 3rd in 7:47.08 behind Rotz's 1:51.9 split. Six teams cracked the 7:50 barrier. North Penn is now US#2.
Splits:
North Penn Splits: 1:56.1, 1:58.8, 1:54.8, 1:53.4
Baldwin splits: 1:58.4, 1:59.4, Hobart 1:52.3, Wolfe 1:53.9
North Penn wasn't only top in the long relay, they captured the 4x100 as well, running 42.39.
Andrew Rotz's split in the 4x800 was actually slow when it came to the real test, the FAT of the open 800. Rotz led the entire way, running 1:51.65, now one of the top times in the US.
Bethlehem Catholic's Joe Kovacs followed up 64-10.75 AA shot put win on Friday with a 2nd state title, this one with a throw of 179-11 in the discus. The shot make him the 6th best thrower of the season, and the best outside of Texas and California.
In AAA, Hempfield (7)'s Wes Banks, pulled off the same double, winning the shot put on Saturday with a throw of 63-02.50. He had won the Friday discus with a toss of 180-05.00.
Abington's Jaret Eaton won the 100 hurdles in 14.11 and the 300 hurdles in 37.41.
Paul Springer of Unionville had stated he was going for the sub-8:59 AAA state record. But with temps in the high 80's and the track warmed and steamy from humidity, the conditions were far from perfect. He got some early help from Coatesville's Kyle Dawson, but when Springer put on a surge with 800 to go, only Boyertown's Jason Weller and Strath Haven's Rob Speare went with him. Springer and Weller separated with a lap to go and as Springer put down the hammer on turn three, it was Weller who blew by and out-sprinted Springer for a 9:02.75 and the state title. Springer was timed in 9:04.30.
Weller came back later in the 1600, and did his best to hang on, but ended up 5th in 4:16.35. Conestoga Valley junior Vince McNally won in a PR 4:11.70, one of the top marks in the US.
Joe Berry, Hatboro-Horsham, cleared 16-03.00 on his 3rd attempt to set a new PIAA AAA record, eclipsing the 16-02 of Jared Jodon, set in 2006. North Allegheny's Sean Gil joined the 16-00.00 club for 2nd.
Harrisburg would not be denied. With the lead established for good on the 3rd leg, anchor Joshua Potts took care of the baton and the title, finishing with in 3:16.88. Cumberland Valley was 2nd in 3:18.75, with McDowell 3rd at 3:18.77.
Ajla Glavasevic, McDowell, wins the AAA triple jump with Altoona
sophomore Bethany Lender 2nd. (photo by Megan Clugh)
In the AAA long jump,. Aaron Whetstone of Carlisle won with a leap of 23-03.00. His 46-08 had taken 2nd in Friday's triple jump.
You couldn't have separated the four runners with a piece of paper based on the times. In AAA, Hershey's Alex Pensyl ran 10.87 to edge AJ Alexander of Altoona by just .01.
Waynesboro junior Terrell Rickard cleared 6-09 to win the AAA high jump. It's the best jump in PA this year.
In the AAA javelin, Central Dauphin sophomore Justin Shirk has been hitting his stride since the district meet, going over 200 for the 2nd time in the past week, tossing the spear 206-08. That moved him into PA#3. It is an invitational PR.
Team: McDowell 39, North Penn 36, Harrisburg 27, Central Dauphin 26
Kim Kanala, Hempfield (7) had a breakthrough meet,
taking 2nd in the AAA shot put and winning the discus.
AA BOYS
The Engineering & Science boys used the depth tactic to win their team title. They started Saturday with a win in the 4x800 relay, going 7:54.70 to beat their main rival for the title, Trinity of District 3, 2nd in 7:57.29. Relay members Jamar Jones and Terence Lee came back to contribute points in individual events. Jones won the 800 in 1:53.75 for another ten points, while Lee took 6th in the 1600 in 4:22.14 for three points. Fellow junior Austin Perron took 3rd in the 400 in 48.69 for six points. That gave them 29, and all they needed to do was get one point in the 4x400. They got eight by finishing 2nd in 3:21.87 to Trinity's 3:19.97.
Rochester's Derek Moye pulled of the 200-400 double, goiing 22.15 and 48.04. Smethport's Ben Hahn pulled away from a group over the final lap to win the 3200 in 9:18.89. Mark Bucklaw, Lakeland, won the 1600 in 4:20.03.
The 2nd place time in the AAA 100 was the first place time in AA, just .01 off the best time of either finals. Cliff Toledo, Central Columbia, won in 10.88. And just as in the AAA race, 2nd place was .01 back. Andrew Cope, Danville, took the silver in 10.89.
Aliquippa doesn't have a track, and once again they proved you don't need one to get the stick around one lap, winning the 4x100 in 42.80.
Other AA Boys Highlights:
Long jump: Herman Kirkland, Imhotep, wins with a 22-05.00
100 hurdles: Zach Dow, Corry Area, 14.59
300 hurdles: Steve Kazor, Trinity (3), 39.22
High kump: Zach Dohm, Eastern York, 6-07
Team: Carver Engineering & Science 37, Trinity (3) 29, Danville Area 22, Rochester 20
Hempfield's Wes Banks wins both the discus and shot in two days at States.
Flash Highlights - By Aaron Rich:
The day begins with an exciting series of 3200 meter relays.
First up, the AA girls. St Basil takes top honors with a time of 9:23.53. Lewisburg second in 9:27.57. Boiling Springs third, 9:29.14.
AAA girls: Easton girls 9:09.43! Price anchors in 2:06.4! Gwynedd Mercy runs 9:14.19 for second. Council Rock North and Hempfield Area also under 9:20.
AA boys: Carver E&S wins. 7:54.70 Jamal Jones split 1:52.9. Trinity 2nd, 7:57.29, Lakeland 3rd, 7:57.49.
AAA boys: North Penn wins a shoot-out with Baldwin, 7:43.22. Baldwin 7:44.08. Central Dauphin 3rd 7:47.08 behind a 1:51.9 by Andrew Rotz. 6 teams crack the 7:50 barrier.
North Penn Splits: 1:56.1, 1:58.8, 1:54.8, 1:53.4
Baldwin splits: 1:58.4, 1:59.4, Hobart 1:52.3, Wolfe 1:53.9
AA girls 3200 meter run: Carly Seymour, Central Cambria, unofficially 10:38.33, Lauren Zarger, Harbor Creek 2nd 10:57.42, Defending champ Kara Millhouse, Boiling Springs, 3rd, 11:06.26
AAA girls 3200 meter run: Lara Crofford, Big Spring, 10:31.44. Carly Hamond, Henderson, 2nd, 10:44.83.
AA boys 3200 meter run: Ben Hahn, Smethport, wins in 9:18.89.
AAA boys 3200 meter run: Jason Weller, Boyertown, beats Paul Springer, Unionville, with a thrilling final straightaway. 9:02.75 to 9:04.30.
Boys AAA shot put: Wes Banks, Hempfield, wins with 63-02.50.
Girls AA shot put: Shante Evans, Bayard Rustin, 44-06.25
Boys AA long jump: Herman Kirkland, Imhotep, wins with a 22-05.00.
Boys AAA long jump: Aaron Whetstone, Carlisle, 23-03.00
Girls AA triple jump: Fallon Heddings, Bloomsburg, wins with a 37-09.50.
Girls AAA triple Jump: Ajla Glavasevic, McDowell, 39-09.50
Girls 100 meter hurdles: AAA: Ryann Krais runs 13.73 1.7w MR. PiAA record, besting Dawn Burrell's 13.96 from 1991, AA: Rachel Houseknecht, Hughesville, 14.49
Boys 100 meter hurdles: AAA: Jaret Eaton, Abington, 14.11, AA: Zach Dow, Corry Area, 14.59
Boys AA Discus: Joe Kovacs, Bethlehem Catholic, 179-11.
Girls AAA Discus: Kim Kanala, Hempfield (7), 149-09, Karen Shump, Penncrest, 147-09
Girls 100 meters: AAA: Breehana Jacobs, 11.64 1.7w, Shanae Bailey, Swenson, 12.02 0.0w
Boys 100 meters: AAA: Alex Pensyl, Hershey, 10.87, AJ Alexander, Altoona, 10.88, AA: Cliff Toledo, Central Columbia, 10.88, Andrew Cope, Danville, 10.89
Boys AAA High Jump: Terrell Rickard, 6-09.00.
Boys AAA High Jump: Zach Dohm, Eastern York, 6-07
Alex Pensyl, Hershey, wins the AAA 100.
(photo by Timothy O'Dowd, Irishrunner.com)
Girls 1600: AA: Linsdey Shertzer, Lancaster Mennonite 4:55,92, AAA: Neely Spence, Shippensburg 4:50.98, Sarah Morrison, Chambersburg 4:56.18.
Boys 1600: AA: Mark Bucklaw, Lakeland, 4:20.03, AAA: Vince McNally, Conestoga Valley, 4:11.70
Girls 400 meters: AAA: Breehana Jacobs, 53.58, AA: Devan Coon, Schuylkill Valley, 55.46 MR, Nicole Powell, Bayard Rustin, 55.48
Boys 400 meters: AAA: Brandon Bing, 46.84, AA: Derek Moye, Rochester, 48.04
Girls 300 Hurdles: AAA: Ryann Krais, 42.04, AA: Anthonia Ballard, Swenson, 43.96
Boys 300 Hurdles: AAA: Jarret Eaton, 37.41, AA: Steve Kazor, Trinity (3), 39.22
Girls 800 meters: AAA: Chanelle Price, 2:05.85, AA: Benita Taylor, Engineering & Science 2:14.83
Boys 800 meters: AAA: Andrew Rotz, 1:51.65, AA: Jamar Jones, Engineering & Science, 1:53.75
Girls 200 meters: AAA: Breehana Jacobs, 24.10, AA: Shanae Bailey, Swenson, 24.58, Devan Coon, Schuylkill Valley, 24.84
Boys 200 meters: AAA: Brandon Bing, 21.33, AA: Derek Moye, Rochester, 22.15
Boys Javelin: AAA: Justin Shirk, Central Dauphin 206-08.
Girls Javelin: AA: Karlee McQuillen, Westmont Hilltop, 157-06 defends title
Boys AAA pole vault: Joe Berry, Hatboro-Horsham, 16-03.00, Sean Gil, North Allegheny, 16-00.00.
Girls AAA pole vault: Abby Schaffer, Easton, 12-06.00 (Five girls over 12-00)
Girls 4x100 Relay: AA: Swenson, 47.84 - Quaker Valley, 48.36 MR
Boys 4x100 Relay: AA: Aliquippa, 42.80, AAA: North Penn, 42.39
Girls 4x400 Relay: AA, Carver E&S 3:56.27. AAA, Harrisburg, 3:50.45, Easton, 3:51.56, Methacton, 3:53.16.
Boys 4x400 Relay: AA, Trinity, 3:19.97. AAA, Harrisburg, 3:16.88, Cumberland Valley, 3:18.75, McDowell, 3:18.77.
Girls Team Results:
AA Girls: Swenson 50
Bayard Rustin 34
Hughesville 27
Carver E&S 24
AAA Girls: Easton 38
Methacton 36
Harrisburg 32
Laurel Highlands 31
AA Boys: Carver E&S 37
Trinity 29
Danville Area 22
Rochester 20
AAA Boys: McDowell 39
North Penn 36
Harrisburg 27
Central Dauphin 26